Sewall House Yoga Retreat

Ive always been interested in yoga, especially Kundalini yoga. However, I hadnt really thought about taking a teacher training until I visited Sewall House last year. Sewall House is a serene place, perfect to get immersed in training. I enjoyed my three week intensive training and learned a lot from Donna. She covered so many topics that really helped me understand the origins of yoga and that its so much more than just about asanas.Donna not only brings theory to the training, she also speaks from experience from her many years as a teacher and small business owner, which is why I enjoyed the training so much. After all, theory only gets you so far and you want to have a teacher that can also address how to deal with difficult situations, create space and much more. I havent taught yet but the training has advanced my own yoga practice because I have so much more background on why we do the poses And meditations we do.I do plan to teach one day but in the meantime, I take different classes to continue learning.

The Yoga was fantastic. Donna was wonderful at keeping Larry motivated and not afraid to experience something (yoga) that was totally new to him. At the same time I never felt like I was doing a beginner class. If there is such a thing as magic Sewall House performs it in an extraordinary way. Leaving here relaxed and filled with happiness.

I'm now back to Finland & back to work, and I remember the Sewall House with great warmth. I really enjoyed my stay there - it was my most relaxing holiday ever! I loved just about everything: the food, the yoga, the beautiful house etc. Your only fault is that you are so far away! I would love to come back some day. I'm trying to do some Kundalini yoga on my own now, but I think it's nicer to do it with the group and with the great teacher - thanks Donna! I was happy to find out that some Kundalini classes are available in Helsinki.Unfortunately they are on summer break in July, so I'll just have to practice on my own for a while. Please say hello and give my thanks to Inga. She's such a great person, you are so lucky to have her there with you. Thank you for making my yoga travel so wonderful! I hope I will see you again. All the best!

My friend and I searched for a yoga retreat and Sewall House was a perfect fit. The reasons we chose Sewall House was because they provide 3 meals, offer 2 yoga classes per day, and a daily meditation. The meals are healthy and delicious! Nadja is a talented chef. My friend and I are gluten-free and it wasn't a problem at all. We had full delicious meals that you felt good eating. As a mother it was a real treat to not have to think about food and know that every meal is well-thought out and delicious. And wait until you have dessert!

The yoga...amazing. Donna is an incredibly talented instructor and effectively teaches a variety of levels in one class. Her studio is welcoming and it is mindfully designed. I enjoyed having the option of attending 2 yoga classes. Other retreats only offered 1 daily class but my friend and I really wanted more than that, and Sewall House provided that. We also enjoyed the morning meditation, it was a great way to start each day.

The house itself is clean, welcoming, and has an air of true hospitality. My room was very spacious, clean, had plenty of light, and most importantly the bed was incredibly comfortable. I checked out all the rooms and they are all spacious. Bathrooms are clean and there's plenty to share.

The location is ideal for a retreat. There is plenty to do (hiking, kayaking, biking, blueberry picking, swimming) if you so choose. There is also a wonderful porch on which many books can be read, conversations had, tea/coffee sipped, etc.

Donna and Nadja were incredibly welcoming and warm. The best part of the retreat is that I really felt pampered and left feeling as if I have known Donna and Nadja for longer than the 6 days that I stayed in their lovely lovely home. I would highly recommend Sewall House not only to yogis but to anyone that wants to get away, relax, and simply enjoy life.

A belated but heartfelt thank you for the wonderful experience for Suzanne and I. We loved the experience - combination of healthy food (delicious), healthy body (yoga) and healthy mind- beautiful Maine with waterfalls. lakes, flowers, greenery and kind people. What a great time we had. I am recommending to friends and coworkers. (my sister and I will come). Most of all thank you for the positive direction in my life. I eat much healthier, practice yoga 3-5 times a week, a good start! You were fantastic! Keep up the good work in your lives and the effort to make the world a better place.

