On Purpose Studio | 5-day Retreat in Portugal April 2023

THIS IS FOR YOU.

The archetype that applies to many founders is the oak. Always being the strong, reliable force of nature, that everyone leans on. The centre of the forest, where everyone turns to for support, resources, and wisdom. You will never see that an oak is tired, until it breaks or falls.

The pattern of always being the strong, perseverent one, is a founders gift, and at some point in time also their biggest challenge. Because it means as the company grows, so does what is expected of them. Their tendency to be in control, and there for everyone, doesn't scale, rather it often implodes. Creating toxic patterns within the company culture, and feeling burned out.

Breaking the patterns starts with slowing down (yes we know how much you hate this), pausing and reflecting on who do you want to be? And who does your company need you to be in the current growth phase? To be honest with yourself about what drains you, and what brings you joy? To understand how you might have been abandoning your own needs, and true nature. To dare to dream of the impact you want to make, and how you want to live & lead towards that dream.

Ultimately, regenerating yourself, those around you, and nature.

Or better said, creating your ripple effects on purpose.

IN A NUTSHELL.

This retreat will empower you to feel free to be yourself,

and to live and lead ON. PURPOSE.

We invite you to practice and experience the core teachings, techniques, tools and principles through our program of transformational workshops to:

Understand where you stand now and how you genuinely feel.
Dare to dream and clarify your future vision, life, and business.
Identify, and embrace what is holding you back.
Shift from being your own inner critic to being your own best friend.
Make a practical game plan to redesign your days to act from a place of joy.

4 or 5 days to pause, to reconnect with your heart's wisdom, to lower the external noise, to eat nourishing food, to wake up with the sunrise, to observe nature at a breathtaking location, to connect with yourself and each other at a deeper level.

THE RETREAT PRINCIPLES.

#1 SHIFT FROM HEAD TO HEART; FROM OVERTHINKING TO WISDOM.

#2 LOWER THE OUTER & INNER NOISE TO GAIN DEEP CLARITY OF YOUR VISION.

#3 BUILD HABITS TO FEED YOUR HEALTH, JOY & IMPACT DAILY, TOWARDS THE DREAM.

#4 RELEASE OLD STORIES & EMOTIONS HOLDING YOU BACK: FEELING VS NUMBING.

THE DAILY FLOW.

07.30 Rise with the sun & morning practice (stretching, yoga, pilates, breathwork, meditation)

09.00 Big breakfast (in silence)

10.00 Workshop by Carlijn & Matt

13.00 Lunch or healthy snacks

14.00 Free time to relax, nap, journal, or explore nature around (hike, bike, or surf).

18.00 Light dinner before sunset

19.30 Evening Ritual to connect or unwind

21.00 Start of silence & get ready for bed

THE WHY BEHIND IT.

Interweaving modern science & ancient wisdom to create space for transformation.

THE WORKSHOPS.

A CONSCIOUS FLOW FROM BEING HONEST ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE (NOW) AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT, TO RECONNECTING WITH YOUR WISE SELF ON WHERE YOU WANT TO GO (DREAMS), TO CONNECTING WITH YOUR VULNERABLE SELF ON WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK (FEARS), TO SHIFTING FROM INNER CRITIC TO OWN BEST FRIEND (HEAL), AND FINALLY TO CREATING A ROADMAP TO ALIGN YOUR DAILY ACTIONS TO MAKE DREAMS REALITY (ACTION).

BREATHWORK.

WE ARE OFTEN LOST IN OUR MINDS. WHILE DREAMS ARE IN OUR HEARTS. AND HEALING LIMITING BELIEFS HAPPENS IN OUR BODIES, OUR FASCIA. HOW? THROUGH THE BREATH WE CAN ACCESS THOSE OLD EMOTIONS, FEEL THEM, AND RELEASE THEM.

THE BREAKS.

TIME TO RELFECT, LET THINGS SINK IN, JOURNAL, WALK, SWIM, NAP. IT ALL BENEFITS THE PROCESS. THE DOING GETS MORE DEPTH WHEN THERE IS TIME OF STILLNESS IN BETWEEN. TIME TO SHARE WITH OTHERS INFORMALLY. TIME TO BE ALONE IN NATURE.

MORNING PRACTICE.
RISE WITH THE SUN TO RESET YOUR CIRCADIAN RHYTM, GET OUT OF THE HEAD AND INTO THE BODY, RELEASE TENSION BUILT UP FROM LIMITING BELIEFS IN YOUR FASCIA, AND MAKE SPACE TO LISTEN TO YOUR HEART & INNER WISDOM. INCREASE CONSCIOUSNESS. AND THIS IS A KEY HABIT TO MAKE THE DREAMS A REALITY IN A HEALTHY WAY & FEEL GOOD.

