Sensei Porcupine Creek: A Unique and Magical Wellness Journey in Rancho Mirage, California

A sunset view of Sensei Porcupine Creek’s golf course.

It was just after Mother’s Day, and I wanted to spend some quality time with my mom. I planned to surprise her with a relaxing mother/daughter getaway. So my mom and I headed to Sensei Porcupine Creek in Rancho Mirage for the resort’s Guided Wellness Experience.

As we drove from Los Angeles to the desert, Apple Maps directed us through a neighborhood dotted with the region’s signature mid-century modern homes. We arrived at an enormous wooden gate.

Arriving at Sensei Porcupine Creek

Sensei Porcupine Creek is an expansive 230-acre property. [Image by Chris Simpson courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

After verifying our visit with the property attendant, the gate slowly opens, welcoming us to the magical desert oasis that is Sensei Porcupine Creek. It feels like an opening sequence to a fantasy movie, ushering us straight through a portal into another universe. This is a dreamy world of ultra-luxury wellness – one based on the three pillars of Sensei’s wellness philosophy: “Move, Nourish, and Rest.”

Sensei Porcuipine Creek Golf Course [Image by Tanveer Badal courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

Sensei Porcupine Creek is visually stunning. This desert oasis is painted with colorful flowers, cacti, palm trees, and a perfectly manicured golf course, set against the backdrop of the picturesque Santa Rosa mountains.

The destination was founded by Larry Ellison, technology pioneer and co-founder of Oracle, and Dr. David Agus, a renowned physician, scientist, and The New York Times best-selling author. The co-founders transformed a private Rancho Mirage estate, known by a select few in exclusive social and celebrity circles, into a unique hi-tech getaway with the mission to use science and technology to create a data-driven wellness experience.

The drive up from the entrance to The Estate House (Sensei’s hub for reception, dining, and meeting with activity leaders) is like touring an outdoor museum. As we approach The Estate House, we pass an art installation by Robert Indiana consisting of oversized numbers. The numbers, “ONE through Zero,” represent the stages of a person’s life – birth through death. We take this as a sign that this wellness journey is going to include some serious self-reflection.

On the lighter side, before we pull up to The Estate House, we’re greeted by “Your Dog” by Yoshitomo Nara. This playful dog sculpture with larger than life proportions is a reminder of what the world looks like through a child’s eyes. Could this be a subtle signal that this retreat also offers a fresh perspective to approaching wellness?

After checking in, we sip refreshing Coco Shiso mocktails as Experience Specialist Michael shows us around the property.

Nourishing Cuisine from Sensei by Nobu

The foliage draped patio at Sensei Porcupine Creek

It’s around lunchtime when we finish our tour. Sensei by Nobu Host Sara welcomes us for a light lunch before we start our activities. She offers us a beautiful place on the foliage draped patio to enjoy our meal. Now, we get our first taste of Nobu. Surprisingly, neither my mom nor I have dined at a Nobu before, though many of our friends have raved about it for years.

Sensei by Nobu is a collaboration between chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Sensei Co-Founder Dr. David Agus. The menu includes the classic Japanese inspired dishes Nobu is famous for and selections that harness Sensei’s nutritious “Nourish” philosophy.

We order Eggplant Spicy Miso and Sweet Miso Cod Lettuce Wraps. We know at first bite, our culinary experience at Sensei Porcupine Creek is going to be extraordinary.

Mindful Movement

The Yoga Pavilion at Sensei Porcupine Creek

Before a visit to Sensei Porcupine Creek, you have the opportunity to meet with a Pre-Arrivals Specialist who helps you plan your itinerary based on your wellness goals and intentions. The Pre-Arrivals Specialist helps plan your activities, makes recommendations, and answers any questions you may have.