Just a note to say thank you for a wonderful spiritual retreat at Sewall House. Michelle and I enjoyed our time there together so much. Doing yoga together brought us closer than we had ever been. Each morning since we have been home the yoga mats come out and we did the tape we bought from you on our living room floor. She left to go back to Arizona today. She made me a promise to continue yoga while she is gone. It makes me feel still connected to her. Hope you have continued success at your home for healing.

Donna's YTT was a uniquely energizing, empowering, and educational experience like no other. The intimate setting allows for plenty of time to discuss any questions or confusions on each student's individual level. I loved the opportunity to teach several times, with valuable feedback from other trainees as well as guest students. Donna is a passionate, encouraging, intelligent, and inquisitive teacher. Her energy is wonderful for the teaching that she does, and I am so fortunate to have been a part of it.

I am a Sewall House regular, returning each year in the last few years. I always think my upcoming visit cannot top my last, but somehow it always does. This year the other guests were even more comfortable to hang out with--in the yoga studio, at the dinner table, and on Loon Ledge on the Lake--than ever before, but if I wanted solitude, I could drift away to my spacious, charming bedroom for an afternoon siesta--or stroll the tiny town to browse the consignment shop or just gaze at the island in the falls. They are always improving their home: a fresh new bathroom downstairs makes everything even more inviting. And yoga with Donna is the best: I always think I will be too sore to take the next class, but I always take it, and I never feel more flexible and balanced than when I am at Sewall House. I don't know how it could get better, but I know I'll be back next year to find out. I love the William and Mary room for its cozy bed and antique quilt with squares featuring state birds. William and Mary were Donna's great-grandparents, and if you want to more of the history of Aroostook County, just ask.

This has been a truly fantastic week! I cannot honestly imagine having spent this week anywhere else. This was the experience I needed to recharge, reassess, regroup and get back in touch with my mind and body. I am forever grateful to you all for this wonderful experience. You work so hard to make Sewall House and all your guests' visits special. I really appreciate all the energy and individual attention you gave...from the delicious meals, the amazing yoga, the nonstop gorgeous hikes and outdoor adventures, and the very comfortable accommodations. I am sad to return home tomorrow, but am excited to incorporate all that I have learned into my daily life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What a treasure you have created through your vision, dedication, talent and compassion. I trusted my intuition when I "happened upon" Sewall House online. so glad I did. I was seeking a beautiful place where I could spend time being mindful and practicing yoga. I got the gorgeous surroundings, the daily intentional yoga practice, and the space just to be. Your open nature and warmth (and that of your guests) far surpassed my expectations. I truly felt embraced and taken care of...while free to use my time here however I wanted. So...thank you! I hope to be back next year! Many Thanks!

Things were so good the first time (our first anniversary celebration!) we decided to drop in to get some more. And- as before- leaving much better than whence we came. Once again, great food and steps to greater physical and spiritual flexibility and a springboard towards greater tranquility. Looking forward to the cookbook! You've inspired us to healthier living!

What a fabulous vacation we had! I couldn't have been happier with the yoga, especially for the girls. I know they loved it! The food...what can I say? So good! You all took such great care of us, I cannot thank you enough! You have a special house with special people and we are lucky to have been a part of that, even if only for ten days! We love you!

I want to express my deepest gratitude for the grace and service you provided me on my yoga retreat. It was just what the Soul Doctor ordered. You are inspirations in the ways of service, whether it be in yoga classes, hikes, great food or warm company. I came to the Sewall House at a time of great personal transition and new beginnings and you literally and figuratively held my hand and got my back. I feel fully refreshed and stronger in my body and spirit than I have in a great while. You have a magical secret up in Island Falls, Maine, and I for one, am spilling the beans about it to as many people as I can! With love and appreciation to you both as well as to my sweetheart, Inga. And Westie too.

