The Spinning for the Soul Retreat

A Sheepspot Retreat at Shobac Farm.

Are You Tired?

The last few years have been . . . a lot. The pandemic may be over but so many of us remain unsure how to navigate life going forward. We’re straddling what has become our new normal but still holding onto the memories of what normal used to look like. It’s exhausting.

So much change and so much loss. It would be miraculous if you weren’t feeling exhausted, burned-out, numb, or stuck in a “routine” that feels more like a rut.

Sure, you’ve been using your superpower (spinning!) to help you manage the stress and anxiety of post-pandemic life and everything else we’ve been through lately.

But if you’re feeling the need to hit the reset button in a bigger way, read on, friend.

Join us for the Spinning for the Soul Retreat

An intimate fall weekend with fellow spinners, in a setting that rewards the eye with stunning beauty wherever one looks. Where the loudest sounds are the ocean, the birdsong, and the baaahs of sheep over yonder. Where you can breathe clean air that smells like the ocean and see stars in their fullest abundance when you look up at night.

Held in Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia in September, Sheepspot's Spinning for the Soul retreat gives you permission to unplug from a deafening world and spend the weekend in an intentional community of spinners committed to mindful making that feeds our souls.

Enabled and inspired by the physical beauty of the site, we revive our spirits as we renew our spinning practice and reconnect with nature. Guests leave feeling relaxed, centered, clearheaded, and ready for whatever’s next

YOUR RETREAT LEADER

Hi there! I’m Sasha.

I have 35 years of experience facilitating adult learning, both as a university professor and a spinning teacher. My years in the classroom have made me highly attuned to group dynamics; helping students uncover their passions, discern their talents, and solve problems in ways that work for them is one of my superpowers.

I’ve been coming to this part of Nova Scotia for 8 years, and knew from the first visit both that I wanted to live here and that I wanted to share this beautiful, rugged place with fellow spinners. In 2017 my husband and I bought property in nearby Kingsburg and built the first of two planned buildings, a small studio that’s currently doing double duty as living space while we build our house. We spent our first summer here in 2022.

I’m at my best here. This part of the world works a kind of magic on me: I’m more centered, present, and happily myself here than anywhere else. I want to share this special place with you because I suspect it will work its magic on you, too.

THE LOCATION

There’s something about this place that brings out the best in people. Maybe it’s the proximity of the ocean (as a character in an Isak Dinesen story put it “I know a cure for everything. Salt water. . . sweat, or tears, or the salt sea.”). Maybe it’s being perched on the edge of the continent. Maybe it’s the quiet, or the star-filled sky.

Located in Mi'kma'ki, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people, Shobac Farm is the home of internationally-acclaimed architect Brian MacKay-Lyons and his wife, Marilyn, and features a number of buildings of Brian’s design.

The farm sits nestled in a valley overlooking the Atlantic in Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia. Boasting views of the Atlantic, Gaff Point, and rolling pastures, the site is breathtakingly beautiful. It even has sheep!

Accommodations

Retreat guests will stay in cottages at Shobac, each of which sleeps two people and has a full kitchen, and common areas indoors and out. Both single- and double-occupancy rooms will be available, and we’re happy to pair you with a roommate if you opt for a double. We’ll also do our best to honor requests if you’re coming with friends.

Each cabin lies within what MacKay-Lyons calls “a secluded ‘Lost Village at the End of the Earth.’” Retreat guests will have access to the 1.5-acre Shobac Farm site, surrounded by rolling pastures, hiking trails, a few private homes, and the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include a fire-pit by a saltwater lake and the “sky-room,” a restored, centuries-old building foundation that now serves as an outdoor dining and lounge area, and more. Parking onsite is provided for guests.

All cabins are equipped with WiFi. Guests may use shared laundry facilities. Firewood, for the pit and the interior woodstove, is provided.

FAQ

  • I think you'll love it if you want to take some time just for you and you’re up for an adventure on the eastern edge of North America. Getting here takes some doing; on the way you will feel as though you are going to the back of beyond—because you are.

    The retreat is probably not for you if you have limited mobility. The site is hilly and the cottages are not accessible.

  • Your wheel, three bobbins, and a notebook and pen. I have flown across the continent with my Schacht Sidekick in a hard-sided suitcase several times without incident; I recommend using clothing to pad your wheel. Or bring an e-spinner if you have one.

