Welcome to Chicago North Shore Moms weekly Meet a Mom series where we feature one local mama, what they’re up to both personally and professionally.
This week hits personal in a great way! I’m so pleased to introduce you to someone who has made a positive impact on my life, the lovely and wonderful Sarah Hellenbrand, mama to an amazing tween girl, Ironman 70.3 trainee, chief furniture rearanger and the founder of The Revival Retreat Experience and Studio Elevate Fit in Libertyville!
Sarah is one of the most genuine humans I’ve had the pleasure to cross paths with. Get to know Sarah as she opens up about her own history with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia, and how that hard-won journey became the whole reason Studio Elevate Fit exists as a safe, anti-diet space for women to move their bodies without judgment. That same mission is why her Revival Retreats have become such a powerful experience for the women who attend them (myself included — I still think about our Joshua Tree trip almost daily). And good news: she’s just opened up a few spots for the next one, happening November 4-8, 2026, back in Joshua Tree.
Grab your bevvie of choice and settle in, because this one is worth the read – her relatable and raw answers will have feeling perhaps less alone in this hectic shuffle of family, work, life and feels. Welcome, Sarah!
Photo credit: Nicola Levine Photography
Hi Sarah! Give us a quick snapshot of you and your life right now.
My husband and I moved to Libertyville after college in Wisconsin and fell in love with our quaint Main Street shops and restaurants, which later became really important to me when it was time to open Studio Elevate Fit in 2022.
In the summer, I tend to cut my hours back at the studio thanks to the support of my incredible team, and hang out with my 11-year-old daughter. We love riding our electric scooters to the pool, picnicking at Music on the Plaza at Independence Grove and cuddling with our guinea pigs, Mallie and Mabel. My husband is into triathlons and inspired me to train for my first Ironman 70.3 in September so currently a lot of my time is spent swimming, biking and running.
That is hardcore and we are rooting for you, Sarah! What does motherhood look like in your house these days?
As I am sure everyone reading this can relate to, sometimes motherhood feels like my brain is in a blender being a mom, partner and small business owner. I used to think that “balance” was attainable but now I realize that I probably will only excel in one category at a time, and feel like I need to catch up in others. I think the trick is normalizing that and trusting there is a season for everything.
My 11-year-old starts middle school this fall and has a vivacious and hilarious spirit that humbles me daily. She is neurodivergent which makes social situations, school, routines and activities different for us to navigate. As I learn more about how her brain works I’ve learned a lot about mine as well.
My husband works nearby at the corporate office for BCU in addition to the unpaid job he never applied for as Jack of all Trades whenever I need work done at the studio. I am lucky to have a partner that can install lighting fixtures, play endless games in the pool with our kid and also make the best hand-tossed grilled pizzas.
Training for an Ironman will be an incredible personal accomplishment that few can ad to their CV. Is there anything else you’d say you have a hobby for?
Other than training for the Ironman 70.3 (which is a bit of a time-suck), I’ve been spending a lot of time putzing around in my yard and moving plants around (transplanting hostas, digging out ugly bushes and replacing them etc.). Rearranging things like furniture and wall hangings in my house, and plants outside etc. brings my ADHD brain so much satisfaction and peace… can any other ADHD mamas relate to this?
I love listening to audiobooks on 1.5 speed while doing all the above.
Um, yes, I can totally relate to that! Where are your go-to spots right now?
This time of year we love going to Independence Grove nature preserve. They have a great beer garden that looks out over the lake and concerts every Tuesday night. Live music is such soul food for me so I am always chasing local live performances.
Pizzeria Deville in downtown Libertyville is our go-to for wood-fired pizzas.
What are you loving lately? (A book, podcast, show, product, routine, or habit you can’t stop recommending…
- Book: Mad Mabel (and the namesake of my guinea pig)
- Show: Rooster
- Habit: My infrared sauna, red light lamp and vibration plate
- Product: Castor Oil..for pretty much everything
What’s something about motherhood, work, or balancing both that you wish more people talked about honestly?
I hit on this above but I think Michelle Obama put it best when she said “You can have it all, but never all at once”. I really can’t think of a time where I felt like I was successfully juggling motherhood, my businesses, my home, marriage and friendships with grace. It’s just not possible. So let’s collectively normalize that reality!
Additionally, I spent years answering the question, “How many kids do you have?” by saying, “We just have one”, and effectively shrinking my experience of motherhood because I had fewer children than someone else. The reality is that having a single child presents a different set of challenges from families with multiple children. I no longer think my parenting experience of an only child is “less”…it’s just different.
Is there a quote, mantra, or mindset that grounds you when things feel chaotic?
“I am the architect of my own life.”
It’s tremendously empowering to remember that I can redesign my life at any point (I just need to be brave enough to do it)!
It’s time to get down to business! This one hits personal to me because I had the pleasure and transformative experience of attending your wonderful retreat last year at Joshua Tree – I still think about it every day. I’m so excited for you to introduce Revival Retreats to our audience!
I get so much fulfillment from the work in do in my studio — and I know this sounds a bit cheesy but stick with me — I believe my purpose on this planet is to create thoughtful and energizing experiences for women so they can reconnect with themselves and find peace and joy.
