Reclaim Your Joy

We understand that an agenda can feel overwhelming when you're seeking rest. We've structured this retreat to be a gentle rhythm of personal reflection, Portuguese cultural immersion, and essential downtime. You’re welcome to join as much or as little as feels right for you. And for those who prefer structure, we’re excited to share a clear daily rhythm to help you plan your days with ease.

Our Daily Flow:

🧘🏻‍♀️ Gentle Morning Yoga with Catarina, our local yoga instructor.

🍓 Fresh Breakfast Buffet at the SANA

🏰 Guided Cultural Excursion (Approx. 9:00 AM–2:30 PM) — explore historic towns, markets, coastline, and local artisans

☕️ Afternoon Downtime — rest, journal, nap, or wander.

💆🏻‍♀️ Wellness Vendors — self-massage instruction, facial massage techniques, and guided breathwork sessions

🌺 Well-Being Workshop (3:30–6:30 PM) — professionally guided coaching sessions grounded in positive psychology and focused on self-discovery, possibility mindset, and strategies for sustainable change.

🎨 Authentic Portuguese Tile-Making Workshop (Azulejo) — hand-design your own ceramic tile as a meaningful keepsake

🍷 Shared Dinners Around the Table — nourishing food, meaningful conversation, and connection

✍️ Evening Guided Writing & Reflection with Melissa — gentle prompts to integrate the day’s insights


The Reclaim Your Joy Retreat Schedule: June 3 – 8

The retreat begins on Day 1 (June 3rd) at 12:00 PM (noon) with a casual welcome mixer at the SANA Hotel bar area, followed by our celebratory Portuguese welcome lunch at 1:00 PM. That afternoon, after check-in, we will ease into our wellbeing work with Amy’s first session, "Understanding Burnout & Reclaiming Joy," where we will set personal intentions for the week. The day concludes with dinner and a relaxed evening of "Get to Know You" activities or 1:1 sessions.

On Day 2, we begin with Restorative Yoga Poses to wake up the body, followed by a Walking Tour of Caldas da Rainha. This local immersion includes the vibrant Praça da Fruta market and a stop for a traditional Portuguese coffee before we gather for sourdough pizza at Dona Brancas. The afternoon features Amy's session centered around Tile Making (a practical creativity exercise), followed by dinner and dedicated time with Melissa for personal writing and reflection.

Day 3 starts with gentle movement before we embark on our first excursion: a journey to Óbidos, the magnificent walled city. We will spend the morning touring the ancient walls, visiting the castle area, and sampling local delicacies like pastel de bacalhau and ginja. After our return, Amy will lead a deeper session on Holistic Wellness, followed by dinner and evening guided activities with Melissa for processing and personalized time.

Day 4 is dedicated to physical and environmental renewal. We take the train to São Martinho do Porto, a beautiful crescent-shaped village perfect for walking the boardwalk and exploring the famous sand dunes of its sister village, Salir do Porto. In the afternoon, we engage in a Wellness Vendor Afternoon featuring self-massage, facial massage, and breathwork sessions, culminating in Amy’s session on Designing Environments to Protect Wellbeing before dinner.

Finally, Day 5 is our integration morning. After an optional final yoga session, Amy will lead the powerful Integration & Intention Workshop where you’ll receive your custom tiles. We will spend the afternoon at the beautiful Foz do Arelho beach. A celebratory Dinner at 7:00 pm leads into the final Closing Activities (8 pm - 11 pm), preparing us for departure the following day.

Fly into Lisbon. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is a single, relatively central airport, which makes the transfer to the city quick.

Your Journey to Caldas da Rainha

Here are your best, friendliest options for getting from Lisbon to the retreat:

1. The Easy & Economical Choice: Express Bus

The bus is the fastest public transport option and incredibly affordable.
How to Book: Use companies like Rede Expressos or FlixBus. Purchase your ticket online ahead of time or purchase at the automated dispenser or ticket window at the station. Simply ask for “One for Caldas da Rainha.”
Where to Depart: Buses usually leave from Lisbon’s Sete Rios or Gare do Oriente terminals (both easily accessible by Metro from the airport/city).
Time: The journey takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Goal: You must book a bus that arrives in Caldas da Rainha around 11:00 AM to allow time for the final transfer to the hotel.

2. The Stress-Free Choice: Private Transfer/Ride-Hailing

This is the most direct and convenient option for door-to-door service, especially if you are sharing the ride or have multiple bags.
Ride-Hailing (Uber/Bolt): Both Uber and Bolt operate in Lisbon and can be booked to take you directly to Caldas da Rainha. Bolt is often the local competitor and may offer better rates than Uber. (Note: Lyft does not operate in Portugal.)
Cost Estimate: Expect around €90–€130 per car.

Pre-Booked Private Transfer: A great option for peace of mind. These services meet you at the airport and transfer you directly to the SANA Hotel.
Time: Approximately 55 minutes to 1 hour, depending on traffic.

3. Final Step: Arriving at the SANA Hotel

The Caldas da Rainha bus terminal is very close to the hotel. If you take the bus, a quick 5-minute ride-hailing trip (Uber/Bolt) is the easiest way to finish your journey and drop your bags at the SANA!

Tip for Success: Book your transport after securing your flights to ensure you meet the noon arrival deadline!

Caldas da Rainha, our homebase, is a vibrant town ~100k north of Lisbon. Off the beaten path and hidden from tourists, Caldas is full of windy, sun-washed cobblestone streets where colorful bougainvillea flowers that spill over walls and climb across old stone facades. Peacocks roam freely through the streets and kind shopkeepers greet you with warm smiles. Caldas is an artist's haven known for its rich history in ceramics. It boasts a beautiful park and one of Portugal’s oldest markets.

• 5 nights single-room SANA accommodations, a beautiful 4 star hotel in Caldas da Rainha.
• All breakfasts & dinners, and a special welcome lunch on Day 1.
• Daily wellness experiences like restorative yoga, breathwork, and facial massage.
• Cultural excursions with transportation to Óbidos, São Martinho do Porto, Salir do Porto, and Foz do Arelho.
• Daily coaching grounded in positive psychology and focused on self-discovery, possibility mindset, and strategies for sustainable change.
• Daily guided writing workshops focused on personal exploration to complement and expand upon the coaching sessions.
• Authentic Portuguese Tile-Making Workshop (Azulejo): Learn traditional techniques from a local artisan as you design and paint your own handcrafted tile — a meaningful keepsake rooted in Portugal’s rich artistic heritage.

What's Not Included

• Airfare: Flights to and from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
• Travel Insurance
• Transportation to Caldas da Rainha
• Lunches (most days): Lunch is on your own, except for the Welcome Lunch on our first day—giving you the freedom to explore local cafés and restaurants.
• Alcoholic beverages: Beyond what’s included with group dinners.
• Room Service