“Learning to surf has been on my wishlist for a while. With a busy life and young kids, I’m looking for the right opportunity to make it happen.”
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
Imagine this. Instead of taking care of others, you are taken care of from the moment you arrive. Six days that are completely yours. Time to lean and relax. Mornings with energising yoga overlooking the ocean, nourishing food, daily surf sessions and salty hair, afternoon yin yoga or meditation later in the day.
Along the way, we create space to pause and reflect on where you are in life and what matters to you. Through guided reflection, meaningful conversations and moments of quiet. But there is just as much room for laughter, lightness, long dinners and doing absolutely nothing.
Everything is an invitation. You can choose what feels right for you. Nothing to organise. No one to take care of. Nowhere else you need to be. For six days, you get to simply enjoy being here.
WHAT WILL THIS WEEK BRING YOU?
This week is about more than taking a break. It’s about remembering what it feels like to have space for yourself and experiencing how much energy, joy and aliveness this can bring.
Space to slow down and listen to what you need. To step outside your comfort zone and surprise yourself in the ocean. Together we’ll be active, play and you will remember what it feels like to feel great in your own skin. Conversations with other women will bring recognition, new perspectives and inspiration.
There will be a sense of adventure, and we make space to listen inward. You may leave with more clarity about what matters to you, a stronger sense of what you need, or simply the desire to make more room for the things that make you feel good and alive. Time in the ocean and nature offers perspective.
Most of all, you go home feeling rested, energised, inspired and a little more like yourself.
Renewed energy to make choices that feel right for you.
A deeper connection to yourself and your body.
Feeling at home (again) in your own skin.
Greater ease in taking time for yourself and a reminder of who you are beyond your everyday roles.
The courage to try new things, even when they feel daunting.
More playfulness, freedom and joy in everyday life; surfing, yoga and time in nature may become a more natural part of your lifestyle.
A supportive community of like-minded women.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Sukacita Women is for women with full lives.
You give a lot to your work, relationships, families and the people around you and sometimes find there is little space left for YOU.
Whether you’re caring for family, building a career, navigating change or juggling different commitments, you may recognise the feeling of always being ‘on’. This retreat is an invitation to step away from your everyday responsibilities and make space for yourself.
Perhaps you want to reconnect with yourself outside of everything you do for others. Maybe you’re ready for a new adventure, to challenge yourself and learn to surf. Or perhaps you simply want six days to slow down, meet inspiring women and do something that is entirely for you.
You don’t need any surf or yoga experience. Just come as you are, with an openness to try something new and we will do everything we can to make sure you get to fully enjoy this unique experience.
WHERE WILL WE STAY?
Ondina is a family-run guesthouse with a relaxed, coastal feel. Expect simple, comfortable rooms, thoughtful touches and inviting spaces to unwind. The atmosphere is informal and homely, it’s a place for those who appreciate comfort, character and personal care rather than the polished luxury of a resort.
Ondina Guesthouse is located in Casais de S. Lourenço, a small village close to Ericeira. It rests 5 minutes walking from the São Lourenço Beach, one of the World Surfing Reserve paradises. The Guesthouse is a 40 min. drive away from Lisbon airport.
One of it’s highlights is it’s stunning and spacious yoga studio overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This studio is located 300m away from the main guesthouse, in a secluded spot on top of the cliffs. One of the reasons we love this location.
Shared rooms and private rooms available. All rooms include their own bathroom.
THE FOOD
Food is a highlight of the Ondina experience. Their creative vegetarian and vegan kitchen combines Portuguese traditions with flavours from around the world, using fresh, local ingredients. From homemade breads and cakes to colourful, nourishing meals, their passion for cooking brings something special to the table every day. Guests have asked for their recipes so often that the team created their own cookbook, Ondina Flavours.
YOUR JOURNEY
The experience starts before you arrive and continues after you leave. You meet the group during our Getting Ready Call, spend six days experiencing a different rhythm, and reconnect afterwards during our Integration Call.
Because the real value is not only in having six beautiful days away. It is in remembering that you are here too, beyond the roles you carry, and taking a little more of that freedom, playfulness, courage and aliveness back into everyday life.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Dates | 23 - 28 May 2027
Location | Ondina Guesthouse, São Lourenço, Portugal. Less than an hour from Lisbon. We offer a transfer service from Lisbon airport to our Guesthouse or check out Uber, prices around 45€.
