Retreat details

Dustin Tester is the founder of Maui Surfer Girls, a co-ed surf school and teen girl and women’s overnight surf camp in Maui. Dustin has “surfed” the ups and downs of her women-owned small business for the past 22 years. Before starting Maui Surfer Girls, she graduated from Prescott College with a degree in Adventure Education with an emphasis in Wilderness Therapy and creative writing. She has put her education to work by facilitating empowering and confidence-building surf camp experiences for young women for decades in her hometown of Lahaina, Maui. After taking courses in the shamanic healing arts from the Sacred Stream Healing center in Berkeley, California, along with writing her memoir, Dustin is inspired to expand her signature surf camp programs into the healing arts of writing, journeying, group process, body work and yoga. In partnership with Julia Hengst, she’s excited to birth “Soul Retrieval Surf Retreats.” Dustin is now collaborating with Maui’s best healing arts practitioners to guide her students into shamanic healing practices paired with her passion of surfing Maui’s beautiful west coastline.

Julia Hengst, LMFT, has been practicing as a psychotherapist for over 10 years, in Berkeley, CA and Maui. With a background in Media Studies, Buddhist psychology and Shamanic Counseling, she brings a fresh approach to self-healing using concepts from various wisdom cultures around the world. Julia has studied with many Tibetan Buddhist teachers in the lineage of the Dalai Lama for over 25 years, and shamanic healing with two female shamanic practitioners, Suu Feathers (Fearless Flame Healing) and Dr. Isa Gucciardi (Foundation of the Sacred Stream). An avid surfer, traveler and word nerd, she is also working on a series of books for kids and teens that will introduce them to shamanic healing and positive psychology via the magical world of mermaids.

Jane Woodward, LICSW, has nearly 30 years of experience as a trauma therapist, currently in private practice in New Hampshire. Using the cutting edge techniques based in polyvagal theory, neuroplasticity and learning theory, Jane empowers her clients to tend to their traumas. In addition she has received five years of training in shamanic healing work from indigenous and core shamanic teachers. Synthesizing the oldest of old healing methods with the newest of new allows her to utilize wisdom from both. Naturally and respectfully this work then sows the seeds of new growth and freedom.

Cara K. Griffin, E-RYT, founder of Breath & Barefeet Yoga, has been teaching yoga since 2009. Her modern approach synthesizes numerous disciplines to adapt to individual and cultural needs. Cara specializes in hip and pelvic mobility and offers 1:1 prescriptive performance training, group classes, programs, and retreats annually. After touring the U.S in 2019, she created her signature online program, "Free Your Pelvis," utilizing breath work, yoga postures, and psychology to work with the body's energy centers. Collegiately, Cara has taught yoga programs for Savannah State University, Savannah College of Art & Design, and served as Professor of Yoga for Georgia Southern University. Additionally, Cara is a certified Pranic Healer, environmental activist, and an accomplished multi-disciplinary artist. Cara is passionate about advancing societal inclusion and transformation by sharing access to movement healing arts.

Carole Berthiaume, logistical coordinator for the retreat, was a surf instructor with Maui Surfer Girls for 4 years. During her healing journey resulting from back injuries, she has transitioned into the roles of Retail Merchandise Manager, Social Media Manager and Surf Camp Logistics Director for Maui Surfer Girls. Carole has 26 years of surf experience, including competitive surfing. She loves to play in the ocean as well as delve deep into the mental aspect of surfing. She brings her extensive knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture to the Teen & Women's surf camps she helps run alongside MSG owner, Dustin Tester. Carole's social media handle (@nrg_rider) describes her well. She loves to ride the energy of the ocean as well as life.