Here we come 2025!
Dear Friends,
As we step into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year past and express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible community that makes our magazine thrive—our readers, advertising partners, and contributors.
To our readers: Your enthusiasm and loyalty are the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re flipping through our pages or engaging with us online, your support and feedback inspire us to continue sharing stories that inform, entertain, and connect. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives and for sharing in this journey with us.
To our advertising partners: Your trust and collaboration are invaluable. Your partnerships empower us to grow, innovate, and bring meaningful content to our audience. Together, we’ve built bridges between businesses, communities, and readers, and we look forward to deepening those connections in the year ahead.
To our contributors: Your creativity and dedication bring our vision to life. From compelling articles to stunning visuals, your work enriches every page and leaves a lasting impact on our readers.
As we embrace the opportunities of 2025, we’re profoundly grateful for each of you. Here’s to another year of growth, connection, and inspiration together!
With gratitude,
January 2025
PUBLISHER
Rich Ringrose | rich.ringrose@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Richard Lakin | richard.lakin@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Cecily Sullivan
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Alexandria Gonzalez
STAFF WRITER
Andrea Jacquin
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Autumn Oglesby
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Andrea Jacquin, Alexandria Gonzalez, Claudia Martin Ayode, Richard Lakin
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Eyes of a Lion Media, Autumn Oglesby, Janie Jones
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
CTO Ajay Krishnan
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF FRANCHISE DEVELOPMENT Erika Smiley
AD DESIGNER Rachel Kolich
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Professional Bathroom Services
“Love Where You Live”
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city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Turkey Trot: The Perez Family 2: Turkey Trot: Matthew Martinez 3: Turkey Trot: Darnell Smith and Alisha Smith 4: Turkey Trot: Kristy Tiley and Mia Carabajal-Hartog 5: Turkey Trot: Joshua Alcoser and Victoria Pecina 6: Turkey Trot: Amber Venegas 7: Turkey Trot: Jessica and Mila Vanderburg
We
DR. NATHANIEL ROYBAL
BRINGING WORLD CLASS MEDICAL CARE TO ALBUQUERQUE
ARTICLE BY RICHARD LAKIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUTUMN OGLESBY
Dr. Nathaniel Roybal
Dr. Nathaniel Roybal is a true son of New Mexico. Raised in Mora, he is one of nine children from schoolteacher parents. He has pursued much of his education in his home state and operates his practice, Retina Consultants of New Mexico, in Albuquerque. Dr. Roybal says,” We were raised to work hard and get an education.”
In his youth, he was the youngest EMT in New Mexico and went to New Mexico State University to earn an Animal Sciences degree. He later switched gears to medical school and trained at UCLA where he did a post-doctoral fellowship looking at gene therapies inside the eye and stem cell therapies, as well as a fellowship at the University of Iowa where he pioneered procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases.
Returning to New Mexico, he was part of the first graduating class of the newly minted MD/PhD program at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Roybal tells us,” The goal of the program is to create doctors with heavy science training. There's plenty of scientists and there's plenty of doctors but you need folks who are translational and who can think innovatively, and with translational training, you either need to relay needs from the clinic back to the laboratory or be able to see things that are happening inside the laboratory that might be applied clinically.”
Dr. Roybal tells us that interaction with patients is a valuable resource. “The time I spend with them, they teach me so much. I think that's one of the best things about getting to spend time with them, as someone with a scientific inquiring mind gets to really see where the need is when you're in the trenches with the patients.”
Dr. Jamie Odden
Dr. Roybal started his independent practice in 2020 with the goal of bringing world-class medical care to New Mexico. He says, "We started the practice during COVID, and, at the time, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. However, we went from zero patients to a practice needing to hire more doctors very quickly. Our goal was to be the gold standard clinic.”
He also devotes a great deal of his time to a legislative advocacy group to bring more doctors to New Mexico. He says,” Our purpose is to make New Mexico the greatest place on earth to practice medicine. We have a shortage of medical people in this state, so to me, it's personal. I want my family to have great care and that's my mom and dad and my aunts and uncles and my brothers and sisters...they're all here and so I'm in it for the long haul. We want doctors to know that this is a great place to practice medicine and we’re advocating for policies that can bring them here.”
Dr. Roybal is a busy man with his practice and his medical advocacy, but he still values his New Mexico roots. He says, “I guess I'm just a New Mexico ranch kid turned doctor, but the doctor role has just taken all my time, so I don't get out on the ranch much these days, but it's an amazing calling and I feel incredibly blessed.”
Retina Consultants of New Mexico is at 6401 Holly Ave, NE. The phone number is 505.847.7000. Their website is nmretina.com.
