Swim Retreat
Did you know that swimming can improve your mental health?
Research shows that swimming can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, increase natural substances like endorphins and dopamine, and improve your overall well-being.
Being in or near water can help us enter a mindful state, which has numerous benefits for releasing stress, calming anxiety, better sleep, and improving our mood.
If you enjoy being in and near water, come join us! Deepen your experience of the freedom, joy, and mental health support that water has to offer.
If you are an adult who has no or limited training in swimming, would you like to access and experience these benefits?
What if were possible to:
Increase your comfort level in the water
Learn safety skills
Nourish your well-being through swimming
Develop a freeing & peaceful relationship with water
…And what if you could do it over one long weekend just south of Miami, Florida?
For adults with limited swimming experience, this swim retreat is your opportunity to be supported both in your physical skillset and mindset as you begin or continue learning to swim.
March 1-4th, 2024
6pm Friday - 11am Monday
For real though?!
Hi, I’m Sarah King and I had the privilege of learning how to swim at a young age. I fell in love with the water and swam in college as a competitive swimmer. Along the way, in addition to the physical health benefits of exercise, I learned firsthand how much peace of mind, clarity, and stress relief swimming can provide. The water held me as a safe place to process my thoughts and emotions.
My first job was as a swim instructor when I was 16 years and I have taught ever since! Although I have coached many ages and skill levels, my favorite swim clients have been adult beginners. I specialize in gently guiding adults with no or limited experience to learn the fundamentals of swimming. It is a joy to see participants not only create a new, healthy relationship with water but also discover the mental health benefits of how calm and relaxing swimming can be!
Outside of the water, as a Speaker and Healing Arts Practitioner, I equip those who serve others with tools to remember themselves and nurture their well-being so they can pursue their passions from a sustainable, wholehearted place. Since being in or near water can be an incredible tool for well-being, I’m honored to share my experience and passions in this unique retreat.
It is not too late to start learning how to swim.
Over the course of 24 years, I’ve taught hundreds of people with no experience how to swim. I’ve seen once-fearful adult beginner swimmers fall in love with the water. Multiple times. It is possible! It is even realistic.
With the tools, mindset support, and swimming knowledge available to you in this retreat, it is time.
As an adult, you carry several heavy responsibilities in life. It is time to access this incredible access point for well-being, relaxation, fun, and health!
I have guided several adults with no experience in achieving significant improvements in their comfort level, skill, confidence, and enjoyment of the water in just two-three lessons. In this experience, we will have at least six hours of swim lessons over the course of four days!
Own your chance to feel weightless as you release stress and learn critical life-saving skills.
Spots are limited in this small group retreat! Secure your spot with a $200 deposit here.
What’s included?
This Swim Retreat is a one-of-a-kind holistic experience that will include:
Small Group and One-on-One swim instruction for beginner and intermediate swimmers in a shallow, heated, salt-water private pool
Mindset Support through reflection, discussion, and creative journaling
Guided Meditation, breathwork, and contemplative practices for relaxation and visualization
Community connection and encouragement alongside other adults new to swimming and supportive experienced swimmers
All 8 meals (Friday dinner through Monday breakfast)
3 nights of lodging in a peaceful and serene retreat center set in a beautiful natural landscape
Pre and post-retreat virtual gatherings
The only parts not covered in this all-inclusive experience are your travel and transportation to the retreat center!
Imagine you are laying on the softest bed you can think of and relaxing as you are supported. Now imagine you can feel that support and peace anytime you swim.
Testimonials from previous swimming clients:
“You have made a tremendous difference to my life. Really can’t thank you enough for your patience, encouragement, and support to help me get over to the deep end literally and in my mind. So a heartfelt thank you!”
Gugush, Adult Beginner Swim Client
“Everything was perfect. Enough structure and very comfortable. I never felt rushed or uneasy. I had enough time to reflect and be by myself. But never felt like I was waiting around wondering what to do.
