Founder
Wellbeing
Getaway
May 14-15, 2026
@DOMA Portugal (30 min from Lisbon)
Overview
A 1.5‑day science‑based wellbeing retreat for founders at DOMA Portugal — with workshops, movement, and nature to reset your nervous system and upgrade your daily habits.
NOTE: this is a NON-PROFIT EVENT. Your ticket covers DOMA, food and fair fees for our facilitators — nothing more. Pausa invests time and energy because we believe science‑based wellbeing should be accessible to the people building the future.
Who it's for
Founders, CEOs and senior leaders under sustained pressure
People who want evidence‑based tools, not just inspirational talks
Those who care about energy, clarity and long‑term healthspan, not just surviving the next round
What happens
Do, don’t just listen — interactive workshops on awareness, movement, sleep & recovery.
Reset in nature — steam, forest walks and quiet time away from the city.
Leave with a plan — a simple 7‑day experiment and an accountability buddy to keep you on track.
Agenda
1.5-day experience to slow down, reset your nervous system, and reconnect with clarity.
Day 1 — Arrive & Slow Down
14:00 · Arrival & check‑in
Settle in at DOMA, tea/coffee, meet the group.15:00 · Welcome circle
Intentions, agreements, first awareness workshop with Steven.16:00 · Nervous system workshop
Practical exercises to notice stress signals and shift your state.17:00–18:30 · Free time in nature
Steam, pool, walk, or rest.18:30 · Dinner & nutrition insights
Shared dinner, Martin on food for focus & energy.19:30 · Sleep & recovery workshop
Evening session with Joao to set you up for a better night.21:00 · Optional fire / quiet reflection
Day 2 — Move, Reset & Integrate
08:00 · Morning movement
Gentle outdoor movement workshop with Marco to wake up body & energy.08:45 · Breakfast
09:45 · Awareness & leadership workshops
Short check‑in + interactive sessions with Steven & Zuzanna on state, culture, and psychological safety.11:00 · Practice & peer work
Small‑group and paired exercises applying the tools to real situations.12:30 · Nature walk
Silent segment + moving conversation in pairs.13:30 · Lunch
14:30 · Design your 7‑day experiment
Create simple practices for awareness, movement, and recovery; agree on a buddy check‑in.15:30 · Closing circle
One key shift you’re taking home + gentle closing.16:00–16:30 · Coffee, questions & departure
Pausa Getaway
takes place here:
A quiet, nature-rich area near Marfa (30 min drive from Lisbon) - far from noise, close to clarity.
Forest. Clean air. Silence
Practical details
Dates: May 14-15, 2026
Location: DOMA Portugal (30 min from Lisbon)
Group size: max 50 founders & leaders
Language: English
Price:
Standard: €225
Non‑profit event: Ticket revenue covers DOMA venue & catering, facilitator fees and materials — this Intensive is not a profit event for Pausa; it’s part of our mission to extend founders’ healthspan and leadership longevity.
Accommodation: Optional, booked directly with DOMA at a special group rate
Includes: all sessions, materials, Day 1 dinner, Day 2 breakfast & lunch, coffee/tea and snacks
REQUEST A SPOT
Protect your clarity. Strengthen your leadership.
Start with 1.5 days in nature: fully guided, fully offline.
For years I did what every ambitious leader is told to do: work harder, push through, hold it all together. I built companies and led teams in the Netherlands, and before that I climbed the ladder in an American corporation — until, in 2019, I hit the wall and burned out.
From the outside, it looked like success; on the inside, I was running on fumes, waking up exhausted and anxious, pretending I was fine while everything in my body said I wasn’t. That experience taught me that leaders don’t burn out because they are weak, but because they care so much they keep going long after the warning signs appear.
Personal story
Yaro
co-founder of Pausa
Pausa was born from that realisation: my attempt to answer one question for myself and for other founders — how do we stay clear, strong, and mentally grounded before stress turns into damage?
