Luxe celebrity-approved health retreat The Ranch Malibu is expanding: Here’s a day in the life of guests
Back to story <h2>EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM</h2>
Guests start their program daily at 5:30am with a 30-minute stretching session. Breakfast is served at 6am, and includes dishes like Ranch Granola with Almond Milk and Chickpea Omelettes. Then, they hike...
<p>Photo: © Instagram/@selmablair

EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM
Guests start their program daily at 5:30am with a 30-minute stretching session. Breakfast is served at 6am, and includes dishes like Ranch Granola with Almond Milk and Chickpea Omelettes. Then, they hike...
Photo: © Instagram/@selmablair

LET THE MARATHON BEGIN
After breakfast guests head out on their the day’s big marathon hike, lasting four to four-and-a-half hours and choreographed so that nobody finishes last more than half the time.
“We hike for time not distance,” Alex explains. “We have fast hikers going 14 to 15 miles in that time and we have beginners or people just starting on a wellness path do six to eight miles in that time span.”
Photo: © Instagram/@rebelwilson

TREAT YOUR FEET
After the hike guests return to the lodge to have Epsom foot baths, eat lunch and take a nap or enjoy an hour of quiet time (though Alex insists that after such a rigorous morning “everyone goes down hard!”). The vegan organic lunches vary from Burrito Bowls to Beach Soup.
At random times in the afternoon, guests receive a deep tissue, restorative massage. “It’s kind of like roulette, some people are happy they get out of one of the classes to go get a massage, and some people have their hour massage during the hour free time/nap time,” explains Alex.

STRENGTHEN UP
After the nap, two-hour exercise classes work to build upper body core muscle courtesy of strength training. “It’s hard for everybody. Someone is holding two-pound weights and someone is holding 20-pound weights so everyone is whining,” Alex admits. “You are then able to maintain that group dynamic while everyone is still getting to their peak or limit.”
After the intense workout, Ranch Alums partake in a yoga session before dinner.

DINE AND UNWIND
Dinner is always served at 7pm (think Gluten-Free Pasta with Butternut Squash Alfredo Sauce or Hearts of Palm Crab Cakes, pictured), and guests can choose to stay up as late as they want in the evening, keeping in mind there are no electronics (TV or phones) in their rooms, although there is WIFI. Alex says most are fast asleep by 9pm.

BE PREPARED
Prior to their attendance, Ranch Alums are given a 30-day starter package that lays out instructions on how to prepare for life at The Ranch. Information on sleep, meditation and food and water intake are all addressed. So too is insight on how to prepare to be off the grid and advice on how to wean off things like alcohol because “if you don’t do this prior to your stay, the initial detoxification that occurs over the first few days will be quite uncomfortable,” the package reads.
“If they follow the routine by the time they get to us they’ve already had some measurable results and they’ll get more out of the program,” adds Alex. “They’ve already kickstarted their metabolism and are more mentally prepared to unplug.”
Photo: © Instagram/@nicolescherzinger