Not a conference. Not a retreat. An opening.
1.5 day in nature, 30 minutes from Lisbon — away from the screen, the schedule, and the version of yourself you perform for everyone else.
Workshops, walks, good food, and space to be still.
You leave with one practice, one person to check in with on Day 7, and a question still working on you.
NOTE: 100% covers venue and meals. Pausa takes nothing. This is our way of letting you feel the methodology before committing to the Pausa Reset.
Overview
Dates: May 7-8, 2026
Location: DOMA Portugal (30 min from Lisbon)
Group size: max 50 founders & leaders
Language: English
Price:
Standard: €215,- (incl. VAT)
Non‑profit event: 100% covers venue and meals. Pausa takes nothing. This is our way of letting you feel the methodology before committing to the Pausa Reset.
Accommodation: Optional, booked directly with DOMA at a special group rate
Includes: all sessions, materials, Day 1 dinner, Day 2 lunch, coffee/tea and snacks
NOTE: If you are planning to stay overnight at the hotel, we have a discount code. Reach out to yaro@pausa.pt for it.
Who it's for
Founders, CEOs, and senior leaders who feel the weight of it but haven't named it
People who want something evidence-based and honest — not motivational
Anyone who is curious about Pausa and wants to experience it before committing to the Reset
Leaders who need a genuine break from the city and the noise — and something to bring back
What happens
Two days. One afternoon and evening, one morning and early afternoon.
Three structured sessions across both days.
The rest is nature, food, walks, and the kind of conversation that only happens when the phone is away.
Agenda
1.5-day experience to slow down, reset your nervous system, and reconnect with clarity.
Day 1 — Let Go
15:00 · Arrival & check‑in
Settle in at DOMA, tea/coffee, meet the group.15:30 · Welcome circle
Intentions, agreements, body exercise (45 min).16:30 · Awareness workshop
Practical exercises to notice stress signals and shift your state (60 min).18:00 · Dinner
DOMA Chef on food for focus & energy (90 min).19:30 · Breathing practice
One tool to try tonight before sleep (30 min).20:00 · Free time (departure to Lisbon or feel free to stay)
Steam (optional), pool, walk, fireplace or rest.
Day 2 — Be & Begin
09:00 · Return from Lisbon
Morning check-in, breakfast, optional movement in nature.10:00 · The session
Awareness deepening, one energy drain you name, your 7-day experiment (90 min).11:30 · Nature walk
Silent segment + moving conversation in pairs (90 min).13:00 · Lunch
14:30 · Closing ritual
The stone and the letter to yourself.15:00 · Closing circle
One key shift you are taking home + gentle closing.
Pausa Open
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
REQUEST A SPOT
We review every request and confirm within 48 hours.
For Partners & Sponsors
We are opening a small number of partner spots for brands that care about founder health and long‑term performance (wellbeing, sleep, movement, nutrition, tools for leaders).
As a Partner, you can:
Be in the room with 50 curated founders & leaders over 1.5 days.
Contribute to a non‑profit, science‑based wellbeing event for the business ecosystem.
Co‑create meaningful touchpoints (product sampling, a short activation, or a hosted micro‑session) that add real value to attendees.
If you would like to explore a fit, reach out to yaro@pausa.pt with the subject line “Pausa Open – Partner”
Zuzanna
Pausa Reset Facilitator
HR & Wellbeing Expert
People behind Pausa
João
Pausa Mindfulness Guide
Neuroscience Researcher
Maria
Pausa Meditation & Yoga Guide
Plant Medicine Guide
Andrii
Pausa Sports Guide
Kettlebell Polish Champion
Martin
Pausa Nutrition Guide / Chef
Certified Holistic Health
Pilar
Pausa Location Guru / Creator of the Space
Marco
Strategic Advisor & Practitioner Lens
Felix
Pausa Resilience Guide
Albert & Yaro
Pausa Co-founders
Steven
Certified Therapist & Somatic Coach
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