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ARTICLE BY RICHARD LAKIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE WHY INSTITUTE
FINDING YOUR CALLING
DR. GARY SANCHEZ
Dr. Gary Sanchez, CEO and Founder of the WHY Institute, addressing a business group
Mark Twain said “The two most important days in your life are the day you're born and the day you find out why.” Most people give little thought to their personal motivations or their
and I started doing it for anybody that would let me. I conducted it with thousands of people for free over the next seven years and I just started to notice patterns and trends and similarities. I
“WE HELP PEOPLE FIND A MORE FOCUSED AND FULFILLING LIFE. WE DISPEL THEIR UNCERTAINTY.”
“calling.” They pursue a life, a career, relationships, and direction without delving into what they really want. Then they’ve settled into a life that is not fulfilling.
Dr. Gary Sanchez, CEO and Founder of the WHY Institute, set out to give people a way to align their life with their core values and unlock a life of passion, confidence, and purpose. He’s successfully done this with a software algorithm that evaluates answers from a questionnaire that provides insight into who you really are and what you really want.
Dr. Sanchez told us, “We help people find a more focused and fulfilling life. We dispel their uncertainty. I could sit down with you and help you discover your WHY in about an hour
accumulated a lot of data that became the basis for the algorithm that we call the WHY.os.”
Dr. Sanchez spent 32 years as a dentist in Albuquerque before developing his WHY method, although he pursued it as a personal side interest. After a near-death experience with a critical stay in the ICU, he looked at his life’s direction and decided that helping people achieve their full potential was what he felt fulfilled doing. Dr. Sanchez says, “When I got back to my practice, a patient in his 80s said to me ’Gary, you got a second chance at life. When you get to my age and you look back on your life, are you going to be glad that you stayed a dentist or are you going to bring this wise thing to the world?’ I sold my practice and have been
invested in the WHY Institute for four and a half years.”
Now, Dr. Sanchez gives lectures all over the world and over 300,000 people have been in his program. He gives talks to executive groups and many in senior management take the program back to their organizations to internally align their teams. He’s also written several books on the subject.
He sees the program as a great benefit to youth as well. He told us, “The typical path is you're in high school, and you have no idea who you are or what you want to do...not a clue, and you're supposed to decide where do I want to go to school, what do I want to do. Then you have to pick a major and how am I supposed to pick my major? Then once you pick a major you’ve got to figure out what are you going to do with that major...very challenging, so most people just live life by default and they pick something and then once you pick it you could go into more schools...maybe post Graduate School and then you start accumulating things like houses, cars, spouses, kids and you get kind of stuck if that's not what you really wanted to do. Now you got all kinds of overhead and all kinds of expenses, and you can't just make a change.”
The WHY Institute helps people find their calling in life. They are an Albuquerque-based organization, and you can get more details on their website: https://whyinstitute.com/
Home is where the heart is... and home inspired surroundings are what you and your loved one will experience here!
Assisted Living Care | Memory Care
We offer small, cozy community-living that fosters familiarity with an open kitchen, dining room, and living room. Each of our private bedrooms has its own ADA approved bathroom, and most importantly, we offer exceptional and individualized support for those that need some assistance with activities of daily living.
We have locations in NE height, SE Heights, Westside, Bernalillo, Bosque Farms, Rio Rancho, Edgewood, Santa Fe and White Rock.
TREE SERVICE DONE
Robert’s
PEACHES FI TNESSCLUB
FULFILLING WOMEN’S FITNESS GOALS
ARTICLE BY ALEXANDRIA GONZALEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EYES OF A LION MEDIA
“In addition to offering important health and wellness amenities, Berrier and Kaplan really focused on creating an environment women would want to be in.”
Rachel Berrier and her brother Sean Kaplan opened Peaches Fitness Club in June of 2024, making it Albuquerque’s first gym tailored specifically for women. For legal purposes, Peaches Fitness Club can’t be a women’s only gym, but Berrier and Kaplan spent 4 years ensuring every aspect of the fitness club was designed specifically for women’s fitness needs and goals.
Peaches Fitness Club offers several standard gym amenities including a weight room, cardio room, turf area, and workout classes. However, Berrier and Kaplan felt that it was important to also include recovery amenities. They recognize that recovery is a huge part of health and wellness, it’s not just about losing weight and building muscle, so they made sure they could provide tools that members could leverage.
