where the ocean
meets the mat
july 10–13, 2026 · martinique beach, nova scotia
a long weekend of surf, breath, dance and quiet nervous systems on the longest sandy beach in nova scotia. beginners welcome. come exactly as you are.
nova scotia's longest sandy beach
halifax surf school has exclusive summertime access to martinique beach, the longest stretch of sand in nova scotia. it catches surfable waves more often than anywhere else nearby, which is a polite way of saying you'll actually get to stand up.
made for first-timers
halifax surf school teaches beginners, not professionals. the staff is ego-free and easy to be around, the kind of people who want you to ask the nervous question out loud. wobbly is allowed. falling is part of it. your body sets the terms, every session.
what's included
surf lessons & equipment
guided beginner sessions with all the gear. boards, wetsuits, the lot.
housing & meals
a beach house within walking distance of the water, and good food shared at the table.
yoga & breathwork
daily practice to land the body after the salt and the sun.
brazilian zouk
optional partner dance for total beginners. no partner needed, no pressure.
silent disco in the beach house
headphones in, lights low, nobody watching. move however the night asks you to.
neurosculpting®
guided meditation for belonging, autonomy and agency.
community & connection
new and old friends, four houses on one street, a weekend that feels like belonging.
four little houses, one street
we take over four cottages a short walk from the water. you'll sleep in one and gather in all of them, with every meal at the central house. they're cute, they're cozy, and they're steps from the sand. peek inside:
commuter coming? you don't need a bed here, but you're welcome in all the shared spaces and at the table.
yoga on the beach
soft, daily, optional. we roll the mats out on the sand with the ocean right there, and rest is always allowed, every single session.
and when the wind has other plans, we move into the surf shop. same practice, different view.
neurosculpting® save points
once a day we drop into a guided neurosculpting® meditation we call a save point. a few quiet minutes to let the nervous system catch up, mark the calm, and leave you somewhere to come back to long after the weekend ends. all optional, all yours.
a little brazilian zouk
a gentle intro to partner dance for anyone curious. you don't need a partner and you don't need any experience. we always have a few seasoned dancers in the mix and plenty of first-timers, so you're in good company whichever you are. skip it entirely if it's not your thing. no pressure, ever.
the silent disco
the part nobody expects to love the most. the whole beach house lights up, the headphones go on, and the place turns into something between a dream and a dance floor.
step through. pick a channel.
our three-channel silent disco. one headset, three live channels, and you flick between them whenever the mood turns. chase the beat that fits you, dance with the people on your frequency, or wander all three. it's the easiest room in the house to disappear into, and the hardest one to leave.
a little science
the silent disco looks like pure play, and it is. it also does something real. most of this research lives in rooms other than ours, but the thread holds: shared rhythm moves nervous systems and builds belonging.
linked for the curious. most of these were run in community and care settings, not on a beach, but the mechanism travels.
a sample weekend
four days, four houses on one street, and every meal at the headquarters (the central house, where all the food lives). here's roughly how it flows.
- 3:00pmcheck in & settle in. say hi.
- 6:00pmsocial supper at the headquarters
- 7:00pmopening circle & neurosculpting®
- 9pm–2amsocial
- 6:00amsunrise neurosculpting®
- 8:30ambreakfast
- 9:30ambeach n beats flow
- 10:30amsnack
- 11–12neurosculpting® brain talk 1: nervous system economics
- 12–1pmlunch
- 1–5pmsurfing + beach snacks
- afterrest, restore, nappy poo time
- 7:00pmsupper
- 9pm–2amsocial
- 6:00amlucid, on the beach
- 8:30ambreakfast
- 9:30ambreathwave, headphones on the beach, waveee
- 10:30amsnack
- 11–12neurosculpting® brain talk 2: autonomy, agency & authorship
- 12–1pmlunch
- 1–5pmsurfing + beach snacks
- afterrest, restore, nappy poo time
- 7:00pmsupper
- 9pm–2amsocial
- 6:00amsleep in or solo practice
- 8:00ambreakfast
- 9:00amneurosculpting®: regulation bio-hacks for longevity & stress resilience
- 10:00amclosing circle
- 11:00amcheck out
- afterfree to stay, surf and swim until the surf school closes at 5pm
weather is the boss. morning and afternoon sessions shift with the wind. nova scotia's magic asks us to stay flexible and go with the floW. surfing might run in the morning and spill past lunch, and you'll always have lunch and snacks during the surf lessons. surf times depend on halifax surf school's booking and availability, so treat this as the shape, not the gospel.
themed suppers. we do themed suppers and they're the good kind. summer camp energy without the cringe. think twin night, 90s night, inner child night. costumes encouraged, never required.
the practical bits
before you surf
everyone signs halifax surf school's liability waiver before any lesson or rental. quick to do, do it early.
sign the surf waiver ›all gear and boards are covered in your lesson. you don't need to buy a thing.
the house rules
this retreat isn't hosted by halifax surf school. we rent their facilities and we honour their agreement: respectful noise, no drinking, no drugs, no smoking, no pets. be gentle with nature, the neighbours, the land and the sea. we're here to go with the flow and ride the waves.
who's hosting, and your consent
this one is hosted by kuuma yoga and andie moore. taking part waives kuuma of liability, and you may be asked to sign a permission and photo / marketing release. your consent matters to us. we'll always check your preferences first.
questions? email andie ›gear's covered, but if you want to go deeper (or grab one of their seasonal shirts designed by local artists), here's everything.
they may post more about their summer 2026 offerings soon, worth a look if you want a deeper dive.
the ones holding the weekend
this one is hosted by andie and luna. come exactly as you are, with whoever you are. we've got you.
save your place
only a handful of weekends like this each summer, and this one's a month out. there's room for you if you want it.
register
send a quick note to say you're coming and we'll sort the details and waiver from there.
choose your option & pay
two ways to come. both include surf, all sessions and the dancing. plus tax at checkout.
- bed at the beach house
- all meals
- surf lessons & equipment
- daily yoga, breathwork & neurosculpting®
- brazilian zouk & silent disco in the beach house
- community & connection
- all sessions
- 2 meals a day
- surf lessons & equipment
- silent disco & zouk in the beach house
- no on-site bed