Also, I can swim. With my face in the water. I learned that after being afraid of any water deeper than a bathtub since I was 6 years old, if I can let myself be still, feel the water, then I can float and I can breath and I can move through it. Literally and metaphorically.”
“I had fun and you are a great teacher!”
- Surphia, Adult Beginner Swim Client
Turn the tide in your relationship with water.
Sarah King guides swim instruction
What will the swim instruction look like for beginner and intermediate swimmers?
Patient guidance at your pace
Frequent check-ins to gauge comfort and understanding, address questions, and design our next steps accordingly.
Most of the swim instruction will be in small groups of 4 or fewer participants in the pool at once with 1 or 2 instructors
Optional one-on-one instruction during portions of the retreat.
High-quality professional coaching and support
Since each participant will progress at their own pace, we will not guarantee full swimming ability by the end of the retreat.
However, each swimming participant willing to get in the water will significantly increase their comfort level and fundamental skills to begin or progress on their learning to swim journey. Just imagine how you may apply this newfound courage and confidence outside of the water as well!
What will we do when we aren’t in the water?
Our retreat is not just about swimming; it's about immersing yourself in an experience that promotes physical and mental well-being and a sense of community. Here's what you can expect when not participating in swim instruction:
Breathwork, guided meditation, and stretching to calm anxiety and look inward
Creative journaling and discussion to discover what concepts water can teach us in life
Healing Arts creative projects for stress relief and connection
Release and intention-setting experiences
Opportunity to create friendships over meals and activities with those taking this journey with you
Free-time to take a nap in a hammock, mosey through the beautiful grounds, play cards, read by the pool, hang out at the fire pit, or watch a movie
Meet our Guest Instructors
Guest Swim Instructor - Greg Germain
Greg Germain, Swim Instructor // Greg will be joining in the swim instruction from Houston, TX where he works as a business consultant while finishing up his MBA. Greg grew up in Pennsylvania where he was a competitive swimmer throughout his childhood and swam for Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. while completing his undergraduate degree. He still enjoys swimming on the Rice University adult swim team. Sarah and Greg met in the pool and became fast friends. They coached youth and adult swimming together for several years at both the Downtown YMCA youth team and the South Texas Flying Fish Adult Swim Teams, both in Houston. Greg is a joy to be around and his infectious laughter and warmth will help you feel at home in the water!
Guest Mindset Support Instructor - Tia Norman
Tia Norman, Meditation + Spiritual Guide // Tia honors the contemplative aspects of life as a meditation guide and teacher, and through serving as the spiritual leader of the Awakenings, Inc. As a Yoga Instructor, she guides the practices of Embodied Yin and Yoga Nidra and plays a role in curating what is offered by the THEA YOGA cohort. Tia will be leading sessions in guided meditation through Yoga Nidra, as well as breathwork and slow stretching through Embodied Yin Yoga to aid in mindset support, and relaxation to further enhance your well-being. Tia loves spending time in and near water finding it both restorative and a teacher for the cycles of life. Sarah met Tia through Awakenings, Inc. and is grateful for her loving friendship and guidance as a mentor, and has benefitted immensely from the peace Tia brings to any space she enters. No prior experience is necessary to participate. Tia is a gentle, thoughtful guide who is an expert at making contemplative practice accessible to all.
Swim Instructor Greg Germain
Mindset Support Instructor Tia Norman
Join us Friday, March 1st - Monday, March 4th 2024!
Retreat Center
Lodging will be provided at a retreat center just south of Miami, Florida within this all-inclusive experience.
The retreat center can sleep up to 26 people comfortably, but we’ll have plenty of room to spread out in the 4,000 sq ft residence since we are limiting this experience to a max of 15 participants plus the hosting team. You’ll be sleeping in your own bed of your choice, spread out throughout 6 large bedrooms with access to 4 bathrooms. You will likely be sharing a room with your own bed. The housing is designed to be comfortable while also fostering a sense of community and serenity for each retreat attendee.
The site includes several acres of beautiful nature to roam, a patio, fire pit, large dining area, kitchen, living room, as well as an additional healing center building where we will take part in contemplative practices, stretching, and creative well-being sessions.