In addition to mindset and relaxation, I was particularly interested in fitting in some of the “Move” activities at Sensei Porcupine Creek. So when I met virtually with Reservations and Pre-Arrival Manager Eric Duncan-Galvez Bravo to discuss my upcoming visit, he suggested some exciting movement options. He also recommended the best picks for my mom, taking into consideration that she’s had a knee replacement. At Sensei Porcupine Creek, the team pays a lot of attention to thoughtful details and customizing the experience to your individual needs.

Wall Yoga at Sensei Porcupine Creek [Image courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

Getting back to our visit — after lunch at Sensei by Nobu, it was time for my first activity, Wall Yoga. This type of yoga combines the support of the wall and a belt for yoga poses. It helps you build strength, balance, and flexibility by allowing you to access positions that can’t be achieved on the floor, including poses where you feel like you are about to take flight. Michelle Ostermyer, Assistant Spa and Wellness Manager and Yoga Practitioner, guided me through a great introduction to this practice. I was really looking forward to trying Wall Yoga for the first time, and I loved this class.

Setting Our Intentions

During the Guided Wellness Experience you meet with a guide to help you set your intentions for the retreat. After Wall Yoga, I met with Sensei Guide, Brooke Damerel, MPH, RD, for a private orientation session where we discussed my wellbeing goals.

At Sensei, science and data-backed wellness is a key aspect of the experience. Brooke collected some baseline markers for blood pressure, body composition, and functional movement to assess my starting point.

Spa Treatment Zen

Spa treatment room at Sensei Porcupine Creek

As the day winded down into evening, my mom and I were looking forward to our massages. The Guided Wellness Experience package includes two 90 minute spa treatments, the perfect way to decompress after traveling or a day packed with activities.

I thoroughly enjoyed a Thai Table Massage with Mina, which involved stretching techniques that were exactly what I needed. My mom was equally delighted with her 90-minute Custom Massage from Jen. On our second day, I experienced a Custom Massage with Jen as well, and my mom was a big fan of her Gua Sha facial with Karyn.

Private outdoor relaxation area at Sensei Porcupine Creek

Some of the treatment rooms at Sensei Porcupine Creek feature private outdoor relaxation areas with jacuzzis and rainfall showers, which looked like a wonderful way to zen-out after a treatment.

Accommodations with Peaceful Elegance

Though Sensei Porcupine Creek is an expansive 230-acre property, there are just 22 luxurious accommodations, creating a sense of intimacy and privacy. Options include estate rooms, casitas, and private villas.

We stayed in a gorgeous two bedroom villa. The calm modern elegance of this space was somewhere we could have spent all day. The villa was a golfer’s paradise with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the spectacular golf course and desert landscape from every room.

The accommodations included a state-of-art kitchen with an open concept living/dining space and wrap-around outdoor patio.

The spacious bedrooms are filled with natural light during the day and thoughtfully designed adjustable lighting for the evenings. The lighting throughout the resort was stunning, exemplifying the meticulous attention to detail invested in the property.

Spa-like bathrooms at Sensei Porcupine Creek feature rainfall showers and dreamy soaking tubs.

The enormous bath area added a spa-like feel to this sanctuary featuring large walk-in closets with vanity areas for getting ready, modern rainfall showers, and dreamy soaking tubs. The hi-tech toilets were made by Toto.

Amenities included products from brands I love like Dyson blow dryers and Oka B slippers.

Omakase at Sensei by Nobu

After our first day at Sensei Porcupine Creek, my mom and I had worked up our appetites. Everything on the menu sounded delicious, so we opted for the Omakase, a word that means “I'll leave it up to you” in Japanese. It’s a wonderful way to experience all the incredible flavors that Sensei by Nobu has to offer.

Our Sensei by Nobu Server Victor asked about our preferences and any dietary restrictions. He then wowed us dish after incredible dish. Here’s a peek at some of the fabulous menu items we tried throughout our stay.

