The Ranch at Live Oak, Malibu, California

Perfect for: Mindful masochists

Sweat it out: "Pretty hurts," "no pain, no gain," and a hundred other motivational clichés are ringing through your head as you wobble the last stretch of your five-hour morning hike. What, you cheated on your pre-retreat plan to eliminate refined sugars, caffeine, and alcohol from your diet? Breathe, and pace yourself; willpower comes. The Ranch at Live Oak is a luxe spin on the "no options" boot camp, a kick-in-the-ass for Hollywood power players looking to push their limits. A predawn wake-up call launches you into ten hours of moderate, sustained activity a day, including group hiking, yoga, weight training, and ab classes.

Cool down: Never has a massage table offered so much bliss. A daily affair, it's the only real break you'll get, outside of meals and an hour or so of unscripted time (best spent lying on the pool deck, watching the Santa Monica mountains turn pink as the sun sets over the Pacific) before tumbling into bed at 8:30 pm. The 15 air-conditioned bungalows are rustic sanctuaries of reclaimed wood and neutral colors, with limestone bathrooms. The total absence of Wi-Fi or cell reception rips you off the grid. (You can share all your epiphanies on Twitter later.) Strict gluten-free vegetarian fare, made with produce from the ranch's organic farm, is artfully crafted into 1,500-calorie-a-day portions. You will want more—but isn't that why you're here?

The Ranch at Live Oak
Malibu, California
Tel: 888 777 2177
Seven-day retreats, including meals, from $5,600 per person

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