Check-in time | 3pm, check-out time: 11am
Group size | Max. 12 spots / female working professionals
Hosted by | Ruby Parengkuan & Emma Zonneveld
Price | 1550 EUR p/p shared room, 1800 EUR p/p private room incl. ensuite bathroom
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
5 nights at Ondina Guesthouse, a warm, locally hosted guesthouse close to the ocean.
A beautiful ocean-view yoga studio and the beach within walking distance.
A shared or private room, depending on your booking.
Daily homemade, nourishing vegan & vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner.
A small group of no more than 12 women.
Two female facilitators with experience in yoga, leadership development and surf coaching.
Daily energising morning yoga and restorative afternoon sessions such as yin yoga and meditation.
Daily surf lessons (4 days) and coaching with experienced local surf coaches, including equipment and transport to the surf spots.
A carefully designed personal reflection journey including:
A Getting Ready Call before the retreat to meet the group before you arrive
An Opening and Closing Circle with space for everyone’s story
Short guided reflection and quiet moments throughout the week
1-on-1 coaching conversation
An inspiration session on confidence and fear in the surf and what the ocean can teach us
An Integration Call after the retreat to help you take what mattered home with you.
Plenty of free time and the freedom to choose what you need. All activities are optional.
Optional add-on: a relaxing massage during your stay.
Not included: flights, transfers to Lisbon airport & travel insurance.
WHY A WOMEN’S ONLY RETREAT?
We meet so many women juggling full lives, different roles and responsibilities, often with little space left for themselves. We believe there’s something incredibly powerful about bringing women together.
When we listen to each other’s stories, we recognise parts of ourselves. We find space to lean on one another, find perspective and remember that we’re not the only ones figuring things out.
And then there’s the surf. There’s so much joy in being in the water with a group of women cheering each other on, celebrating every attempt, every wipeout and every wave.
More of that, please! Will you join us?
WHO ARE WE?
Ruby Parengkuan
With over a decade of experience facilitating yoga, coaching and personal leadership development, Ruby brings together a unique combination of expertise. Her background spans more than 500 hours of yoga teacher training, coaching, systemic work and leadership development, all of which shape the way she designs and guides each retreat. Her approach is grounded, evidence-informed and intentionally designed for working professionals, offering the depth of personal development in a way that feels practical, energising and accessible to integrate into everyday life. She lives by the Dutch coast with her partner Mathijs and her two kids.
- Founder, yoga teacher and leadership coach
Emma Zonneveld
Emma has spent the past years travelling and surfing across Indonesia, Australia, Portugal and Spain. Along the way, she has worked at various retreats as a surf coach and yoga teacher. Passionate about personal development, she loves helping people feel more comfortable and confident in themselves, both at work and in everyday life. For Emma, surfing brings back the joy of playing outdoors as a child. It helps her be fully present, let go of fears and thoughts, and simply enjoy the moment. She’s excited to share her love of surfing and support others on their journey.
- Surf coach & yoga teacher
WHAT OUR GUESTS SAY
“I had such a great experience at Sukacita. What I especially loved was the balance between activity and relaxation, with yoga, surfing and enough free time in between. It gave me the space to slow down, reflect and really think about what is important to me and what I want to focus on. It was the perfect combination of being active, having fun and taking time for yourself. I came away feeling refreshed, inspired and with a clearer sense of what matters to me. I would sign up again in a heartbeat!” - Karin
“The perfect combination of Joy, Relaxation, Surf, Yoga and Inward Reflection. They have a unique ability to build a program that combines yoga, surf, breath work and inner reflection that truly makes sense. The combination of them working together as yoga and breath work teachers is great and their joyous and kind energy is contagious. Eventhough there is a lot on the program, there is also plenty of free time to do your own thing and just relax. Before booking, I was worried the retreat might be a bit too short to have a real impact. I was wrong. Having been away just under a week, I feel like I've had a three week reset filled with so much joy and a renewed sense of things I want to focus on in the upcoming time. The pre booking call is not only great because you get to ask any questions you have, it also ensures the group fits well together. If you want to go somewhere that's not just a surf camp or yoga retreat, are open to some gentle soul searching and enjoy good food, this is the place for you.” - Laura