Toro Tartare

Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna

Tiradito

New Style Salmon

Nobu Style Tacos

King Crab Tempura

Black Cod

Dessert Trio

Other favorites included the Wagyu Yakimono, Whole Black Sea Bass, and Banana Soy Toban.

Day Two

My mom and I enjoy the view from our morning hike.

Our second day started bright and early, as we wanted to fit in as much as possible, beginning with a light desert hike at 8 am. We learned about the plant life, history, and geography of the area from guides Brooke and Austin Walker, Guide and Exercise Physiologist.

While my mom and I participated in some activities together, the itineraries were customized for each of us. This included group activities and one-on-ones.

My day two one-on-one was a Mindset class with Meditation Practitioner Per Erez. This workshop focused on breathwork and included biomarkers to measure my breathing patterns. I learned about the science of heart rate variability (HRV) and practiced guided imagery exercises to see what effects they had on my breathing.

Fitness Pavilion at Sensei Porcupine Creek

After the one-on-one I met back up with my mom for a group class, Functional Fascia, led by Austin. This class used foam rolling and other tools and techniques to help with recovery.

In the late afternoon, I joined Michelle for a Vinyasa Flow class where we focused on balance. I always feel so happy and calm after a yoga session!

Our Sunset Moment

My mom and I had a special surprise planned for our second evening. We heard that there was an amazing overlook view of the Sensei property. We didn’t quite make it to the view on our hike, so instead we planned to enjoy the view at sunset. But, this time we opted for the easy way up the mountain – via golf cart.

The Sunset Moment is set up with picnic blankets, lounging chairs, and Nobu champagne for a toast.

The Sunset Moment is a must-do for the most peaceful, enchanting view of Sensei Porcupine Creek. The experience is set up with picnic blankets, lounging chairs, and Nobu champagne for a toast. It was surreal to enjoy a special moment with my mom with a lovely sunset surrounded by the calming sounds of nature. I’m pretty much obsessed with finding places to watch beautiful sunsets, so this was a moment I very much appreciated.

Of course, after another day packed with activities, we were looking forward to dinner at our new favorite restaurant, Sensei by Nobu. We requested a table with Victor, and once again he recommended the perfect dishes to end our day.

After dinner we melted into our plush beds, ready to embrace Sensei’s “Rest” pillar with a good night’s sleep. Even though we were full from all the delicious Nobu fare, there’s always room for a little bedside chocolate from our turndown, another sweet Sensei detail.

Day Three Started with a Private Tennis Lesson

A tennis court at Sensei Porcupine Creek

In addition to the Guided Wellness Experience, Sensei also offers programs that focus on tennis and golf with the Golf Optimal Wellbeing Program and Tennis Optimal Wellbeing Program. The expert team of tennis and golf professionals are available for classes and guidance to help guests focus on their sports performance.

Caroline Vis, Director of Tennis at Sensei Porcupine Creek [Photo by Kai Diaz, courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a class with Caroline Vis, Director of Tennis. Caroline is a winner of 9 WTA doubles titles and semi-finalist of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

She’s also a gifted coach, and I couldn’t believe how much I improved after just one lesson. After an early private class, I had the chance to test out my new skills with a group cardio tennis class which was so much fun.

A tennis retreat with Caroline Vis would be next-level for improving one’s tennis skills, and I hope to join her for one in the future.

An Immersive Museum

We spotted several enormous colorful sculptures by Keith Haring.

At Sensei Porcupine Creek, you’ll find intriguing works of art just about everywhere, both inside and outside. This includes museum-quality paintings, photography, unique mixed media pieces, and sculptures.

“Dreamcatcher VII” by Rowan Mersh is made entirely of seashells.

When you enter The Estate House, a huge dreamcatcher made entirely of seashells immediately catches your eye. This is “Dreamcatcher VII” by Rowan Mersh.

Outside, we spotted several enormous colorful sculptures by Keith Haring. There are also pieces by Jaume Plansa, Dame Elisabeth Frink, Charles Hadcock, and many more celebrated artists.

