Escape the Noise. Reconnect with Yourself. Rest and Create.

Go from frazzled and overwhelmed to centered and connected.

Give yourself the gift of a rejuvenating retreat by the sea this September at Sheepspot’s third annual Spinning for the Soul Retreat

September 11-14, 2025, at Shobac Farm in Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia

Reservations open March 15th.

I always say that spinning is a superpower. Yes, it gives us yarn, and yarn is a very Good Thing. But it’s all the other things spinning gives us that make it a superpower: opportunities to be creative, to be in the present, to hear ourselves think in this noisy world.

But living through these “interesting times,” in which the 30-second news cycle seems continually to pile disaster upon disaster, can challenge even the most serene and centered spinner’s equanimity and make us feel worried about the future, regretful about the past, or unable to relax in the present; tense and irritable; exhausted and unable to sleep well; and unsure where you’re going or how to get there.

I get it. I feel this way often. And I’ve learned that sometimes we need more than a spinning session to reclaim our piece of mind.

“The Cure for Anything”

Throughout my life, I’ve found that time by the sea is the best way I know to relax, reset, recenter and reconnect. I think of it as the salt water cure, bearing in mind Isak Dinesen’s observation that “the cure for anything” is salt water “in one way or another”: “sweat, tears, or the salt sea.”

I’ve been spending time on the South Shore of Nova Scotia for nine years and since my first visit I knew both that I wanted to live here and that I wanted to share this beautiful, rugged place with fellow spinners. In 2018 my husband and I bought property in 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. And fortunately, the perfect place for us to gather is just over the hill, at beautiful Shobac Farm in Upper Kingsburg.

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 centering and set such a great intention 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!

Lodging and Amenities

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!

As a guest at the Spinning for the Soul Retreat, you’ll share a cottage at Shobac, each of which has two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and common areas indoors and out. 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 Shobac Farm site, which is surrounded by rolling pastures, hiking trails, a few private homes, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Amenities include lap pool, sauna, and gym, two hot tubs, 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. Onsite parking 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.

The Food

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.

Photos © Lincoln Street Foods.

The 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. 

The weekend starts on Thursday. After some time to unpack and settle in, we’ll gather in the Schoolhouse for an opening reception and dinner. 

Friday and Saturday will start with a late-morning wellness class in the Troop Barn, followed by lunch in the Schoolhouse. After lunch we’ll reconvene in the Barn for a spinning class; this year’s classes will focus on wool skirting, sorting, and scouring (on Friday) and fiber preparation (on Saturday), using a fleece from the Shobac flock. We’ll share dinner either in the Schoolhouse or at Lincoln Street Foods in Lunenburg. 

Sunday we’ll gather after checkout at the Rose Bay Store and Bistro for a farewell brunch.

Pricing

The retreat price is $2450, and includes onsite lodging for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. 

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. Those who reserve their place by March 31 may opt to pay the balance in 5 installments of $390 USD, with the first installment due in April and the final installment due in August.

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 me 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.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Hi there! I’m Sasha.

I’ve supported hundreds of spinners in their quest to create yarns they love.

I've been spinning incessantly since 2009, and gathering and sharing spinning information for almost as long, through online courses, memberships, and podcasts.

In 2014, I started my company, Sheepspot. Its mission is to harness the vast power of online tools in order to provide spinners with a comprehensive and convenient spinning curriculum.

What motivates me? Glad you asked.

The early parts of my own spinning journey were pretty rough. I still vividly remember thinking I’d never "get" this craft that I so badly wanted to learn. When I bought my first wheel, I assembled it wrong and tried to spin fiber that was too slippery for me. My early spinning experiences left me feeling frustrated, confused, and guilty about having spent a bunch of money on a wheel when I could barely spin a continuous thread.

I don’t want anyone to experience the uncertainty and profound self-doubt I went through as a new spinner. As a university professor with decades of experience teaching adult learners, I had a hunch that I could help others avoid the same fate. So I created a clear, deliberately-sequenced, and comprehensive spinning curriculum, build on The Spinner's Journey™ and the Pillars of Skillful Spinning™, that supports students at all levels in becoming skillful, knowledgeable, and versatile yarnmakers.