Rancho La Puerta, Baja California

My first visit to a fitness spa retreat in June 2013, at the recommendation of my dear friend Allison: no meat, caffeine, alcohol (except wine), early morning hikes and spa food for the duration...your basic nightmare.  Mike said he would gladly pay not to go.  I feared it would be full of already-skinny, botoxed Stepford wives.  And this deprivation did not come cheap!

Allison Goldberg (my twin)

Allison and I met at 5am in the morning at the Midtown MARTA station in Atlanta, and quickly realized we lived in the same condo building, worked at the same company, belonged to the same gyms and later, even signed up for the same design class at Emory.  

The Ranch

It seemed just a bit ridiculous to spend so much money just to sit quietly in a meditation class full of strangers, or attend 7 exercises classes in a day, but there we were.  From an interior journey perspective, it was one of the most radical experiences of my life.

Happiness

I have embarked on the fitness journey pretty late, but it's better late than never, I guess.  I was so happy when it was over (to have survived all of those morning hikes and healthy eating).

Pure Joy

The hour we spent in this teacher's Broadway-type dance class was one of the most joyful experiences of my life.  I could. not. stop. smiling. 

Spa Food

Please pass the salt...and a Coke Zero Sugar....I visited my brother in San Diego afterwards, and a burger never tasted so good.  In the end, I was glad that I went.