My mom poses with Jaume Plensa’s “Carlotta Silence.”

There’s just so much mind-stimulating art to see, and the best way to soak it all up is with an art tour. Experience Specialist Lead Brianna guided us through an insightful exploration of the pieces.

Swimming Pool Relaxation

Sensei Porcupine Creek’s sparkling swimming pool oasis, surrounded by desert florals and greenery, is open 24 hours a day. [Image by Chris Simpson courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

When in Palm Desert, unwinding poolside on a hot day is the ultimate iconic way to chill out. Sensei Porcupine Creek’s sparkling swimming pool oasis, surrounded by desert florals and greenery, is open 24 hours a day. The swimming pool is set to a comfortable 88 degrees. There’s also a jacuzzi – a great way to relax post-spa treatment.

My mom and I made sure to fit in some time to swim, lounge, and enjoy the beautiful swimming pool. We would have been happy just spending hours hanging out here. While we didn’t order any food at the pool, poolside snacks and dining from Sensei by Nobu are also an option.

More Day Three Deep Relaxation

Yoga Pavilion at Sensei Porcupine Creek [Image by Noah Webb courtesy of Sensei Porcupine Creek]

Relaxation was so central to our Guided Wellness Experience that we actually took a class called “Deep Relaxation” late in the afternoon on day three. This class included mindful practices for releasing tension and resting deeply in body and mind.

As if we could be any more relaxed, after the class we headed to our second spa treatments, a Custom Massage for me and a Gua Sha Facial for my mom.

The Sushi Bar

Lead Sushi Chef Bradford prepares Kampachi Den Miso.

We were excited to meet the talented chefs behind the brilliant sushi at Sensei by Nobu, Taka Masuno, Head Sushi Chef, and Bradford, Lead Sushi Chef. Sitting at the sushi bar was fun because we got to see the precision and artistry that goes into preparing the mouth-watering dishes.

Here’s a look at some of the craveworthy dishes we enjoyed. My mom and I are pretty adventurous eaters, so we like to try everything. But it’s worth noting that if you’re vegan, Sensei by Nobu offers a vegan Omakase (and meals can be customized for other dietary restrictions as well.)

Vegetable Hand Roll with Sesame Miso Sauce

Kampachi Den Miso and Lychee Martini

Baked Cut Crab and Avocado Roll

Uni and Ikura Bowl

Reflections on Guided Wellness

My mom sips on her morning coffee and takes in the golf course view from our villa.

Before our retreat came to a close, my mom and I each met with our Sensei Guides (Brooke and Austin) to reflect on our experiences and talk about steps we can take to maintain wellness in our lives.

We both decided it’s important to “be in the now.” This short journey reminded me of the importance of movement, both mentally and physically. It encouraged me to set new fitness goals.

In my mother’s case, since her knee replacement she has been tentative about exercise activities. She said she came away from the Sensei Guided Wellness Experience with a renewed sense of confidence for trying new activities.

My mom said this was a mother/daughter experience that she’ll cherish forever.

On our final day, we savored one last lunch at Sensei by Nobu, and made our way to the other side of that mythical wooden gate.

One guest we met (who was already visiting for the second time since the resort opened in 2022) told us, “I’m a different person when I’m at Sensei Porcupine Creek. It’s so wonderful!”

That’s the magic of this Sensei desert oasis of wellness.

A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer/editor. Her work has appeared in publications including Men’s Journal, Healthline, Sports Illustrated, CNET, Entertainment Tonight, and more. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy, @zillizy16

wellness, travel, lifestyleLizzy ShermanJune 12, 2024Sensei Porcupine Creek, Spa retreat, wellness retreat, wellness retreat Palm Springs, Palm Desert spa, Rancho Mirage resort, Nobu, Sensei by Nobu, luxury getaway, luxury stays and getaways, luxury stays, luxury stays & getaways