It started with a feeling.
In 2010, Brenda drove up a dusty road with a friend who was considering buying a piece of land. Her friend decided against it. Brenda bought it on the spot with no plan. All she had was a strong intuition she couldn't explain.
She left it mostly untouched for years while she traveled the world, seeking wisdom from spiritual leaders across four continents.
The land waited.
When she came back, it needed her.
She cleared, cleaned, and restored. Indian chiefs came to bless the ground. Children planted seeds. She painted and hammered and rebuilt.
The land underwent a metamorphosis.
The land and Brenda healed each other.
One afternoon, mid-renovation, she looked up and saw the ancient stone formations that had always been there, waiting to be noticed. Las rocas. The rocks. And just like that, she knew what this place was called, and what it was for.
By the time Nikki joined—brought in through a serendipitous connection, her business mind meeting Brenda's creative soul—Rocas was alive with something unique.They protected it, shaped it, and opened the gate.
Since 2021, Rocas has hosted over 70 retreats. Facilitators from across the country have brought their most important work here, transforming the lives of hundreds of guests.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
- Healing is not linear, and it doesn't look the same for everyone. Rocas welcomes every modality, every tradition, and every person ready to do the work.
MEET THE TEAM
BRENDA MARKSTEIN
Owner & Co-Founder
Brenda is a designer, Emmy award-winning television and film producer, world traveler, grandmother, somatic breathwork practioner, and the creative soul at the heart of Rocas.
- "This land is my passion, my love, my joy."
Nikki Michelini
Co-Founder
Nikki was born in a log cabin beside a lake, raised on a fruit farm in Florida, and relocated to Barbados as a child.
- "Rocas invites us to come home to ourselves. I am honored to play a part in offering that."
Maggie Nielsen
Director of Operations & Reiki Practitioner
Maggie first came to Rocas as a guest. The moment she stepped on the land, she felt a sense of belonging so immediate it surprised her.
- "I believe Rocas is part of a larger remembering. We are meant to heal together."
Nate Nadeau
Creative Director & Strategy Officer
Nate enlisted in the Air Force at 23 and trained as a respiratory therapist.
- "The most important work begins with the questions you've been afraid to ask yourself."
Kathy Flores
Land Steward
Kathy was raised on a farm in Arizona, caring for horses, cows, chickens, and everything else that needed tending.
- "My greatest joy is making others happy. This place gives me that every single day."
The land is ready.
So is the team. Are you?
Whether you're here to host or here to heal, there's a place for you at Rocas.
Rocas Retreat
- A private retreat sanctuary where transformative work is held, deepened, and remembered.
LOCATION
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11223 Calle Oro Verde
Valley Center, CA, 92082