Wellness on the Water: How Wind Therapy Retreats Are Helping People Truly Disconnect
When you think about wellness retreats, chances are your mind goes to quiet mountaintops or luxury spas—but what if the ultimate form of relaxation was waiting for you on the water?
On a recent episode of the Grit Won’t Quit podcast, host Tom Mirabella sat down with Carrie Villanueva, founder of Wind Therapy Wellness Retreats, and Captain Dave of Jersey Coastal Adventures, to talk about how they’ve merged two seemingly unrelated worlds—massage therapy and sailing—into one unforgettable experience. The result? A floating sanctuary offering yoga, meditation, sound healing, and pampering aboard a 41-foot luxury sailboat.
The Birth of Wind Therapy
What started with a bold Instagram message from Captain Dave to Carrie (“Have you ever thought about doing this on a sailboat?”) quickly turned into something bigger than either of them imagined. After a few brainstorming sessions and an experimental outing post-COVID lockdowns, they found themselves booking 16 sails in their first summer season.
As Dave puts it: “Where else can you get a massage, practice breath work, and feel the wind in your hair all at once?”
Since then, Wind Therapy has grown into a series of carefully curated wellness retreats hosted on the Barnegat Bay. With options like sunrise and sunset sails, full moon ceremonies, and even watercolor art therapy on board, the duo offers experiences that go far beyond your typical day at the beach.
What to Expect on Board
Each retreat hosts up to six guests and begins with a group intention-setting exercise using aura and chakra cards. From there, guests are guided through seated yoga, meditation, and sound bowl therapy—all while gently gliding across the water under sail.
Pampering sessions, like massages and energy work, happen throughout the trip. “The motion of the boat, the sound of the waves, the fresh air—it just takes people to a whole other place,” Carrie explains.
One of the most memorable parts of the experience? Watching guests fully unplug. Phones are put away, worries fade into the horizon, and a deep sense of presence takes over. “People fall into such a deep state during sound bowl therapy,” Dave says, “we sometimes have to gently wake them up.”
The Challenges of Wellness on the Water
Of course, running a wellness business on a sailboat isn’t without its hurdles. The biggest challenge? Weather.
With guests traveling from all over the tri-state area, making a last-minute call on a sunrise sail isn’t ideal. Carrie and Dave often monitor the weather days in advance to ensure a safe, smooth, and meaningful experience. Despite the unpredictability, their commitment to safety and quality never wavers. “We don’t want people out there if it’s not going to be the best version of the experience,” says Dave.
Luckily, Forked River—where they’re based—often sits in a “weather bubble,” giving them more good days than bad.
A New Way to Reconnect
Wind Therapy isn’t just about yoga or sailing—it’s about reconnection. With nature. With your body. With your breath. With each other.
From full moon rituals that focus on intention-setting to watercolor painting under the sun, every detail is designed to help guests release stress and rediscover stillness. It’s no wonder they have returning guests year after year—and even couples who book the entire boat for a private retreat.
“Everyone is so stressed,” Carrie says. “There’s no better way to reset than out on the water, with the wind, sun, and salt air all working in your favor.”
Want to Experience It?
Wind Therapy Wellness Retreats run from Forked River, NJ, with multiple booking options:
2.5-Hour Sunrise Sail (Intro)
3.5-Hour Sunrise Wellness Sail (Includes yoga, sound healing, pampering)
4-Hour Sunset Sail
4-Hour Full/New Moon Sail (Includes intention-setting ritual)
Art Therapy Sunset Sails (Featuring watercolors)
You can learn more or book your experience at:
Whether you’re looking for an unconventional wellness retreat, celebrating with friends, or simply need to disconnect from the noise of daily life—this might be exactly what you didn’t know you needed.
This podcast episode was filmed at Wingman Planning in Belmar.