Another important aspect of Peaches Fitness Club is their Kids Club, which caters to kids ranging from 6 months to 12 years old. Berrier and Kaplan felt that offering this amenity was necessary since so many women have children. Berrier, a mother of 2 daughters, understood the importance of creating a space where kids could have fun and make friends, all while being safe and close to their mothers. The Kids Club offers multiple hands-on activities including a kitchen area, a tool station, a book nook, and a craft area. Mothers who have taken advantage of this amenity have shared with the Peaches team that their kids want to go to the Kids Club and look forward to it, giving mothers relief that they aren’t just dropping their kids off anywhere, they are close by and having fun, while they take time for themselves to exercise.
In addition to offering important health and wellness amenities, Berrier and Kaplan really focused on creating an environment women would want to be in. They wanted to create a place where women could have a sense of safety, a place where women could feel seen, a place where women could be comfortable in their own skin, and a place where women could feel like they’re part of a community. Berrier said that she’s been able to build a strong rapport with several members, and many of them have expressed their gratitude for Peaches Fitness Club because it has allowed them to feel more comfortable and confident while working out. Other women have also shared with Berrier the fact that if it wasn’t for Peaches Fitness Club,
“Peaches Fitness Club has become a safe space for many women to work on their health and wellness.”
they would’ve never stepped foot back into a gym after various difficult life experiences. It’s apparent that Peaches Fitness Club has become a safe space for many women to work on their health and wellness.
Peaches Fitness Club is a testimony to Berrier and Kaplan’s passions for health and wellness, helping others, and making a difference in the community. Even though Peaches Fitness Club has only been open for about 7 months, the feedback they’ve received and the number of women who have signed up to be members is a clear indication that Peaches Fitness Club is accomplishing what Berrier and Kaplan set out to accomplish. With Peaches Fitness Club, they’ve been able to cultivate an environment that inspires confidence and healthy living, and they’ve created a community where women can grow together.
ENDING CHILD SLAVERY
In Northern India, children as young as five years old spend their days making bricks for no pay.
For $150, you can get a child out of the brick factory and into school.
Impact Nations has rescued over 3000 slaves since 2019.
500 more children are standing by.
Rachel Berrier working out
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Enjoy Wine Wednesday with 15% off all bottles in November & December. Indulge in Chef’s Seven-Course “Omakase” Tasting Menus beginning in December.
Be our guest for cozy, heated patio and restaurant dining all winter long.
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Nutrient-Rich Dessert To The Rescue
ARTICLE BY MEL BOBAN
smart SWEETS
This recipe is a classic favorite. If you cut the bars into 16 pieces, they are around 270 calories each. They are very filling, packed with healthy goodies and taste oh so delicious. If you can’t finish them yourself (it makes a lot!), bring samples along to your next workout class to share the love. Your accountability group will be asking you for the recipe! These come in handy for a quick breakfast on-the-go or an afternoon snack. You’ll want to taste these out of the oven once they cool a bit... simply scrumptious.
Combine:
• 1 cup wheat flour
• 2 cups cooked quinoa, cooled
• 2 cups oats
• 2/3 cup of your choice of chopped nuts
The beginning of the year is packed with inspiration and motivation to get back on track after a sweet-filled holiday season. It can feel extreme, and it also can be depleting to cut oneself off from everything indulgent after weeks of eating favorite sweet and savory recipes. For sugar lovers who believe going cold-turkey feels intimidating or overwhelming, nutrition-packed desserts are a great way to stick to healthy food goals without the guilt.
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 2/3 cup raisins
• Optional: chocolate chips as desired
• Optional: add additional seeds or nuts on hand such as pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
Notes: Boil quinoa at a 2:1 water to rice ratio. For estimating, 1/3 cup of uncooked quinoa yields 1 cup cooked quinoa.
Add this mixture slowly to combine:
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup peanut butter, almond butter or sunflower butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 banana
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until when the edges get golden brown. Bake in a 9x13-inch glass dish. After they cool, slice and enjoy. Keep them covered to maintain freshness.
the BENEFITS OF PLANT-BASED EATING
ARTICLE BY CLAUDIA MARTIN AYOADE
BY
JANIE JONES
Most people think a plant-based diet is strictly for those vegan and vegetarian types, but there is no debating the overwhelming evidence showing the benefits of improved health for those who make that diet choice. Plant-based eating is more of a lifestyle than a diet. You are simply eating more foods that are closer to their harvested state with minimal processing.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Meatless diets have been shown to improve health outcomes by lowering the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, inflammation, and some cancers. It also improves gut health because of added fiber to your diet.
A plant-based diet still allows to you consume the carbohydrates, protein, fats, minerals and vitamins that are necessary for good health, with the added benefits of being higher in fiber and phytonutrients.
You do not have to give up meat entirely and there are labels to identify where you fall in your plant eating journey. Do what is comfortable for you so you will stick with it.