Thank you so much for another peaceful stay at your home. I came here from a different place this year, fortunately, but the Sewall House has still worked its magic on me. We had a blissful time and I am happy to go home feeling recharged and re-energized. I will continue my yoga practice and be ready for this last trimester and delivery of my baby girl. I Wish you all the happiness in the world. My love to you, until next year.

I can't thank you all enough for making this an extra special experience for me. You really made me feel like a part of your family. Everything was perfect - the yoga, the nature excursions, the food and the companionship. I got what I came for and some. I will be returning refreshed, rejuvenated and with a new, peaceful and confident perspective on life. You have successfully prepared me to weather the transformation. You have also inspired my yoga practice with new energy. I will certainly be recommending you and the Sewall House to my yoga community. I wish you all the best and am already planning my return trip. Thanks again. Love, joy and peace. Namaste.

Thank you for a wonderful stay at Sewall House. We expected a bit of yoga and rest but found much more. We're going back home with a much improved yoga and most importantly a very relaxed mind. The food was delicious, every day the sound of the bell meant more surprisingly inventive and tasty food. Our hips will never be the same either, a testament to Donna's teaching skills and patience. Sewall House is a great retreat for people who are stressed yet looking to take the time to go back to the simple things that matter: great yoga practice, healthy food, beautiful environment and welcoming host. Thank you!

Things that I love about my training: the people that I was privileged to share 27 days with, the fact that you started with the yoga sutras gave me the basis of what yoga could potentially do...ELEVATE OUR CONSCIOUSNESS...which collectively will elevate the consciousness of our planet. That is something that was very important to me as a yoga practitioner. I loved the accessibility of all involved but especially YOU. I think the smaller group and the close proximity of our day in and day out schedule contributed to my own growth. Although I wasn't thinking about teaching Kundalini yoga the kundalini offerings contributed the most to my own personal growth. Thank you for requiring us to do a forty day discipline!!!! I think it would be an absolute benefit to anyone seeking to grow as a yoga teacher and practitioner. I really haven't felt as moved or peaceful since our yoga practice together. I also haven't appreciated the smell or taste of my first morning cup of coffee as much either. The accommodation were wonderful and the food was fabulous!

After seaching for yoga teacher training programs, by chance I came upon Sewall House Yoga Retreat. I read the curriculm, and I felt this was real. Amrita (Donna) was very easy to talk to about starting and preparing for the training. I was sold on the curriculm and the intimacy of the place. During the training, everyday, I thought how lucky I was to be there. Definitly, Amrita is a true teacher who lives by the yoga practice, shares her experiences as a yoga teacher and practitioner, and gives everything to her students so they can succeed. I was very touched by what this teacher had to give. After the training, Amrita is still a mentor and a teacher to me. Any time I have questions professionally or as a yoga practitioner, she is there to reach. The compliments from people coming to my classes are: "this is HOW a yoga class should be taught" and "why aren't all the other yoga classes are like this". My understanding, and being able to share with others are testimony of Amrita's training and mentoring during and after the training.

I wanted to experience the life of a real yogi and Donna is really one! She has tremendous experience in kundalini and hatha. She is a natural teacher. We also had the chance to be introduced to other types of yoga like yoga nidra, restorative, anusara, which deepened my understanding of yoga in general. We were lucky to get help from Nadja, Jarrod, Hannah and Rusty, and Gro who added a special touch to the training. I recommend this training offered in a historical setting and very family-orientated. It is ideal for yogis who do not want to be just a number in training.

I've been to Sewall House 3 times now. Twice as a guest and once for work study. It's just the best place. And in a world and time when we have so many options, I choose to come back to Island Falls Maine. The house/rooms are wonderful, the food is always so delicious, and the warm, relaxing, supportive atmosphere is unparalleled. I always feel so rich and rejuvenated after a stay. Donna is an incredible host; I guarantee you plenty of smiles.The first couple times I visited were rough patches in my life, and Sewall House proved to be the perfect place for me to get away and contemplate. This last visit was a bit more rehabilitative. I had a shoulder injury and wanted a place where I could do yoga at my own pace and have experienced hands on assistance, eat nutritious food, and sit in the sauna every night. Doing the work study was so rewarding for me because I got to give back to a place that has given me so much.I could go on and on about this place and the wonderful people there, but I'll just end by saying that I will definitely be going back... again and again.