Preview of the event space we’ll be using at the Water & Well-Being Retreat 2023!
Value:
Yoga and Breathwork instruction - valued at $500
Healing Arts Guided Journaling and Activities - valued at $1500
Semi-Private Swim Instruction (over 6 hours) - valued at $500
Four Nights Lodging at a Nature Retreat Center in South Florida - valued at over $400
Eight Meals - valued at $160
Relaxation, Supportive Community, and Access to a Tool for Well-Being…priceless
This retreat is more than a $3,000 experience.
Your Total Investment $1,850
For the highest quality of instruction, this experience has limited spots!
Secure your spot today with a non-refundable $200 deposit.
Flexible payment plans are available for the remainder.
Final retreat investment due by 2/02/24.
Questions? Contact Sarah
Registration is open through January 31st, 2024!
Special Thanks to our Retreat Sponsors!
Soul Cap
Black Girl Sunscreen
Is your company interested in being a sponsor?
Not able to join us for this retreat?
Join our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know about future retreat offerings.
Fill out this form to be kept in the loop!
Support a Swimmer
Maybe you already know how to swim so you already know the peace it can bring. Would you like to help sponsor a swimmer so they can experience this as well? Donate to our Splash fund help reduce barriers to participation.
Retreat FAQs
May I bring children or guests with me?
If anyone is traveling with you and would like to stay at the retreat center, they will need to register for the retreat as well, even if they will not be participating in the swim instruction portions. Swim Instruction is for adults only 18+ years of age. Childcare will not be provided.
**This retreat center is for those who register ONLY. Guests are not permitted on-site. We will have periodic portions of free time built into our schedule where you could meet friends off-site.
Are refunds available?
Deposits are non-refundable. FULL REFUNDS of the remaining payments are available up to 60 days prior to the start of the retreat. 50% refund of the remainder is available 30-59 days beforehand.
No refunds are available if your plans change less than 30 days from the start of the retreat. However, you may transfer your registration to a future event.
What other information will be shared to prepare for the retreat?
30 days prior to the retreat, we will share:
More details about the itinerary
Invitation to a pre-retreat virtual session to meet the facilitators and other participants, ask any questions you may have, and get prepared for our time together.
May I participate if I am pregnant?
I ask that you speak with your doctor prior to committing to the retreat. If it is determined that it is safe for you to do so, then you are welcome to participate.
How can I protect my hair while swimming?
Good news! The pool we will be swimming in is salt-water based, which means it has less chlorine, the chemical usually used in pools that can be harsh on hair. Nonetheless, here are some tips from Soul Cap for how to protect and clean your hair when swimming to ensure it stays as healthy as possible.
What do I need to know to make travel plans?
**You can fly into Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) or Miami (MIA) airports. Airport transportation to the retreat center is not included in the registration fee. Our retreat center is about 45 minutes south of the MIA airport and 75 minutes south of the FLL airport. Exact address will be shared after registration.
You are welcome to check in on Friday anytime between 4pm - 6:00pm. (If you have flexibility, aiming closer to 4pm will help you avoid some traffic getting out of Miami area)
On Monday, although we will wrap up our programming at 11am, we will still have access to the retreat center until 2pm.
Lodging is included in the registration fee.
**To locate flights consider using - Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Hopper**
Will we be swimming in deep water?
No. The pool we will be learning in only has a shallow end and does not go deeper than 5ft. If you are shorter than 5ft tall you are welcome to stay in the more shallow end of the pool as it gradually increases in depth. Our instructors will be in the water assisting you.
What supplies will I need for the retreat?
A detailed list of suggested supplies and links to recommended items will be provided after registration. Sarah will provide swimming instructional tools like floatation devices and kickboards.
Each participant will be asked to bring:
At least two swimsuits
Water bottle
Pair of goggles
Optional items include swim caps and ear plugs.
Nose plugs are not recommended as they impede with learning how to breathe when in water, which is our first priority.