CONSCIOUS FOOD & DRINKS.

FOOD IS OUR DAILY MEDICINE. INTERMITTENT FASTING (12-16hrs) INCREASES CLARITY OF MIND. ALCOHOL NUMBS, WHEREAS TRANSFORMATION REQUIRES FEELING. COFFEE & SUGAR INCREASE ANXIETY, IRRITABILITY, RESTLESSNESS, AND FEELING TIRED. THE FOOD SERVED WILL NOURISH YOU, AND YOU WILL FEEL LIGHTER, NOT BLOATED AFTER THIS RETREAT.

SILENCE & NATURE.

BEING IN NATURE LOWERS HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND INCREASES CREATIVITY. IT GIVES PERSPECTIVE & FEEDS FEELINGS OF GRATITUDE & JOY. SILENCE LOWERS OUR URGE TO IMPRESS OTHERS, TO BE HEARD & UNDERSTOOD BY OTHERS. IT SHIFTS OUR FOCUS OUTWARD TO INWARD. WHEN THERE IS NO NOISE (OPINIONS, QUESTIONS, STORIES OF OTHERS), WE CAN TRULY HEAR OURSELVES, AND PROCESS OUR OWN THOUGHTS & INSIGHTS.

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PRACTICAL INFO.

Join a planned founders retreat or organise for your own group of founders.
4 or 5 days with Carlijn & Matt at the location of your choice.
incl. workshops, accommodation and plant-based meals, tea & healthy snacks
incl. 1-1 call with Carlijn (45min) 1 month before & after the retreat.
Max capacity. 10 participants per retreat

EXTRA SERVICES DURING THE RETREAT.

1-1 coaching session with Carlijn (75min) scheduled upfront (€65 extra)
1-1 breathwork session with Matt (75min) scheduled upfront (€65 extra)
massages (60-90min) at the location (€50-75 extra)
Airport Transport p.p. between 150-40€ ** (1-4 people)

** Excluding flight ticket

APPLY HERE.

€2140/€2960 incl. VAT

depending on season, your group size, room and location selection.

TESTIMONIALS.

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS.

CARLIJN NELISSEN.

Carlijn (35) is fascinated by human behaviour. Hence her 2 Masters in Psychology & Behavioural Sciences. And life-long exploration of how changing your day can change your mood, your health, the thoughts you have, the wisdom you can access, as well as the impact your make. Through our daily choices & actions, dreams become reality.

"I live life my way. I don't fit a label. I have intentionally turned my life around multiple times. From moving abroad to run an innovation agency business for 5 years, to moving to Portugal to start a Permaculture Farm, to living in nature without any of our societies facilities for a year. Currently creating a small homestead with a clay house. And continue to grow the impact we make with the On Purpose Studio.

Life is my playground. I am here to experience and experiment. I try something, I learn, I adapt. I listen to my inner wisdom, my heart, and lean in. That way I follow whatever brings me joy, well-being, personal growth, and freedom, without planning it far ahead (control is an illusion).

This has led me to design my life, on purpose. Being my authentic self. Close to my heart. Fulfilling my dreams. Developing myself to be valuable to others & less harmful to nature.

I get excited when people are aware of what truly matters to them & design their days accordingly. When they listen to their hearts, ignore their fearful thoughts, and just lean in.

Boldy living the life you were intended to.

Each day again,

On purpose."

MATT NELISSEN.

Matt (74) has been a certified breathwork coach and practitioner for the past 10 years, guiding people to heal old traumas stored in the body that limit their full potential.

He is an engineer by degree, and a learner at heart. He has guided many large companies through cultural transformations, always putting the people at the heart of change. In those 40 years he experienced more & more that "It's not about changing minds, it's about changing hearts". He is fascinated by why some companies are buzzing of energy & innovation, and others are filled with apathy or even toxicity. In his view, making room for passion is key.

And it's not only our environment that can limit this passion, or freedom of expression, it's also within ourselves. Breathwork has been an approach for him to free himself of old rigid beliefs that kept him stuck, fearful or doubting himself. It's been a lifetime journey from not breathing when he was born, to allowing himself to breathe, to take up space, to follow his heart.

His energy is calm, open, and focused. He is known to create safe spaces for open dialogues. Matt has been rowing at a world-class level for the past 55 years and started Karate at 56, and now has a black belt & 4th dan degree. He is a living example of never being too old to learn, or pursuing your passion.