Training Experience
With over 14 years in the fitness and wellness industry, Marc Alabanza has trained thousands of individuals, creating and overseeing Immersion Wellness programs at prestigious retreats such as The Ashram in Calabasas, CA; The Ranch at Live Oak Malibu, CA; and GroundSea Fitness in the Berkshires, MA. His programs have earned numerous accolades, including recognition from SpaFinder Magazine as the "Best Weight Loss Spa" and a Silver Sage Reader's Choice award for Top 5 Weight Loss Spas. Travel + Leisure also honored Marc's retreats with the World’s Best Spas Award, naming them a Top Destination Spa, while Lonely Planet ranked them as the #2 World’s Best Luxury Boot Camp.

Education
Marc is a Certified Firearms Instructor (CADOJ, CACCW, BSIS, NRA), a Certified Mountain Rescuer, a Personal Trainer, and a Nutritional Therapist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with a focus on Archaeology (North American Southwest), along with minors in Art (Sculpture) and Psychology. His anthropological and archaeological background fuels his passion for understanding the evolution of subsistence strategies, particularly how our modern food systems have become increasingly processed and nutritionally deficient.

Outdoor & Physical Training Experience
Marc blends theoretical fitness knowledge with practical, field-tested experience. An avid hiker, backpacker, kayaker, mountain biker, rock climber, and SCUBA diver, Marc has spent over 20 years competing and coaching in adventure sports, including races such as the Fogdog 24 Adventure Race and Cal-Eco Adventure Race. He is also a PADI Certified Rescue Diver, with over 70 dives logged across North and Central America. In martial arts, Marc holds ranks in Dux-Ryu, Ukidokan Kickboxing, Tang Soo Do Karate, and Krav Maga, bringing over 20 years of experience to his teachings.

Medical & SAR Experience
As a nationally registered (NREMT) and Certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Ventura County, CA, Marc also serves as a veteran member of the Ventura County Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team 3 (VCSAR3), With over 17 years of experience, he has participated in numerous rescue and recovery operations across California. He has received specialized training in wilderness search techniques, urban search and rescue, snow and ice operations, communications, wilderness orienteering, backcountry tracking, technical rope rescue, and swiftwater rescue through the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA).

Preparedness & Community Experience
Marc has been actively involved in preparedness since the early 1990s, working with FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and serving as a Preparedness Specialist for Black Umbrella, a disaster preparedness consulting company. He has also trained at the Department of Homeland Security’s “Cobra Alley” focusing on technical emergency response to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) incidents.

Gardening, Animal Husbandry & Subsistence Practices
A passionate advocate for health, wellness, and food production, Marc has operated the Alabanza Family Farm since 2011. There, he cultivates small crops using hydroponics and SMall Plot, INtensive (SPIN) farming techniques. Marc also raises a small flock of heritage chickens, produces meat and eggs, and butchers wild game. This hands-on approach to sustainable living has deepened his understanding of what truly makes food healthy and has enhanced his commitment to teaching others about the importance of food production and self-sufficiency.

Continuing Education & Inspiration
Marc remains dedicated to educating and inspiring others to discover their physical and mental potential through his various wellness, fitness, and preparedness programs, fostering self-sufficiency, confidence, and a balanced lifestyle.