Surf Goddess Team

CHELSEA (SHELLSEA) ROSTILL-HUNTLEY - Surf Goddess Founder

Welcome to Surf Goddess Retreats...

Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about myself and how our magical retreats came about as surfing is the foundation of all that is good in my life today.

I am also proud to be a glorious example that you don't have to fit the media's image of a 'surfer girl' to experience the joy of surfing.

Surfing can be enjoyed by women of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds!

Before my transformation into a Surf Goddess, I earned a B.A. in Communications from Canada's Simon Fraser University, which lead me to work for over 7 years in sales and marketing for companies in the travel, hospitality and water sports industry, such as Aman Resorts and Mares Scuba, in S.E. Asia, Australia & Europe.

Following the wise words of my mum who told me to “do what you love”, I became a professional life coach and workshop leader for 5 years working with international clients both privately and with corporations helping people live their lives to their highest potential.

Today, as the founder of Surf Goddess Retreats, I am privileged to combine all my life's passions by offering a space where women can fully experience the joy of being the best of themselves - strong, sensual, smart, silly and full of life!

Surf Goddess Retreats all began while I was chilling out with my friends after we had finished another fantastic day surfing together in Bali.

We all agreed that the best times in our lives had been when we were simply hanging out in the surf being ‘girls’.

As there were not yet any organized spaces for women to surf together in indonesia (or the Southern Hemisphere for that matter!)...we decided that it was time to make the camaraderie, laughter and fun we shared available to every woman.

Surfing has been an essential part of my life since I first headed out into the waves of Bali's Legian Beach with board in hand in 1997.

With women's surfing still emerging at the time, I was fortunate to be taught by one of the early pioneers of women's professional surfing, who had already been surfing since the 70's.

I am eternally grateful that my journey into surfing was lead by this soulful woman surfer who taught me the lessons of the 'Surf Goddess Way' which I now have the privilege of passing on to all those who join us today.

Something wonderful happens when women surf, we grow more confident in ourselves, we find new places in our soul, we wash away the cares of the world and see the big picture of our lives and our place in it.

Surfing is more than simply a sport, it is a state of mind and way of being.

I believe we all have a Surf Goddess inside ourselves.

Who is she?

A Surf Goddess...

Smiles with her eyes
Laughs from her belly
Speaks from her heart
Lives with abundance and kindness
Loves life’s little luxuries and pampering
Is young at heart and wise beyond her years
Is energetic, strong and supple
Is peace-full, accepting and loving
Is inspired and inspiring
and loves to surf!

I hope that you will come and join us to surf the waves together, to awaken and celebrate the surf goddess in you!

Cheers,
Chelsea (a.k.a ‘Shellsea’)

MELINDA LLOYD - Surf Goddess Guide

Coming from Melbourne Australia, Melinda brings to our retreats her charming blend of enthusiasm and professionalism; both for her pure love of surfing and her ability to make sure all our guests receive the utmost in care and attention.

Melinda has an extensive background in senior corporate management and also as a a professional life coach in her 'past life'.

Today, Melinda is the perfect example of a woman who had the courage to create her life the way she wants it.

Making the decision to follow her dream, Melinda jumped in feet first and moved to Bali to have a life in where she could immerse herself daily in her passion for surfing.

She now shares her joy of surfing and living life to the fullest with our guests on Surf Goddess Retreats as our resident Surf Goddess Guide and all round super stoked wahine!

SUSAN ROSE - Yoga Goddess Guide

Our resident yoga teacher is Susan Rose who is internationally recognized as being one of the teachers in Bali who receives the highest accolades.

Susan has studied extensively in India and with teachers grounded in the authentic Indian tradition of yoga.

She brings these ancient practices to life and makes them accessible to all who want to learn how to incorporate these transformative practices into everyday modern life.

Susan teaches with energy, intelligence and compassion. Inspired by a genuine desire to share the techniques that have transformed her own life, Susan draws from a vast range of yogic traditions (Classical Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini and Tantra) to weave a flowing experience. Breath and movement are brought into harmony by the mind and union, as one of the many definitions of yoga, is achieved.

