A few weeks ago, the serene beaches and lush landscapes of Nosara, Costa Rica, became the perfect backdrop for this year’s Mastermind Retreat. With 11 heart-centered women coming together, it was a week filled with love, laughter, and connection in ways we could have only imagined. This retreat wasn’t just an escape; it was a […]

Sofia Estrella, a writer and Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator, shares her transformative experience at the 2024 NUSHU Surf Retreat in the final part of her four-part guest blog series. Fatigued from three days of surfing but still wanting to learn more, towards the end of our retreat in Costa Rica, I began extending my breaks […]

Sofia Estrella, a writer and Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator, shares her transformative experience at the 2024 NUSHU Surf Retreat in the third part of her four-part guest blog series. My love of learning also encompasses sometimes (okay, most times) being an obsessively high achiever. Standing up on a surfboard was an enormous accomplishment for a […]

Sofia Estrella, a writer and Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator, shares her transformative experience at the 2024 NUSHU Surf Retreat in the second part of her four-part guest blog series.   The plan was to boogie board. As a teacher with chronic pain, I learned to manage fear with meticulous scaffolding. When my doctor cleared me […]

Sofia Estrella, a writer and Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator, shares her transformative experience at the 2024 NUSHU Surf Retreat in part one of her four-part guest blog series. Years ago, when I learned that I could only love others to the degree I loved myself, I also uncovered fear. I alone knew how truly insignificant […]

How this small daily ritual created my foundation for self-care over time. Self-care is recognizing that your needs matter. In the very beginning of my journey to find myself, I committed to making myself a cup of tea in the morning before I made breakfast for my five kids, got backpacks ready, and rushed out […]

Confession: I’m kind of obsessed with cults. I’ve read a bunch of books by gurus and self-help teachers. They range from cult leaders to people whose work I would characterize as irresponsible/not in alignment with my values. I read these books because I’m so fascinated by how and why people get swept up with certain […]

This month, I’m beyond thrilled to announce a special treat just for you—my Summer Reading Giveaway! It’s a celebration of my love for gift-giving, self-help books, and supporting brilliant authors who are also trusted teachers and friends. Three Things I Love: 1) Gift Giving: There’s nothing quite like the joy of giving. It warms my […]

This April, we traveled to Nosara, Costa Rica, for our annual Surf Retreat with 25 incredible women. It’s by far one of our favorite offerings because no one comes out of the week unchanged. In just seven days, 25 women gathered for a week of surf, sun, and sisterhood. Masks were shed, vulnerabilities were embraced, […]

In February 2024, we traveled to Big Indian, New York for a special retreat in partnership with Ally Bogard. Each year, we plan our Upstate Retreat in the winter, as it’s the perfect time to rest and turn inward. The season lends itself to restoration and quiet contemplation. There was no better place to do […]

I’m a recovering perfectionist and here’s how motherhood helped me let go. I’ll never forget the time I called Tovah Klein, a leading developmental psychologist, desperate and at my wits end with my outrageously non-compliant child. Among my son’s transgressions was his refusal to participate in the “Mommy and Me” music class I had signed […]

A Blog Repost from Sage + Sound AM/PM: Vanessa Cornell is Not Disciplined “It’s really important to me that we think of wellness in service to our lives, and not think about wellness as a goal unto itself,” Vanessa Cornell founder of the NUSHU, a community of women on spiritual journeys to find deeper connections […]

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I love discovering beautiful new things and supporting soulful and generous founders, so the holidays are full of creativity and joy for me (and wonderful products tied up in bows). I’m excited to share some of my favorites with you here. Don’t forget to take care of […]

Last week marked a momentous occasion as the second annual NUSHU Mastermind Retreat unfolded in the picturesque setting of Stone Ridge, New York. A dynamic group of 18 thought leaders, entrepreneurs, founders, and practitioners, all of whom share a commitment to making a positive impact, graced the retreat with their presence. The essence of this […]

Sofia Estrella is a writer and Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator. Here, Sofia shares her story how she began to develop self-trust through writing, community, and the power of NUSHU Group. When I look at these two photos side-by-side, I think of the Robert Frost poem. You know the one, especially since we’ve all had moments […]

Checking In: How’s Your Mental Health?  Guest Blog By J Owens   How are your relationships with your family, friends, and colleagues?   How do you show up in these relationships?   Do you allow yourself to be open when needed or do you hide behind a facade?   Are you comfortable asking for help?   These questions came […]

How to Boost Your Confidence The Number One Pep Talk To Give Yourself Everyday A guest blog post written by Success Coach, Angel Marie I’m scared. Nobody’s going to care about what I have to say. I’m not wise enough yet. I care too much what other people think. I’ll never make it. Is it […]

In April 2023, we traveled to Stone Ridge, New York for our Upstate Retreat in partnership with Erika Bloom. Together, we adventured both inside and out, exploring the nature of the beautiful Hudson Valley, as well as our own inner landscapes.     “How do I feel? What do I need?” ⁠⁠These two questions were […]

Certified NUSHU Group Facilitator and Founder of Well Refined, Courtney Evans, joined the NUSHU Surf Retreat in February 2023. What follows is her beautiful retelling of the time spent on retreat: “I spent last week in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica on a women’s surf retreat with NUSHU, a wellness collective I facilitate sharing circles for. I […]

I’ve always been really interested in fear. It’s the reason I took up surfing, rock climbing, and skiing at 36 years old. I had spent the last eight years pregnant, breastfeeding, or both. I had been taking care of five babies and put myself on the back burner. I found myself exhausted, numb, and totally […]