Leah Donatiello

24/03/2026

As a kid, did you ever pretend you were a mermaid when you took a bath? 🧜🏻‍♀️ 🛀

I know I definitely imagined I was Ariel coming up to the surface with her long hair surrounding her, looking around at the mysteries of land 🌳

There’s a part of me that loves surfing because of the comfort I’ve found in the ocean. It’s incredible to feel so at home in a part of the world that’s basically the opposite of our usual on land experience.

It takes time to find comfort in such unfamiliarity. To me, the ocean is freedom, and female ♀️

She gives support without restriction. I’m held without being heavy. Without feeling like I’m too much, because she’s so much more, and she has space for it all.

In the ocean, there’s room for expansion and expression. She gives unconditional acceptance, maybe for the time in your life.

Anyone is welcome in the playground, but the rules are to be respected. Just when you think you’re the one with the control, she’ll remind you of the truth.

With nature, it’s always a co-creation. It’s a relationship, a back and forth, give and take.

So let me ask you, how do you nurture that relationship? 🌊

📸
🌊 Feb Reconnect Retreat ✨

15/10/2025

It’s 8:30pm, I put my phone on airplane mode, light the candle on my altar and roll out my mat.

My body was calling for it, a practice to integrate this day.

The morning after an acupuncture session always feels amazing. Lucky for me that it’s a 2 minute walk to my good friend’s house where we do the session accompanied by fireside deep chats

The morning started with a surf, as most do. The day was spent at home, and the evening horseback riding with another friend who brought her dream to life in Lobitos.

Now I sit here writing this after a yoga practice.

Once I stopped moving and lay on my back, my legs started shaking.

Those final moments on the mat, a simultaneous release and integration.

A vibration to bring me into the here and now.

How there’s been so much change, work and devotion along the path. Some days feel hard, but this one felt easy.

The discipline of devotional living. What makes the easy days feel easy is the work that’s already been put in.

I so vividly remember the internal battle of learning to surf. Of living here and being so far out of my comfort zone. Of not stepping onto my mat for months at a time. Of numbing myself rewatching Netflix series on the couch. Being able to count my friends on one hand.

I sometimes miss the early days those of having 3G of internet to use each month - but at the time I missed the convenience of wifi.

I stayed because of an inner knowing. I had faith, for no reason. There was no guarantee, no path laid out.

It’s not like this is end game or the final product - 12 years in and it’s a daily decision to move through life here.

And all its different versions, & seasons.

To accept the sacrifices, which eventually lose their value anyway.

Surrendering to the unrelenting force of it all.

As above, so below.
As within, so without.

🌊🌹

10/10/2025

Release the pressure and Reconnect 😮‍💨 holding tension, resentment, and disappointment towards ourselves is a great way to keep us feeling stuck.

I think we like to hold these because we feel like it gives us control. Constant reminders of what we ‘should’ be doing, thinking or feeling.

However in reality, these emotions make us stiff. Release the lid on the pot, move through that energy and start to Reconnect.

Reconnect doesn’t mean starting over. It’s a continuation.

And the best part, it’s accessible to everyone, anytime ✨

If you’d like support and community throughout your Reconnection process. If you’d like tools, guidance, and connection - reach out!

We have upcoming retreats in Lobitos Peru and virtual 1:1 mentorship’s available 🫶

12/09/2025

Self awareness becomes a burden when we don’t act on it - when we don’t make the changes that align us with our intuition, integrity and inner clarity.

In my experience, it’s hard to realize this and not beat yourself up over it.

But take a moment to recognize you’re stepping into new territory, and that’s brave.

🌷✨

18/03/2025

Deciding to go all in on yourself is brave. It’s not something most people will do in their lifetime.

It can feel isolating, confronting and disturbing.

It’s suppose to.

True realization and change do not come with ease or comfort although that is where most people hang out.

Disassociation, numbness, quick thrills.

It’s normalized.

But it’s not real.

So if you’ve taken some leaps of faith in your life and it feels shaky, you’re doing it right.

If it’s simply crossed your mind - you’re on the right track.

Embrace the discomfort, contraction is necessary for expansion 🌹

If you would like support through this process, message me to chat about how we can work together. I have found working with mentors through this process to be invaluable ✨

23/01/2025

Doing “hard things” is not just about getting through something, or doing it because we have no choice.

It’s about coming through the other side Empowered.

You don’t get strong without the workout.

We need the stress to grow, change, & evolve.

That’s the only way we develop the capacity to find our way back to balance.

To fight for what we want; to find our way back to inner peace.

Personal hardship is necessary.

Yet, our human tendency is to pass over it. Push it aside, push it down, avoid it, cover it up and distract ourselves.

And that works, for a while.

But here’s the thing, nothing changes, unless we change.

💪☮️

• Reconnect Retreat March 2-9 2025
• Personal Mentoring re-opens March 2025

16/01/2025

A week to kickstart your surfing journey or deepen your existing experiences 🏄‍♀️ Either way, you’ll learn unique ways to experience surfing and develop a connection between yourself and the ocean that you can nourish for years afterwards 🌀

Reach out for more info!

07/01/2025

More reasons our guests get results 👉Retreat group sizes are SMALL in order to get to know each of our guests and take time to work with them on their specific barriers🏄‍♀️

We are here to support the progress and process of each guest on a personal & holistic level.

We encourage guests to connect and share throughout the experience and a small group is necessary for that.

Reconnect Retreats include private accommodations, all meals, surf classes, footage analysis, yoga classes and mentoring, airport pick up upon arrival, and local excursions 💫

There’s an epic team to support you! We have supportive and knowledgeable instructors.

Reconnect Retreats are truly a collaboration. Between our hosts at the hotel, the chefs who prepare our meals, and everyone in between.

We can’t wait for you to experience the magic of Lobitos and why we love it here!

17/10/2024

Hi Friends :) Next month I will be hosting a small group of women here in Lobitos, Peru for a Reconnect Surf & Yoga Retreat. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience, our program helps women gain confidence, improve their performance, and enjoy the process! Dates are November 17-24 and we have 2 spots left, if you feel this might be for you send me a message or you can read more here

Surf perfect lefts with us in Lobitos Peru. This is an 7 day, all inclusive retreat that will enhance your surfing and your connection to the ocean.

13/09/2024

It feels like that point in the conversation where it’s better to just send a voice message 💌🎙️I truly believe that one of the most important and powerful things we can do for ourselves is reconnect to the essence of who we truly are ✨

For me, this has been an ongoing practice that I’ve experienced through surfing, yoga, plants, friends, relationships- those with other humans and the natural world around me 🌱

Now, I think it’s time to talk about it.

So I get straight into it in Episode 1 I’m talking about how our thoughts hold us back, (of course there’s a surfing example) AND are our thoughts and emotions really OURS?

What’s the deal with self sabotage and intrusive thoughts, and are you nourishing these types of feelings and emotions?

Have a listen and leave a comment, let me know what you think! Let’s continue the conversation 💙🏄‍♀️ Available on Spotify and Substack for now - link in bio!

Here’s to 11 years in the land of eternal lefts and home to some very powerful plants 🏵️🌵

Surf & cosmo pic by