Agenda
Day 1 — Arrive, Notice & Connect
Location: DOMA Portugal (30 min from Lisbon, forest and gardens)
14:00–15:00 — Arrival & slow check‑in
Check‑in at DOMA, welcome coffee & tea
Receive your Founder Wellbeing Immersion notebook
15:00–15:30 — Opening circle
Welcome from Pausa
Shared agreements (confidentiality, presence, respect for silence)
15:30–17:00 — Workshop with Steven Ebbers
“Your Nervous System Is Your Operating System”
Short, science‑based introduction to how your nervous system drives focus, decisions and relationships
What fight/flight/freeze looks like in founders (over‑controlling, urgency, numbing)
1–2 very practical nervous system tools you can use the same day
17:00–18:30 — Free time in nature
Time to land at DOMA: steam room, pool, short forest walk or rest
Optional “walk & talk” for those who want to connect with someone new in an easy way
18:30–19:00 — Conversation with Martin Meckesheimer
"Food for Focus"
Short, friendly talk from Martin about how the evening menu supports stable energy, cognition and mood
Simple principles: blood‑sugar stability, anti‑inflammatory focus, gut–brain connection — without dogma or restriction
19:00–19:40 — Workshop with João Moita
“Sleep as Your Competitive Edge”
How sleep architecture and circadian rhythm impact decision‑making, mood and long‑term healthspan
3–4 realistic levers for founders: light, timing, stimulants, evening wind‑down
Practical suggestions you can try that same night
19:40–21:30 — Communal dinner
Long, shared tables, phones away by design
Buddy pairing happens here: before dessert, you will be invited to choose an accountability buddy for the next 7 days. You will share one thing you want to experiment with after the Immersion and exchange contacts.
Optional informal fire circle afterwards for those who want to stay a bit longer
Day 2 — Move, Learn, Experiment & Integrate
07:30–08:30 — Optional morning movement with Marco
Gentle outdoor session with Marco Moutinho focused on movement for energy
Simple mobility and activation sequences founders can use between calls or in the office
Accessible to all fitness levels — the aim is to wake up your body, not to “work out”
08:30–09:30 — Breakfast
09:30–10:00 — Check‑in circle
One‑word check‑in: “How do you feel compared to yesterday when you arrived?”
Short reflection on what’s already shifted in your energy and awareness
10:00–11:00 — Workshop with Marco Moutinho
“The Body You Lead With: Movement, Energy & Performance”
How chronic stress shows up in posture, tension and energy leaks
Why consistent, intelligent movement is one of the most powerful tools for mood, cognition and longevity
2–3 micro‑movement practices you can embed into your day without going to the gym
11:00–11:15 — Break
11:15–12:15 — Workshop with Zuzanna van den Wouwer
“Your State, Your Culture: Psychological Safety Starts in Your Nervous System”
How your inner state affects team safety, communication and conflict
Why teams feel “crunched” even when the strategy is fine
Simple ways to bring more grounded presence into 1:1s, all‑hands and board meetings
12:15–13:30 — Nature walk & moving conversation
Silent segment to walk alone and let ideas settle
Then paired walk with one question: “What pattern is this Intensive helping me see more clearly?”
Short group reflection in nature — side‑by‑side walking makes sharing easier and less “intense” than sitting face‑to‑face
13:30–14:30 — Lunch
14:30–15:00 — Recap & micro‑practices
Short recap and Q&A with 1–2 facilitators (e.g. Steven + Marco)
Focus on practical micro‑practices
All framed as “things you can actually do next week,” not ideal routines
15:30–16:00 — Closing circle
16:00–16:30 — Coffee, conversations & departures
Space for informal conversations with the Pausa team
Time to say goodbye, exchange contacts
Upcoming "Soft Launch":
Wednesday 18th – Friday 20th of February, 2026: €1.260,- ex. VAT
(introductory fee)
(4 out of 6 spots remaining)
Your investment in the Mental Health includes:
All practices, sessions, and coaching
Private cabin accommodation
All meals, snacks, and drinks
Access to trails, surroundings, sauna (if available)
Pre-arrival preparation call
Pausa Circle membership
No hidden fees!
healthhub by Unicorn Factory Lisboa
Praça Dom Pedro IV 74,
1100-203 Lisbon
Portugal
© Pausa 2026
