Earth to Ocean Retreat

We believe the world needs more of us leading with presence and awareness. This all starts with the ability to lead ourselves. Grounded, open, and connected to the heart. During this retreat, via movement, stillness and community, we explore what it means to lead sustainably in life, in work, and within ourselves.

This week is a time for you to recharge, reflect and mostly to enjoy yourself to the fullest as you step into different, transformative experiences. To connect with others, with nature and to come home to yourself.

“The retreat did not only meet my expectations, it superseded my expectations. The love, expertise and never ending guidance of the entire team involved created an experience, for all I spoke with and me included, that brought depth and insights. Heart opening experiences, guided to bring everyone in an open state. Absolutely the best classes I have ever received and by far the most expertise.”

Rahima

What to expect

This is a playful week, yet with depth. It is a project created from our hearts, inspired by our biggest passions. We use what we love most: yoga, surf, breathwork, reflection and heartfelt company, as pathways to presence and clarity.

As a couple, we flourish when we bring people together and continue to invite people into our lives whom we haven’t met before. This week does exactly that: it brings people together to create real connections and safe spaces. We came to realise we deeply need one another in this world: true transformation happens in communities.

Earth | grounding: yoga, feeling at home in our body, clarity
Ocean | flow: surfing, softening into what is, movement

In short

Playfulness and depth
A retreat, but first of all a holiday
Practices to open body, mind & heart
Time for reflection and connection

The retreat

Join us for 5 days and 5 nights of yoga, surf & community: an immersion into presence and flow in a beautiful family owned B&B along the Portuguese coast.

Expect a journey of slowing down, learning and tapping into deeper layers of yourself, to discover answers to life questions you may have. Through practices such as yoga and surfing, we learn to listen to our bodies, our hearts, and the natural rhythm that moves through everything. As we work with different layers of our being and create space, we open the door to inspiration and creativity.

So you return back home feeling radiantly alive, present and possibly clearer about your next step.

Dates

12-17 June 2026
13-18 September 2026

Early Bird from €950 p.p. (excl. VAT) / first 4 per retreat
Regular from €1150 p.p. (excl. VAT)

What’s Included

5 nights, 5 days in a beautiful coastal setting
10-15 guests
Semi-private room (private upgrade available)
Opening & closing circles
Daily yoga sessions by Ruby Parengkuan (10 years of experience in teaching)
Daily surf lessons by a local surf school (beginners welcome, all levels included) - to be booked optional
Afternoon sessions such as meditation, breathwork, guided reflection & journaling
Time for 1-on-1 in depth conversations/coachings
Nourishing breakfasts and dinners (vegetarian/vegan)
Group preparation call before the retreat
Integration call after returning home

(Flights, travel insurance and transfers from Lisbon not included.)

Who it’s for

This is for anyone interested in personal leadership. From our perspective, this means you are interested in getting to know yourself better, living a life with intention, self-awareness and integrity, aligned with your values. It includes taking time to reflect on where you are and where you want to be, so you can take conscious action and influence direction.

It is for those seeking meaning as well as a great time: a balance of inner work and pure enjoyment.

Important note: no prior experience with yoga or surfing is needed. Just an open mind, a curious heart, and a willingness to learn and dive in.

We are staying at Ondina Guesthouse, a cosy and familiar family owned Guesthouse. 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 with big glass doors (that open) 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 chose this as our newest location.

Semi-private rooms (sharing with one other person) is standard. All rooms include their own bathroom. Upgrade to a private room possible.

The accommodation

Ruben

“Man, what a super interesting and inspiring experience. Even as an amateur, I felt at ease and was able to learn a lot and very quickly. Respect for all teachers, their lessons and their personal attention. The location and facilities have been tremendous. Staff are super friendly and great, healthy food with a lot of variety. Would definitely come back.”
Robin

“I found this to be such a unique and beautiful experience and it was more than I ever hoped for. Lovely people, a lot of love and fun. Thank you for everything. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for an experience to do by yourself, but also together with others!”
Jasper

“This retreat exceeded expectations. Wonderful blend of opposites: quiet and loud, active and restful, being introverted and extraverted. Beautiful location, exceptional food and lovely people. Would highly recommend it! Ruby and Thijs have created a magical experience.”
Eline

“This was amazing. I felt renewed and reenergized. Yoga and meditation brings you in touch with your body and soul. The surfing brings playfulness and brings you in touch with nature. The self reflection questions bring you in touch with yourself again. I need this every year! The perfect week for reflection, clarity, calmness and inspiration.”
Bas

