Reclaim Joy + Overcome Burnout
A Wellness Retreat in Portugal
Step out of the systems that drain you and into an environment designed for deep restoration.
Hey there…
I invite you to consider your answers to these questions:
Do you identify as a smart, driven, high-achieving woman who cares deeply for others- like your family, students, patients, clients, employees, or neighbors?
Do you feel overwhelmed by personal responsibilities or stuck in an exhausting career that looks good on paper but leaves you unfulfilled?
Have you tried to “fix” your burnout with “all the things”- morning routines, meditations, and movement; self-care, self-help, and self-sabotage- only to find minimal relief?
If you answered “yes” to any of these… then I’d love to help you reignite your zest for life and restore emotional balance.
A Wellness Retreat in Caldas da Rainha
Rest, renewal, and remembering who you are beneath the burnout.
Portugal June 3-8, 2026
Join us for an exclusive retreat designed to help you reclaim your energy, renew your spirit, and find your way back to joy!
Imagine:
Experiencing the warmth, rhythm, and hospitality of Portuguese culture, where slowing down is a way of life.
Enjoying uninterrupted, guilt-free, focused “me-time” to rediscover what brings you genuine joy.
Being fully present in a variety of immersive experiences carefully curated to spark reflection, connection, creativity and calm.
Developing a practical, customized, actionable roadmap to overcome obstacles and design your dream life.
Leaving with newfound clarity, returning home with the energy and commitment to follow your dreams for sustainable recovery.
This isn't just a getaway—it's an investment in your future self. It's about practical tools, profound rest, and a beautiful change of scenery to spark a genuine shift.
When Stepping Away Is the Work
Wellness retreats aren’t a cop-out or an escape—and they certainly aren’t selfish or a way of avoiding responsibility. They’re an intentional reset. Sometimes, the only way to truly disconnect from what’s keeping you stuck is to step outside your daily environment and give yourself space to reset, reflect, and realign.
Reclaim Your Joy offers something difficult to access in everyday life: A rare combination of shared community, intentional space, and thoughtfully curated experiences that create meaningful change in a short amount of time. Through guided workshops, connection, and immersive moments, the retreat is designed to support deep restoration—and to help insights turn into lasting shifts long after you return home.
1. Community + Connection
Burnout can feel lonely, especially when shame and guilt make it hard to talk about. In this retreat, you’ll be surrounded by a small group of women who understand what you’re carrying and can hold space for it—without judgment. The simple act of being witnessed, supported, and reminded you’re not alone can be profoundly transformative.
2. Cultural Immersion
Experience the warmth, rhythm, and hospitality of Portuguese culture, where slowing down is not indulgence—it’s a way of life. Together, we’ll explore local food, landscape, and daily rituals that remind the body how to breathe again. Each day includes thoughtfully designed opportunities to reignite your energy, connect with others, and experience the beauty of Portugal with intention.
4. Well-being Workshops
Each day includes professionally guided coaching groups that build on one another and lead to meaningful changes in well-being. You will be guided to uncover the root causes of chronic stress, recognize long-standing patterns, and gain new perspective. This focused, immersive approach allows in days what often takes months- and offers clear, practical tools you can use immediately.
3. Curated Activities
From gentle morning movement and creative practices to cultural excursions and shared meals, each activity is intentionally chosen to support nervous system regulation, connection, and renewal. The daily flow balances group experiences with individual reflection, guided exploration with independent expression- all within a safe, nurturing environment where you can be truly present.
5. Layers of Support
From the moment you opt in to Reclaim Your Joy, you’ll receive specialized support to help you feel prepared, grounded, and connected. After securing your spot, you’ll receive a retreat eBook with detailed information along with access to pre-retreat Zoom calls to answer all of your questions and help with planning. During the retreat, optional enhancements—including mind-body wellness services and private coaching sessions—will be available. To ensure lasting integration, you’ll also have the option to continue your journey, post-retreat, for sustained momentum and well-being.
Where We’ll Wander:
Discover the Heart of Portugal’s Silver Coast
Often simply called Caldas, this vibrant city known for its rich history in ceramics is a quintessential Portuguese town. It boasts a beautiful park, winding streets, and a daily fruit and vegetable market that is one of the oldest and largest in Portugal. The city's name, meaning "Queen's Hot Springs," comes from its historic thermal hospital founded by Queen Leonor in the 15th century.
Caldas will be your home base for the retreat, with our stay at the 4-star SANA Silver Coast Hotel. Housed in an elegant 19th-century building with modern updates, the hotel features beautiful bathrooms with exceptional showers, a generous breakfast buffet, an intimate bar with outdoor seating, and is conveniently located next to a small Portuguese mall for casual shopping. The SANA Silver Coast will also serve as the primary location for our group workshops.
Caldas da Rainha
Step back in time in Óbidos, a remarkably preserved medieval town entirely enclosed within fortified stone walls. This charming village is a designated national monument and is known for its narrow cobblestone streets and traditional whitewashed houses draped in bougainvillea—vibrant flowering vines that spill over doorways and walls in shades of pink, purple, and red. Óbidos is also famous for its annual International Chocolate Festival and for ginjinha, a sweet cherry liqueur traditionally served in a small chocolate cup.
