Noa Shahar

Noa Shahar

Retreat Guide
📍 Sea of Galilee, Israel
Kayaking · Paddle Meditation · Athletic Breathwork · Somatic Practice
For active people — any sport, any level — who want to bring contemplative practice into their physical life rather than treating them as separate. No prior kayaking experience required; gear and instruction provided.
"Kayaking & Stillness"
Sunrise kayak meditations on the Sea of Galilee.
Guiding since 2015 · 44 retreats · 1200+ participants Max 10 per retreat

What I Do & Why It's Different

Sunrise paddle meditations on the Sea of Galilee, plus weekend water retreats. Former Olympic kayaking hopeful. Combines athletic performance with breath training and somatic practice. For people who exercise hard but never stopped to feel anything.

Sunrise Sessions Three Days a Week

Weekend Water Retreats

Athletic Breath Training

Small Groups, Max 10

All Gear Provided

Sea of Galilee, Year-Round

Athlete-First Philosophy

Olympic-Level Technical Foundation

Three-Year Somatic Apprenticeship

On-Water, Not In-Studio

You can keep moving for the next ten years. Or you can spend one weekend learning to actually feel what you are doing.

What Actually Happens

First light on the Kinneret, before the boats launch First light on the Kinneret, before the boats launch
Solo launch, late November Solo launch, late November
Group on the western shore, weekend retreat Group on the western shore, weekend retreat
Paddle in the rack at the dock Paddle in the rack at the dock
The Kinneret at first light The Kinneret at first light

"I am a triathlete. I had never paddled. Three months with Noa changed how I run, how I cycle, how I sleep. The breath protocols alone justify the program."

Itai Bar-On · Sunrise Paddle Series

"The lake at five-thirty is a different animal. Noa gets it. The whole format respects athletes — no soft-sell, no spiritual jargon."

Liat Mor · Weekend Water Retreat

"I have been showing up for nine months. The first month was hard. The next eight have been some of the most useful of my life."

Sharon Eisen · Sunrise Paddle Series

"The somatic afternoon was the unexpected gift. I came for the kayaking and left understanding I had been numb for a decade."

Tomer Kaplan · Weekend Water Retreat

"I bring my CrossFit team here once a year. They complain on the bus and write me thank-you letters from the dock."

Naomi Hadad · Sunrise Paddle Series

"I joined for one session and stayed for two years. Noa runs the only practice I have ever sustained. The lake at five-thirty does something the studio never could."

Roni Bach · Sunrise Paddle Series

"Three days on the Kinneret, paddling and breathing and finally being quiet. I came tense. I left with a calmness I had not felt in seven years."

Adi Klein · Weekend Water Retreat

"Noa is the rare teacher who respects athletes. She does not soften the practice to make it easier. She trusts you to handle what is real. That trust is what makes the work work."

Yael Mizrachi · Weekend Water Retreat

What It's Like to Be Here

Five-thirty alarm. The lake is glass. You launch alone, not in formation. The first twenty minutes are about the body finding the rhythm. The next twenty are about the mind catching up. Then there is a stretch where everything goes quiet — the paddle becomes automatic and your breath becomes the only loud thing. That is where the work happens. Sessions end on the dock with a short integration practice. Then coffee.

Who Comes to My Retreats

Triathletes. Crossfitters. Founders. Surgeons. People who exercise three or more times a week but cannot remember the last time they cried. About half are men in their forties.

This is not for people seeking a relaxing vacation. The water is real, the early start is real, the discomfort is part of the design. Participants who treat it as a tourist activity tend to leave disappointed.

Upcoming Retreats

I run a few retreats a year. Leave your email and I'll let you know when the next one opens.

Weekend Water Retreat — Late Spring

Weekend Water Retreat — Late Spring

May 15-17, 2026 · Sea of Galilee, Israel
Weekend Water Retreat — Late Autumn

Weekend Water Retreat — Late Autumn

November 13-15, 2026 · Sea of Galilee, Israel

If you have a question, want to discuss a private group, or just want to say hi — I read every message.

There is space on the next sunrise paddle. There is space on the May retreat. The water is not going anywhere — but neither is the version of you that has been moving for years without listening.
"Most of my students are good athletes. They learn to be good listeners on this lake."
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