    The weather on Nova Scotia's South Shore is famously unpredictable; locals joke that we can experience all four seasons in a single day. So pack some layers and good walking shoes.

  • Our caterer, Lincoln Street Foods, specializes in fresh local ingredients and can accommodate any allergies or intolerances. And there will be a vegan option at every meal.

  • You'll fly into the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, about 90 minutes from the retreat site. If you plan to add extra time in Nova Scotia before or after the retreat, we recommend that you rent a car. We will facilitate rental-car sharing among guests and may be able to provide airport pickups as well.

Meals

Lunch and dinner are included in the retreat price and will be provided by our friends at Lincoln Street Food, a modern, coastal neighbourhood kitchen serving market-inspired fresh food featuring hyper-local ingredients sourced from nearby farms and purveyors. We will make every attempt to accommodate dietary restrictions.

All of the cottages have full kitchens, and you’ll be on your own for breakfast on Friday and Saturday, so grab your favorite breakfast foods on your way to Shobac, or make the short drive to the Rose Bay Store and Bistro for a delicious breakfast.

© Lincoln Street Food

© Lincoln Street Food

Schedule

I want you to leave Shobac feeling rested, rejuvenated, and that you’ve had the time and space to both get reacquainted with yourself and make meaningful connections with other participants. I do not want you to leave feeling exhausted, rushed, or if you’re an introvert like me, desperate for alone time. So I deliberately create a schedule with lots of free time to take naps, enjoy some solitude, and explore these breathtaking surroundings.

Pricing

The retreat price includes onsite lodging for three nights.

Space is extremely limited.

Also included are:

  • dinner Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights

  • lunch on Friday and Saturday

  • wellness and spinning classes (materials included)

  • access to all of Shobac’s amenities

  • closing breakfast on Sunday

A non-refundable deposit of $500 USD is required to secure your place.

Previous Attendees Say:

CHELSEA M. SAYS:

I don't think I can express how marvelous this retreat was.  Someone asked me what my favourite part was and my answer was: Everything! From the location. The beach, the air, the sheep. The spinning was amazing. We practiced cool things and having Sasha there to demonstrate was awesome (We all spun silk, very successfully!). Creating colour ways was so very fun too. And starting the retreat with mindfulness was truly very centring and set such a great intension for the rest of our learning. But the most fantastic thing was connecting and reconnecting with everyone. We will have a friendship for a long time.

DIANNE C. SAYS:

I’m a person who has never attended a group spinning gathering or had an in-person lesson, so I was a little nervous about how this might all go. But I needn’t have been. Not only was it the most supportive and encouraging experience, but the time spent sitting with others, watching and listening to Sasha (she is even better in person than she is online), learning from each other, laughing, getting frustrated and then being gently encouraged by Sasha to “let go”  of whatever it was that was holding each of us back, was both rich and transformative. Sasha wove together a combination of spinning and design lessons and wellness sessions that really hit home for all of us and I can honestly say that I left Nova Scotia, not only better equipped to spin wonderful things, but better equipped to tackle the next chapter of my life.

STEPHANIE S. SAYS:

My experience at Shobac was one I will never, ever forget. Thank you ALL for our most wonderful time together and making me feel so cared for!

Is Spinning for the Soul right for you?

You want to take some time just for you and you’re up for an adventure on the eastern edge of North America. Getting here takes some doing; on the way you will feel as though you are going to the back of beyond—because you are. The weather is famously unpredictable; locals joke that we can experience all four seasons in a single day here. So pack some layers and good walking shoes. I promise it will be worth it.

I think you’ll love it if:

You should sit this one out if:

You have limited mobility. The site is hilly and the cottages are not accessible.

You want an experience that’s narrowly focused on spinning. If that’s what you’re looking for, Spinning for the Soul’s spinning + wellness focus may not work for you.

Not Sure? Have Questions?

If you would like to book a one-on-one call with Sasha to talk about the details and ensure the retreat is a good fit, please send a short email requesting a meeting to info@sheepspot.com .

GETTING HERE

Shobac Farm is about 90 minutes from the Robert L. Stanfield International Airport in Halifax. In our rural area, cabs are hard to get and expensive, so the best option for ground transportation is to rent a car at the airport. There will be a private discussion space available in The Flock where you can coordinate car rentals with other participants if you wish.

Note that if you are not a resident of Canada you will need a valid passport for entry.