Óbidos
This picturesque coastal town nestled around a unique, shell-shaped bay, makes it one of Portugal's safest and most family-friendly beaches. The calm, shallow waters are perfect for swimming and various water sports. A charming promenade lines the bay, offering lovely views, cafes, and restaurants, while a wooden boardwalk leads to the impressive dunes and a more rugged stretch of coastline.
São Martinho do Porto
Located adjacent to São Martinho do Porto, Salir do Porto is a smaller, more tranquil village known for having the highest sand dune in Portugal. It offers stunning views of the bay of São Martinho do Porto and provides a more laid-back atmosphere. It's a great spot for those seeking peace and natural beauty, with opportunities for walking and enjoying the natural landscape.
Salir do Porto
This dynamic coastal village uniquely situated where the Óbidos Lagoon meets the Atlantic Ocean. This creates a diverse environment offering both the calm, shallow waters of the lagoon—ideal for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and paddle boarding—and the more dramatic waves of the ocean, popular with surfers. The village itself offers a good selection of restaurants and cafes, many with stunning views of the lagoon or the sea, making it a popular destination for both relaxation and water sports.
Foz do Arelho
Lisbon will be your arrival and departure city for the retreat. Portugal’s vibrant capital blends historic charm with modern energy, offering sunlit hills, colorful tiled buildings, and sweeping views of the Tagus River. Known for its iconic trams, lively neighborhoods, and rich culinary scene, Lisbon invites wandering, café pauses, and discovery. It’s a city where tradition and creativity coexist, setting a welcoming tone for the journey ahead.
Lisbon
You Weren’t Meant to Burn Out. There’s a Better Way Forward
Community support and a meaningful change of scenery can be powerful catalysts during periods of stress and transition. Our retreats intentionally take you out of daily routines and into a thoughtfully guided space to pause, reflect, and reconnect—led by board-certified wellness professionals. Together, we focus on restoring emotional well-being, rediscovering joy, and building practical, sustainable tools that support a more fulfilling relationship with both work and life.
Our Schedule: The Daily Flow
We understand that an agenda can feel overwhelming when you're seeking rest. We've structured this retreat to be a gentle mix of deep healing, cultural immersion, and essential downtime. You’re welcome to join as much or as little as feels right for you. For those who prefer structure, we’re excited to share a clear daily rhythm to help you plan your days with ease.
DAY 1.
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 intensive 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.
DAY 2.
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 creative exercise), followed by dinner and dedicated time with Melissa for personal writing and reflection.
DAY 3.
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.
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 Vendor Afternoon featuring self-massage, facial massage, and breathwork sessions, culminating in Amy’s session on Designing Environments to Protect Wellbeing before dinner.
DAY 5.
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.
You’re driven and capable, yet find yourself struggling to find a healthy balance between career demands, family responsibilities, and personal needs.
You carry a constant mental load and feel like your mind never fully gets a break.
You have difficulty shutting your brain off and often find yourself stuck in overthinking.
You’re caught in a cycle of people-pleasing, putting yourself last, and feeling depleted.
You want a healthier relationship with work and life so you can be more present at home.
You believe in the value of working with qualified and experienced professionals.
You’re a smart, resourceful, Independent woman who’s ready to prioritize your health—even if you’re not sure where to start.
This is for you if >>>
Get Unstuck & Move Forward with Renewed Vitality
Through a transformative experience powered by rest, reflection, and community , you will >>>
✓ Move from Burnout to Balance: Transition from a state of exhaustion to a renewed sense of harmony and well-being.
✓ Identify a Road Map: Develop a clear and actionable plan for your journey towards happiness and fulfillment.
✓ Communicate Boundaries Effectively: Learn simple and effective strategies to establish and maintain healthy boundaries.
✓ Navigate Sources of Stress: Practice using targeted techniques to confidently handle difficult situations.
✓ Gain Career Clarity: Build confidence in making informed decisions about your career path.
Meet Your Guides: Amy Schamberg & Melissa Lefort.
Our Story. Your Foundation.
Melissa spent over 20 years as an educator before burnout led her to step away and rebuild her life from the ground up. That journey brought her to Portugal, where she discovered a way of living rooted in presence, creativity, and joy. She now lives there with her family, grounded in a rhythm that allows for peace and presence in simple routines—like walking her daughter to and from school. Today, Melissa is an author, innovator, and podcast founder focused on reinvention and meaningful change.
Amy spent 15 years in school psychology until chronic stress and unsafe working conditions pushed her to confront the very systems she had been helping others navigate. She went on to become a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach with training in functional medicine, and now supports high-achieving professionals recovering from burnout. Today, Amy is a Health and Wellbeing Strategist and doctoral researcher focused on evidence-based, Total Worker Health approaches to educator well-being and workplace safety.
Together, we share a simple but powerful belief: True wellness isn’t about more self-care, it’s about changing the conditions that make rest, joy, and connection possible again. The Reclaim Your Joy Wellness Retreat in Portugal is your chance to step out of the systems that drain you and into an environment designed for deep restoration. Will you join us?
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