For me, this sailing experience with HERIZEN Sailing for Women, with Valma allowed me to feel more calm and confident with my sailing skills. In a nutshell, an empowering, nurturing, spiritual sailing adventure filled with learnings of all types. Thanks, Valma. The lessons and skills for me with travel with me on my life's journey. Be well.

Breathe deep and slow. Experience a week of sailing with women who become friends, feeling the fresh breezes on your face, relaxing with wine to watch the sunset and sleep with a trillion stars above the boat. I was looking for time away from the everyday stress of my career and an opportunity to build my skills in sailing. I received so much more. It was truly a pleasure to pause and enjoy the unhurried adventure of sailing with a 6 woman crew and enjoying the camaraderie of mutual experience and interests with newfound friends. I recommend HERIZEN Sailing for Women as a wonderful place to discover a very personal adventure and the opportunity to grow. Thanks again, it was a total delight!

“The trip to Johnstone Strait and Desolation Sound was one of the biggest adventures of my life. Valma is an amazingly adaptable and expert teacher. She embraces and celebrates the uniqueness found in everyone she meets. As a role model, inspiration, and amazing woman, she has helped me to grow immensely in self awareness and sailing abilities. I will take these gifts with me throughout my life.”

"I wanted to add that I am very thankful that I took the sailing experience in Belize. It enabled me to tap into my intuition as to what strengths I have and to turn any weaknesses into strengths. To use each piece of knowledge you taught me as an an opportunity to learn more."

Your course provided me with the self esteem and sense of well being to believe in myself. I feel blessed and am truly appreciative of the faith and confidence you placed in myself and the others. You pushed me to expand my comfort zone and you opened doors of opportunity that I subconsciously knew were there but had been tucked away deep and dark.

One statement you made really struck a cord with me and that was when you discussed how we are raised to meet certain standards. I.e. to get A's in school, to wear our Sunday best, to be compared to the Jones so to speak....but in reality all that matters is how we match up to ourselves. To our capabilities, to our capacities for learning and growing, expanding our knowledge and with these tools in hand to expand our comfort zones. Did you know that there is a tree that for the first 7 years of its life you do not see more than an inch of growth, but at the end of the 7th year and into the 8th year this tree grows up to 100 feet in one year! I feel like you found me in year 7 going onto year 8 and reminded me that it is time for me to SPROUT and grow big, tall and strong!

"If I could create my perfect day it would be learning to sail with a skilled Captain through the islands off Belize, snorkelling and swimming with dolphins in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean, preparing and eating delicious food, creating life-long friendships and having the time of my life! That's how I spent 7 perfect and glorious days in November 2008 celebrating my 50th Birthday!"

Life truly is an adventure and this week of sailing in the British Virgin Islands with Valma has proven it. I feel more confident on the water and feel taller too. There was a wonderful connection with the women on board. We worked as a team, shared the chores and laughed a lot. I'd love my daughter to have this experience and encourage any woman to step out their comfort zone and take the helm. Thank you Valma! Love and light.

"Upon returning from my Gulf Islands, British Columbia sailing adventure with Capt. Valma, I immediately booked my next expedition with HERIZEN™. Valma helped me take my fledgling sailing skills and confidence to new levels I could only dream of. Along with vast and thorough technical knowledge, Valma brought body-mind wholeness to my learning. She helped make sense of my apprehensions and safely guided me through and beyond them. I am in awe of her ability to explain and describe in endless ways until the light bulbs go on. I could practice and return to the most basic skills as often as I needed to. This is the beginning of seeing sailing in new ways and I can hardly wait to learn more."

This HERIZEN™ sailing adventure blew my socks off in every direction. I had no idea I could be as competent at the helm and as crew. I have gained a level of mastery that has fueled my passion for the water even more. Valma is amazing – a teaching machine - I never stopped learning. This week far exceeded my expectations and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to master sailing, and go to the next level of self-awareness. I can hardly wait until next year.

I had not sailed for over 10 years, so this course was a good way for me to clear the cobwebs of my knowledge. Valma gives very clear instructions and uses various methodologies to approach different learning styles - Bravo!"

"The best gift I've ever given to myself. It was a wonderful life experience and adventure. Captain Valma is fun to be with and has the patience of a saint. I re-kindled my love of sailing."

"Valma, in such a short time you helped me sail on my 39 ' Folkes moving from fear of sailing to JOY! You showed me how to let go of the experiences of the past to create space for the new and positive experiences. You are incredibly competent and caring and I highly recommend you to anyone who wants to move forward both in sailing and in life."

“I would highly recommend this sailing retreat to anyone who is seriously wants to learn how to sail and or simply wants to take the helm of their life with greater awareness and confidence. Valma's level of skill and comprehension of the art of sailing combined with her patience and sensitivity to her students is astounding. I could not imagine a better teacher, mentor, and motivator! I feel empowered, inspired and I can sail!”