You can choose to be a flexitarian which mean you occasionally eat meat but you choose plants as the primary foods you eat. You have some flexibility with your diet. If you choose to be a vegetarian, then you do not eat meats but you still eat eggs and dairy products as opposed to being a vegan who eats no animal products.
There is also another reason to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily food intake; It is better for the environment. The industries that produce our dairy and meats is said to account for a third of the world’s water usage in addition to producing greenhouse gas emissions. Eat your greens and save the planet!
TIPS TO GET STARTED ON YOUR PLANT-BASED JOURNEY:
1. Make small changes to test your comfort level when reducing meat intake. There is a risk of being overwhelmed if you suddenly stop eating meat altogether, and it will be harder stick to your choice long term. Increase consumption of plant foods you already like.
2. A plant-based diet does not mean boring! You can create a variety of dishes, including ethnic meals that are meat free and delicious. This is a great time to try new spices to add a punch to your vegetables and add green leafy vegetables to your smoothies.
3. Use the whole plant because there are nutrients in every part of the plant, including the stems and leaves. Use the leaves from celery, radishes, beets and carrots and use the stems from spinach. Don’t throw away vital nutrients like potassium, vitamin C and fiber. You are also reducing waste.
4. Eat the rainbow! Choose different colored fruits and vegetables to get a variety of nutrients. The color of plant-based foods is often an indicator of the vitamins and minerals they contain. So, more colors mean more nutrients. Example: Orange foods contain beta carotene, the precursor for vitamin A.
5. If you do not eat animal products, you will need to take a B12 and possibly an iron supplement. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin available only in animal products. Low B12 can cause anemia and damage to the nervous system. Some vegan foods are fortified with vitamin B12.
6. A meat-free diet does not automatically mean healthy if you replace the meat with highly processed junk food and meat substitutes. You need to eat fresh quality fruits, vegetables and grains to get the health benefits that can add years to your life.
Claudia Martin-Ayoade, is a registered dietitian, writer and public speaker who is passionate about educating people on nutrition and addressing food insecurity. AgeSmartNutrition.com
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Dr. Alisa C. Illescas
ARTICLE BY ANDREA JACQUIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUTUMN OGLESBY
Advance medical science meets whole health
Dr. Alisa C. Illescas is the founder of Beyond Medicine MD in Old Town. She received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of New Mexico. She says, "I fell in love with internal medicine and with the idea this would allow me to treat the whole body and mind."
Dr. Illescas worked as an Internal Medicine hospitalist but wanted to make a bigger impact. In 2023, she opened a private, integrative medicine clinic. The clinic centers on physical and emotional well-being. Her whole health approach focuses on seven core factors for her patients (food, gut health, hormones, cardiometabolic health, movement, connection to others, and self-reflection.) She says, "In order to optimize their health, I focus on all aspects of who they are. As an integrative medicine physician and internist, I am first and foremost a diagnostician." She sees the body, mind, and spirit as one interconnected unit that can easily be thrown off balance by a domino effect of even the simplest derangement.
Dr. Illescas works to find the root cause of her patients' symptoms rather than just treating them. She says when doctors treat a patient without knowing the root cause, it's similar to "putting a Band-Aid on a symptom rather than alleviating it."
At Beyond Medicine, the goal is to eliminate what's causing the symptoms on a biochemical level.
As an expert in epigenetics or precision medicine, Dr. Illescas can look at how our environment influences our genes. She says, "It means our activity level, what we eat, and how we live can CONTINUED >
“It
means our activity level, what we eat,
live can truly shape
health. The changes you make can transform your life and help you to thrive.”
truly shape our health. The changes you make can transform your life and help you to thrive."
Beyond Medicine offers patients advanced genomic, metabolic, and functional lab testing for assessment and a unique treatment plan customized for each patient. Dr. Illescas utilizes advanced lab work, food, exercise, and cardiovascular screening to help her patients. She believes our social lives are also an important key to good health.
”Our health is strongly rooted in the connections and community we are part of," says Dr. Illescas. She helps patients focus on aspects like relationships with family, friends, and people in our community. She challenges her patients to ask themselves if they feel part of something bigger in the world and have a true sense of purpose.
Spending time with her patients is what makes Dr. Illescas profession rewarding." The relationships I form with people and the reward I get when someone feels like they have gained something. The time spent is healing in itself."
Dr. Illescas’ patients have seen significant changes. "People feel like they are starting to transform their lives and that they matter and they are seen. That is really powerful," she says.
Dr. Illescas is also passionate about her role as an educator and has a strong background in teaching and medical education. Her monthly workshops are open to the community. She says, "For me, being able to reach more people on a grander scale is fun."
