Welcome to Rancho Paraíso de Sorrento
A Boutique Wellness Ranch and Alternative Medicine Retreat Center.
Leave the daily stress behind and gain powerful tools for lasting inner peace.
We offer 3 Day Digital Detox Retreat Packages with a choice of:
Mindfulness with Horses
Meditations
Reiki
Sound Therapy
Massage
Mindfulness-based Stress Relief Sessions
(Non-Riding) Horse Experiences
We are a working horse ranch and have rare breed imported English Shire draft horses and Paso Finos. We are centrally located 30 minutes from Orlando, and are close to the Tampa, Ocala, World Equestrian Center, Disney World, and Kennedy Space Center.
Discover the healing energy of horses and learn mindful practices to quiet the mind and de-stress from your busy world.
Why Mindfulness?
Mindfulness enables us to be more present, not to be stuck in the past or the future, and to be aware of our thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Many people use Mindfulness and meditation interchangeably, however meditation is just one of the many tools used to practice Mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us to become more aware of ourselves and our environment. It calms our minds from racing, and creates a pause, a gap, between action and reaction. Mindfulness is very helpful in assisting with anxiety, severe recurring depression, grief, and PTSD. It also increases self-awareness, focus, mental strength and clarity. Mindfulness is an invaluable tool for self-care and well-being. We have created a unique program combining Mindfulness, meditations, energy healing and draft horses at Rancho Paraíso de Sorrento because we believe that mental health is not “one size fits all”.
Why Horses?
Horses have long been recognized as powerful healers and are increasingly being used in therapeutic settings. Equine Assisted Therapy, also known as Horse Therapy, is an evidence-based practice that uses horses to help individuals work through emotional and mental health issues. Rather than Horse Therapy, we utilize alternate equine health wellness programs such as Mindfulness with Horses (combines Mindfulness, meditations, and horse energy) and Mindfulness-based Mental Strength Training (MB-MST) using horses here at Rancho Paraíso de Sorrento.
Through interaction with horses, people can learn about themselves, gain insight, and practice communication and problem-solving skills.
Our Mindfulness with Horses sessions offers the perfect opportunity for individuals who want to integrate horses into their mindfulness practices or for equestrians who want to learn more about mindfulness. Whether you are new to both horses and mindfulness or have experience with one or the other, our retreats are designed to help you become fully present, reduce stress and anxiety, and reclaim your happiness.
Our Equine Assisted Wellness Programs provides an opportunity for personal growth and healing by building trust and connection with horses.
Why Laura?
Laura Innis is an experienced Mindfulness practitioner with a deep understanding of the practice and its benefits. She has been a daily practitioner for many years, and completed multiple 8-week Mindfulness courses in England before partaking in the 31 day Mindfulness Summit by Australian Melli O’Brien. She has her post-graduate degree (PgDip) in the Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapies (MBCT) from University of Exeter in England.
Laura is knowledgeable in the effects of Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapies, and has a diverse background in scientific research and mindfulness practices. She combines these skills to help others reduce depression and anxiety whilst increasing mental resiliency. Laura has a B.S in Wildlife, a Master’s in Biology, completed 1st year of her PhD in Biochemistry, and is a certified Equine Mindfulness Facilitator, Master Reiki Healer, certified Sound Therapy Facilitator and certified in Trauma Resiliency. Laura is well-equipped to help others improve their mental and emotional well-being through the integration of mindfulness, horses, and other holistic energy techniques.
Shire horses are large draft horses, gentle giants, and as such are perfect for Equine Assisted Mindfulness Therapy. They are very calm, cool horses and are true mirrors of the people around them. There are less than 1,500 Shires in the world, rarer than the Giant Panda, and they are core to our Equine Assisted Learning retreats. Our largest Shire is a Metheringham, and his uncle was twice a HOYS champion.
Paso Finos horses are horses with a very smooth gait. They descended from Spanish Barb, Jennet, and Andalusian. We have two lineages of Paso Fino: one from the World Champion Sire El Classico de Plebeyo and one is from the famous Sire Coral LaCE bloodline with Endurance Riding Hall of Fame bloodlines.
“There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man"
-Winston Churchill/Lord Palmerston
Our Horses
English Shires and Paso Finos
Breathe. Create. Relax.