This place is wonderful. The old house is beautiful and nicely kept up -- it has been in the owner's family for generations. I stayed in the Harriet Room which is on the 3rd floor and one of the less expensive options b/c it is a smaller room. I loved it. It was cozy and comfortable and the shared bath was modern with a great shower. Donna (the owner) is a lovely person and an inspiring yoga teacher.I have been doing some of her Kundalini postures for my back since I left -- great break from the computer. You cannot beat the location -- it is right near Baxter State Park and Mt Katahdin, a bike ride away from a gorgeous lake for kayaking and near to little forest trails and bike trails. There are 3 friendly and welcoming cats. The food is delicious and the whole experience is just relaxing and restorative. Donna is such a great host.I'm so delighted I discovered this place and can't wait to go back. Loved it! Do yourself a favor and check it out.

For my first solo vacation I knew I wanted to do something that would involve personal growth. I had always enjoyed doing yoga but I wanted to learn more about the spiritual side of the practice. Donna certainly delivered in guiding me through meditations, mantras and asanas that deepened my understanding.It opened my mind and heart. Through each practice I felt a connection to myself and my fellow guests and I experienced a peace and healing unlike anything I have ever known. Alongside meditation and yoga Donna invites you on daily adventures such as yoga on loon ledge, hiking, visiting an Amish community or swimming in a waterfall.It is a gorgeous part of the country and the air is so pleasant in your lungs that you will feel restored. The meals were also memorable. The food is wholesome and homemade. Home baked breads, muffins and granola all made with special additions of nuts and seeds to nourish your body.They pay close attention to guests requests and preferences. For example, I mentioned I liked curries and so I was treated to two different meals, one Indian yellow curry and then a Thai green curry that were spectacular. My massage with Linda was excellent and the soak in the jacuzzi was equally relaxing.Overall my vacation at Sewall House exceeded my expectations. Donna is an amazing person and I am honored to have shared her home. I feel I left with a new family in Maine.

I just returned from my 5th visit to Sewall House. Each time has been a wonderfully different experience. I first went because I desperately needed a vacation that I could easily take by myself from Boston. Ive returned several times because of the people Ive met there and the inspiring life lessons I take home each time.The chance to physically and mentally relax, meet new people, gain some new perspective, while soaking in some fresh air and beautiful scenery keep bringing me back year after year. There are many activities to enjoy in and around Island Falls, which other reviewers have already mentioned so I wont recount them (but really, a visit to the waterfall at Shin Falls is a must)! At Sewall House you can do as much or as little as you want.The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable and there is plenty of room in and outside of the house to relax, study or create if you want. There is some structure to ensure that mediation, 2 yoga classes and 3 meals are incorporated into each day, but timing can be flexible and you can choose to spend your day doing as much or as little as you like. Donna is an amazing yoga teacher and host. She is a living testament to the power of healing and transformation through yoga.She is the most experienced yoga teacher I have met and is equally passionate about teaching students of all levels. She is also sensitive to working with injuries as she considers Sewall House a place for healing. Donna strives to ensure that each guest leaves Sewall House feeling relaxed, renewed and cared for. Often, they leave with much more.

This was my first solo trip and I couldn't have picked a better place to go! Donna, the owner and yoga instructor, is an amazing woman who truly cares about her guests and staff (and pets). I'm from Florida where the summers are humid and full of thunderstorms-- but the weather in Island Falls during August is absolutely beautiful! If you're looking for a place to center yourself, learn about yoga, and explore the outdoors, Sewall House is the place to do it.I was treated like family there, and I can't thank Donna, Stephen, and Nadja enough for everything they did for me. I had an incredible time. Sat nam. Love to all!

