Maine Coast Surf & Farm Wellness Escape

The retreat is run by Cielo Retreats, a small operation led by Katarina Belisle, a Montreal-based yoga teacher and chartered accountant who organises women's retreats mixing movement, creativity, and adventure. She's collaborated with Shilo Farm's owners, Amylyn and Jonas, who built their community barn in 2017 and have been hosting gatherings ever since.

Yoga sessions happen twice: an optional community class on Saturday morning and a meadow class on Sunday. Katarina teaches traditional Hatha and Ashtanga, drawing on 430 hours of training completed in India, Canada, and Japan. She spent five months teaching in Niseko and three months in an ashram, so the instruction leans toward classical practice rather than trendy flow.

Surf lessons are handled by Summer Sessions Surf Shop at Jenness Beach. The shop has been running beginner lessons, paddle-boarding, and summer camps since 2002. Jenness is a gentle, family-friendly beach—good for first-timers. The group heads out Saturday around noon, surfs, and hangs out on the sand before returning to the farm for showers and the Kennebunkport outing.

Meals are prepared by Julia, a dietitian who can accommodate allergies and intolerances. The food is vegetarian, seasonal, and tied to what's growing at the farm. Saturday's brunch is a picnic; Sunday night is a more elaborate outdoor fiesta with a culinary experience.

Eliot itself is a small, historic town right on the New Hampshire border, across the river from Portsmouth. It's rural New England without being remote—Portland is under an hour away, and Boston is about 90 minutes. The setting is wooded, quiet, and nostalgic, designed to evoke childhood summers on the Maine coast.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in shared rooms at Shilo Farm - All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) prepared by dietitian Julia - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - Surf lessons with Summer Sessions Surf Shop instructors - Herb workshop and art atelier - Professional event photos - Transportation to Jenness Beach and Kennebunkport - Evening outing to Kennebunkport

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Personal snacks beyond meals - Yoga mat (bring your own)