After a chance encounter many years ago, Susan began her yogic journey with her heart on fire to set off to explore an study the history and culture of yoga in India and Thailand.

She studied and traveled with a number of teachers before settling in Bali. After years of following the footsteps of her rebellious male gurus and avoiding formal qualifications, Susan was drawn to a gifted woman teacher offering the internationally recognized certification in Bodichitta (Awakened Heart) Yoga.

Now as a certified Integral Yoga instructor and Registered Yoga Teacher with the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance, she teaches these life-enhancing techniques with heart in order to share her discovery of a way to enjoy life to your highest potential & to develop as a human-'being' rather than just a human-'doing'.

Susan also enjoys teaching the ancient form of Qi Gong. Her practice focuses on a dynamic routine known as 'The Eight Cosmic Movements'. Once mastered, this set can be a powerful tool to activate your 'Qi" or life force, encouraging it to flow freely and directing it throughout the whole body. An excellent complement to surf and yoga, this practice calms the mind and stretches the body, developing the practitioner's sensitivity to their own energy system.

KAREN (KAZ) TOUPIN- Yoga and Surf Goddess Guide

‘Kaz’ is affectionately known as our surfing yoga goddess. Kaz began practicing yoga since 1988 when she was pregnant with the first of her two daughters and in 1999 she completed the internationally recognized Yoga Arts Teacher Training (Cert IV) and now teaches up and coming instructors at the world renowned Yoga Arts Teachers' Training courses.

An avid surfer for many years, Kaz specializes in offering yoga classes designed for surfers in her home town of Byron Bay…which is another great surfing mecca found on the east coast of Australia. She is the yoga instructor for the Byron Bay Board riders Club and is internationally sought after, teaching workshops throughout Australia, Canada, America, Sri Lanka and of course Bali. She brings her natural warmth and fun to her sessions making them the perfect way to prepare for, and wind down from, a great day in the surf.

BEATE (BILLY) MCLATCHIE - Yoga Goddess Instructor

Billy is originally from Austria but Asia in her soul and has lived lives in Bali for 14 years. After obtaining a business degree and many years in politics, hospitality industry and real estate, she devoted her life wholeheartedly to yoga. Beate has received two international yoga teaching certifications with Yoga Alliance: through the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Neyar Dam, Kerala, South India and through Vibrant Living Yoga in Bali and is currently enrolled in a 3 year Iyengar yoga teacher training. Besides her full time yoga & wellness studies and teachings, her interests lie with languages, especially ancient ones, holistic healing therapies and wholesome nutrition. She loves to indulge in the green of rice fields, the warmth of the sand on the beach, the smell of Indian incense, the sound of chanting and the taste of natural cacao.

Why Women Love Surf Goddess Retreats...

There are so many reasons why we are are consistently rated as one of the world's best destination surf and yoga retreats for women.

Most importantly we put our guests first. That is why we limit the number of guests on our surf retreats to a maximum of 8. With small groups our guests receive the highest personalized attention and instruction.

From the moment our guests step off the plane they are taken care of by our 'Goddess Guides', so all they have to do is show up and enjoy. Most of our work is done before our guests even arrive, with every detail of the retreat carefully and lovingly planned so that our goddesses experience a remarkable holiday filled with memories they will cherish long after they return home.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality of instruction from people who are certified and trained in their area of expertise. We have up to 50 people working with us to create the Surf Goddess experience; all are paid professionals and are never volunteers on a 'work exchange' holiday.

Also, because we have been in Indonesia for over 10 years and speak the local language, we are able to create an experience of the island that most day-to-day travelers never imagine exists. Our activities are five star experiences that immerse our guests in the exotic Balinese culture which is unique to our island alone.

We also believe that you don't have to rough it to be serious about your surfing and yoga. Our villas are charming personalized accommodation where you will find laid back island living with a touch of luxury. Our private cooks prepare meals daily with local organic produce and a menu that changes daily so our guests always have new taste sensation to look forward to each day. Couple all this with some of the best tropical surf in the world and you have a surf retreat fit for a Goddess!