“A full week of beautiful people, AMAZING food, great breathwork, yoga and surf sessions at a beautiful place with great staff and created full of love by Thijs & Ruby. Almost too good to be true ;).”
Geri

“Ruby and Thijs created a beautiful retreat. It was a wonderful balance between physical, mental and emotional connection. They are so calm, kind and welcoming which created a great vibe. I would definitely come back again.”
Lotte-Maria

“What a beautiful, fun, intense week full of love, light and growth. The workshops were very special to me. I enjoyed all of them and loved that we went deeper all the time, exploring the layers. Thank you Ruby and Thijs for holding space and creating such a thoughtful journey. Till next year!”
Clara

“It was an absolutely amazing experience. I would not miss any of Sukacita's retreats, given the personal benefits I gained and the amazing people and connections I made. A week felt like a lifetime; I reconnected with myself, enjoyed personal time, stayed active, and pushed myself to try new things. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone who resonates with these experiences. I can't wait to return.”
Annely

“The retreat was above expectations! The program and setting were so well thought through. An amazing journey physically and mentally. I loved it!”

07:00 | You get up early, the morning still crisp. You meet your fellow retreaters for a powerful morning yoga class that makes you feel vibrant, with clarity of mind to start the day with intention. You learn one or two things that help evolve your yoga practice.

08:30 | Followed by absolute delicious, healthy breakfast that is a feast for the eye as well as the taste buds, you start your day well. Every other day this breakfast is in silence.

09:30 | You grab your wetsuit, sunscreen and join our local surf instructors for a morning of surf lessons at one of the stunning and raw beaches. It might be your first surfing lesson ever! Get ready to dive into the interesting, fun and challenging process of learning to surf ;)

12:30 | All surfed out and rosy, you have the afternoon to yourself to grab some lunch, chill at the beach, read a book, go for a walk or have a little nap.

17:00 | At the end of the day you get ready for one of our magical sessions. You dive into the world of breath work, meditation, yoga nidra, yin yoga or soak up nature during a hike. You take time to reflect, create space and to dive deeper into yourself and the wisdom of your body. You might gain some new insights.

19:00 | As the week progresses, you start to get to know your little Sukacita family better, feeling more and more connected. Dinner is served, another delicious meal by our amazing chefs, some big laughs with your new friends, and you go to bed feeling content, connected, inspired and ready to do the exact same the next day.

*We are always dependant on the surfing conditions, so times of classes may vary per day.

A typical day*

What binds us is definitely our massive love for the outdoor lifestyle, the ocean, the simple life and living a life with meaning. Sukacita really is nothing more than a passion projects that brings us closer together as a couple and reminds us of the things we value so much in life.

Ruby has been teaching & studying yoga in Sydney, Byron Bay & Amsterdam for nearly 10 years and coaches teams and leaders as part of culture change programs in organisations. She is a learning addict, has completed 500+ hours of studying yogic philosophy, has invested in her own development extensively over the years and still continues to learn daily.

Thijs has a big love for water sports like kitesurfing and surfing and is a certified breath coach. After having experienced the powerful effects of breathwork himself, he feels committed to personal growth and facilitating positive change in the lives of those around him.

About us

FAQ

No. Most of our guests are beginners surfers. We always work with local surf schools that know the area and local breaks and know how to safely guide beginners in the ocean. You just need an open mind, a willingness to learn and be ready to get out of your comfort zone!
For the intermediate or more advanced surfers; we group students based on level so you get to work on your personal goals with one of the coaches.
Nope :) all levels are welcome. Just let us know if you are working with specific injuries or learning goals.
It varies, but we have a lot of people booking this retreat solo. We absolutely encourage this, as we see something really special unfolding when we surround ourselves with new people and making new connections. Guests generally love this and some of them are still friends now, after some of our previous retreats.
Every other day we have breakfast in silence, so you can start the day in quietude. You can have your breakfast anywhere in the villa. Guests usually love these moments, to start the day slow or to take some time to reflect instead of rushing into their next conversation.
This is a question that we get a lot. We mostly work with and attract working professionals in between the age of 25 and 60, who perhaps have been working a little too much and deep down know there is something more. They simply need time to slow down and reconnect. This is the group we identify with most ourselves.
For us, the most important thing is that you take what you need. This is your holiday. We encourage you to do what feels good, whether that means going out for an extra surf session or taking a nap, reading a book or taking a massage.
Surf lessons can therefore be booked separately.
We are always dependant on sign-ups and will give a final go or no-go at least 3 months in advance. We advise you to not book any flights booked prior to that, unless communicated differently.