I have visited Sewall House many times and each has been a unique experience. The one consistent thread through all my visits has been Donna's commitment to creating a space where guests can rest, renew and recharge. The setting is a beautiful historic home nestled in the heart of a quaint, rustic town. The healthy vegetarian food is delicious and helped me feel more vital and energetic. Even the meat eater in my party was impressed!The pristine beauty of the natural setting gave me plenty of time for kayaking, hiking, swimming and canoeing. With all the activity that awaits right outside the doorstep I still had lots of free time to curl up on the porch with a good book too! The highlight of this trip was a private yoga session with Donna, a master teacher with 30+ years experience. In one session she helped me grasp a yoga pose that I'd struggled with for 16 years in my practice!Newcomers to yoga will find this a safe place to explore the practice for the first time. At the same time, those with many years under their belt will find a challenge too. I highly recommend this getaway to anyone needing a safe haven in a fast paced world. You won't be disappointed! The healing power I've encountered at Sewall House has changed my life and just may change yours!

Based on other tripadvisor reviews, I booked trip here with my mother for an August weekend retreat. Donna and her staff did a wonderful job of ensuring we had a restful yet personally expansive experience. Donna's decades of yoga teaching and practice as well as her dynamic personality shone. The Sewall House location in Northern Maine offers a slower pace of life. The house and studio space offers the perfect combination of privacy and communal time.My mother and I had very different expectations and this retreat exceeded them for both of us. l would definitely recommend this retreat for others looking to take some time to simplify--meditate, practice yoga, eat well, and rejuvenate!

Very comfortable family style atmosphere- Donna and staff(Stehen and Nadja) go above and beyond to accommodate guests - Donna is a wonderful yoga instructor- knowledgeable, warm, open hearted. Food is vegetarian but not standard vegetarian fare- excellent. Went for a leisurely yoga oriented weekend with daughter-quality time together and this met our expectations .

A week ago, this over- travelled wanderer finally made it to Maine: first to the summer season in Bar Harbor, and then, a few hours away, on a much needed side trip to Island Falls, Maine. The town is celebrating Summerfest; blueberry/ raspberry season in full swing. For many years I have wanted to visit Sewall House, but never quite made it.Now I have and can't wait to return. Master teacher Donna (Amrita) Davidge masterfully teaches ashtanga and Iyengar- informed Hatha morning classes, drawing on 3 decades of dedicated yoga lifestyle and study. An inspiring Kundalini teacher, she sat at the feet of Yogi Bhajan and Gurucharan, among others and has a devoted following in her NYC Golden Bridge and other group classes.Her expertise enfolds the novice to longtime yoga practitioner. This family home belonged to her great-grandparents/grandparents and each lovely room is furnished beautifully with furniture reflecting its noteworthy history: Franklin Roosevelt was a guest here on occasion, as historical journals point out. It's a lovely warm home for the yogi or non yogi to visit and relax in.Excellent vegetarian meals prepared by creative chefs were much anticipated and hearty, accommodating special dietary requests. Lively lake jaunts, mountain hikes, a swimming hole, local Amish shopping spots, and the seasons best farmers markets rounded out a much appreciated stay at Sewall House, a home with heart. With Easy inexpensive access from NYC, Portland, Boston and Bangor, its easy and relatively inexpensive to travel to using bus/train transport and totally painless to do so.Highly recommended.

I spent three weeks at Sewall House in June 2014. I wanted to experience the life of a real yogi and I can say 'check' with success. The food was very healthy and delicious. However, I am not a vegetarian and it became hard after 10 days... Donna took us several times on the lake and hike. We had a great time there swimming and doing yoga outdoors.We also had yoga classes with other teachers like Gro Engelstoft. Gro was very helpful. It was a real rejuvenating experience! I'd like to go back some day! If you go, say hi to cats for me!