Since becoming a mother, my days have been filled with constant motion—school drop-offs, snack prep, building a business, managing a home, and doing my best to show up fully for the people I love. Somewhere in that whirlwind, I realized I’d stopped showing up for myself. It wasn’t just about exercise or fitting into pre-baby jeans—it was about strength, energy, and reclaiming the vitality that once made me feel light on my feet and grounded in my own skin.
Motherhood is transformative in countless ways, but one truth I’ve found is this: you cannot pour from an empty cup. And lately, mine had felt nearly drained. That’s why, despite the endless to-do lists and a creeping sense of guilt for taking time away, I found myself packing hiking boots and heading to The Ranch Hudson Valley for four days of dedicated wellness.
A Place Where History Meets Healing
Nestled just an hour northwest of the city, The Ranch Hudson Valley is more than a retreat—it’s a retreat wrapped in history. The estate was originally built as a grand summer home for J.P. Morgan Chase during the Gilded Age, and even now, it carries that sense of grandeur. Picture sweeping staircases, original molding, gleaming historic floors, and sunlit rooms that feel suspended between centuries.
After a meticulous three-year restoration led by Alex and Sue Glasscock, the founders of the renowned Ranch Malibu, this historic estate reopened in April as a haven of wellness. Interior designer Steven Gambrel breathed life into every corner, blending timeless architectural bones with modern comfort. The result is breathtaking: a solarium-turned-dining room where guests share nourishing farm-to-table meals, a grand room repurposed as a fitness space with soaring windows, and cozy nooks warmed by fireplaces and board games.
It’s the kind of place that welcomes you with open arms—equal parts stately and intimate, grounding and uplifting.
No “Perfect Time,” Just Now
I’ll be honest—I almost talked myself out of going. Between juggling kids, deadlines, and house projects, four days felt impossible. But while lacing up my brand-new hiking boots (a last-minute scramble at Dick’s Sporting Goods), I realized something important: there will never be a “perfect time” to prioritize yourself. If anything, the very fact that I felt too busy to step away was proof of how badly I needed to.
That thought alone shifted everything. This wasn’t about escaping my life; it was about reclaiming the energy I need to live it fully.
The Rhythm of The Ranch
The Ranch Hudson Valley is not a vacation in the traditional sense—it’s a structured, fully immersive program designed to challenge and restore in equal measure. Each day followed a rhythm that blended movement, nourishment, and reflection:
- Morning hikes through scenic landscapes, pushing both body and mind while soaking in the beauty of the Hudson Valley.
- Fitness sessions and yoga, tailored to restore flexibility and strength.
- Farm-to-table meals, carefully crafted to nourish rather than deplete, each one vibrant and satisfying without excess.
- Afternoons of restoration, filled with massages, quiet reading time, or simple stillness.
It wasn’t indulgence for indulgence’s sake—it was intentional. Every choice was rooted in sustainability, in creating habits that extend long after check-out. And while the program is designed to be done in community—you eat, hike, and laugh alongside your group—it also leaves space for solitude, which I came to treasure.
A Community of Strangers Who Become Family
What struck me most during those four days wasn’t just the program itself, but the people. With only 22 rooms, groups range between 15 to 40 guests, and by the end, it felt like we’d known each other for years. We came from different backgrounds and places, but there was an unspoken bond—each of us had shown up with the courage to pause, reset, and invest in ourselves.
There’s something profoundly healing about being surrounded by people who are doing the same. You push through a steep hike together. You share meals without distraction. You laugh about sore muscles and cheer one another on. That sense of connection made the experience all the more restorative.
Leaving with More Than I Came With
I arrived feeling depleted, hesitant, and honestly a little nervous about whether I’d keep up. I left with a renewed sense of energy, clarity, and strength—not just in my body, but in my spirit.
The Ranch reminded me that self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. My family, my work, my responsibilities all benefit when I show up replenished. And sometimes the bravest thing we can do is step away from the noise to realign with ourselves.
The truth is, wellness doesn’t come from a single retreat or a fleeting burst of motivation. It comes from intentional choices, day after day, in the direction of strength, balance, and joy. The Ranch Hudson Valley didn’t just give me four days of healing—it gave me the tools, the mindset, and the reminder that I deserve to feel whole again.
And maybe that’s the real takeaway: that there’s never a perfect time to care for yourself. There’s only now.