Hosting retreats is the culmination of all my love languages, creativity, spirit of adventure and connection and the joy of sharing it with women who are looking for more in life. We cannot experience joy if we are stuck in survival mode (which many of us are for most of our life). A depleted nervous system will rob you of moments of connection and joy and yet those experiences are what makes our lives meaningful.
A Revival Retreat is a luxurious & thoughtfully curated experience designed to help women take a step back from the cacophony of real life and to facilitate experience for calm, peace and JOY!
Sarah’s Revival Retreat Experience from spring 2026 – location was Sedona, Arizona.
Do you have any revival retreats coming up?
I am so excited for our next luxurious Revival Retreat: Joshua Tree trip, November 4-8, 2026! We still have a few rooms available and this experiences offers:
- Accommodations at this mini-boutique-resort-vibe estate featuring 2 pools, outdoor living spaces and king beds with desert views!
- Floating sound baths and guided meditations
- Mat classes and hiking in Joshua Tree National Park
- Live music
- Great food and beverages
- Human connection that means something
Rates are per room and you can choose to share it with a friend. Save your spot here: www.fitfoodywellness.com
Your retreats combine food, movement, and mindfulness in a unique way — can you walk us through how Revival Retreats were designed to balance physical wellness, community connection, and emotional renewal?
The concept for our retreats was actually inspired after my husband and I were stunned (in a great way) with our first trip to Arizona. We spent our days hiking, soaking in gorgeous scenery, enjoying really amazing food and listening to live music and my soul felt like it was exploding with joy. That state of peace and awe I experienced on this trip is what I aim for with each Revival Retreat experience.
Chicago North Shore Moms site curator, Ellie, at Sarah’s Revival Retreat in Joshua Tree, 2025.
We have to take care of our bodies before we can address what our minds and souls need: Gentle movement, food that nourishes while also satisfies, spending time outdoors and fostering meaningful conversations are all essential components in helping reset the nervous system. This is essential before we can tap into joy, peace and calm promoting your emotional renewal and connection to ourselves.
Sarah’s Revival Retreat Experience from spring 2026 – location was Sedona, Arizona.
Can you speak more about how food plays a central role in your retreats as more than just fuel — how do you curate the menus and food experiences to support both nourishment and enjoyment, and how does this align with your overall wellness philosophy?
Full disclosure I have a history of an eating disorder, so this is always a tricky topic for me (and especially in our world right now as a woman). In decades of struggling with my relationship with food (and knowing it will likely come and go my entire life) my path to recovery meant I got to fall in love with food all over again.
Food can be healing!
Food can be joy!
All food has value and purpose in our lives and while some foods are more nutrient dense than others, there is value in all foods for not just our bodies but for our souls as well.
Food is community, comfort, creative expression and of the most basic and lovely simple joys in life.
Will there be wine? Asking for a friend.
You know it. And beer, Mocktails, seltzer, coffee tea and more.
Participants (like me for example) often mention personal transformation and deep connection. Can you share a story or moment from a recent retreat?
A retreat experience is so different from a girl’s trip or traveling with family. One of the best aspects (although admittedly the most challenging at first) is on a retreat, women get to put their needs first. You aren’t having to help coordinate plans, nor is there an obligation to entertain others if what you need is peace and quiet.
As the retreat progresses, it’s powerful to see the energy shift from I should be doing something…to I choose to sit here in peace and take in the view.
Other magic that happens over the course of the trip are the deep connections among women who had not previously met. The retreat atmosphere seems to circumnavigate the superficial social norms of getting to know someone and fast-tracks to the good stuff.
The real stuff.
The cohesion and comfort that guests feel with each other after 5 days turn into long-term friendships and I am honored to have a role in those connections.
And how has your life changed since starting these retreats?
The phrase “we are called to serve in the ways that heal us most” resonates with my experience hosting retreats. When I can bring peace and joy to another woman who may not have been able to tap into it on her own, a part of my soul heals.
I am so grateful to have been trusted to do this work.
When you’re not planning for a retreat, training for the Ironman 70.3, or rearanging plants and furniture where can we find you?
Studio Elevate Fit in Libertyville is my boutique fitness studio and my other baby. I opened in January of 2022 as we were pulling out of the pandemic and was blow away with the support from my local community. Given my aforementioned history of an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, anxiety and depression, I needed to make the studio a “safe place” for myself and any other women looking to find peace in her mind and body.
At Studio Elevate Fit We are a anti-diet, community-centric studio offering incredible classes such as barre, mat pilates, yoga, strength and cardio. But I often say that what we are really doing is working on our skills of resiliency and movement.
In delivering exceptional fitness experiences, we give our clients a safe place to process, connect and heal which is just as much for them as it is for me.
We have 8 unique class formats on our schedule and a great 21-day trial for new clients priced at $79. I’d love to move with you! Learn more or schedule a class at studioelevatefit.com.
Give us your dets! Where can we connect and ask questions?
Instagram: @sarahelevate, @studioelevatefit, @revivalreteatexperience
Email: [email protected]
Website for the studio: www.studioelevatefit.com
Website for Revival retreats: www.fitfoodywellness.com
About Our Spotlight Partner
Chicago North Shore Moms is supported in part by Mary Gregory Gifford, a Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
