A group of women walking and talking

Retreats

Discover the unique benefits of intensive learning in a group setting!

Develop the poise in your everyday life and learn how to confidently communicate what you’re passionate about.

Group of women talking outside
Group of women talking in a circle

Retreat Magique

5-day retreat in the French countryside

Next Retreat - Oct 11-16, 2025

Registration opens December 9

In Le Marais Poitevin, the “Green Venice” of France

I love doing intensive work and I love to travel —

So, I created desination event as a kind of incubator experience of 5 full days of individual hands on and group Alexander Technique work (mindfulness, posture, breathing) brought into real-life activities —

—giving you a grounded presence that you can take home with you...plus time for relaxation and recreation in the beautiful French countryside.

Why attend a retreat?

  • It’s efficient! Maximize your time with me with this event! Block out a few days in your busy schedule to spend some time working on yourself.

  • Discover what’s possible! I can’t emphasize enough how much improvement you’ll make dedicating 5 days to work on yourself and get hands-on and in-the-moment guidance.

  • The location is magical! You’ll get to experience a new place and culture and combine learning with rest and recreation. The event is in a charming, private home on a small farm in Le Marias Poitevin, France - a mystical place called the “Green Venice of France” with canals running through the woods, mist on the river, and delicious locally sourced food (even the honey comes from the back yard!)

  • Connection and Comradarie. Share the experience with a fabulous group of women in a relaxed atmosphere with no judgement. Group work will enhance your learning as you’ll get to observe others as well as work on yourself and you’ll make new friends and contacts.

You'll learn to:

  • truly transform your posture.

  • calm your body and mind.

  • discover a grounded presence that will leave you feeling refreshed. After the retreat, you’ll feel ready to bring a more confident, centered way of being into everything you do.

The retreat includes:

  • Individual, hands-on work every day as well as group and activity-based sessions to help you seamlessly integrate more mindfulness, ease, and better posture into your everyday activities at home and at work. 

  • Practice staying grounded, relaxed as you interact with others -- These are tools you can take with you to help you promote your business or improve your communication at work.

  • Rest, relaxation, and recreation in a beautiful environment that you'll have lots of time to enjoy...and we'll be eating freshly prepared, locally grown food (vegetarian and vegan options available).

Lindsay Newitter working adjusting a women's posture
Group of women eating together

Cost and Logistics

Dates:

Oct 11-16 2025

We will kick off the event at 6pm on the evening on Oct 11 with a short activity, mingling and dinner, followed by 5 full days - Oct 12-16 (8:30am-4:30pm) of classes and activities.

See below for a sample schedule for a typical day.

Cost:

$1,800 (early bird rate - available through March 31)
$2,200 after March 1

Deposit due to hold your spot: $300 (non-refundable)
Balance due by July 1

Food:

All meals and snacks included.
The food is prepared onsite by our chef, a real Belgian duchess!
Ingredients are locally sourced or come from the garden when possible.
We can accomodate some dietary requests. Please indicate any allergies or special dietary needs on the application form and we’ll let you know.

Lodging:

Accomodations are included if you stay at the retreat site.

OR $200 additional for the week if you stay at a cottage we’ve reserved in the area within 5-minutes walking distance of the retreat site.

You are also welcome to book your own lodging at your expense.

Transportation:

You are responsible for getting to Paris and for train fare from Paris to the city of Niort, where we will pick you up (about a 20-min drive). Train fare from Paris to Niort is about $100 round-trip.

Transportation between the train station and retreat site is provided.

You don’t need to rent a car, but if you choose to do so, there is parking on site.

Language:

Instruction will be available in both English and French. Group instruction will be in English to accomodate an international group and translated into French as needed. Individual instruction will be in the language of choice of each participant.

Sample Schedule

Saturday, Oct 11

Participants arrive. Pick-up will be arranged at the station in Niort for those arriving by train.

6pm - Opening session of retreat. Appetizers, drinks, and a light dinner with be offered.

Sunday, Oct 12 - Thursday, Oct 16

8:30am - Breakfast

9:30am - Group Session (daily theme)

11am - Outdoor activity - Guided walk, with cues, along the Sevre River

12pm - Floor Work

12:30pm - lunch

2pm - 1:1 hands-on work and free time

3:30pm - Guided activity - cooking, gardening, using the computer…(we may split into two groups) - topics based on interest of group

OR outing (boat ride through the canals of Le Marais Poitevin/other local tourism)

4:30pm - Optional additional 1:1 hands-on work, review/discussion, or we end the day at this point (depends on interests and energy level of individuals)

4:30/5pm-6:30pm - Free time

6:30pm - Dinner served

7:30pm - Optional evening activity - live music, talent night (totally optional!), Fun game for learning some French to help you get around, movie night (on the big screen at the retreat!), board games and puzzle

• Closing activities on Oct 16. We will finish by 4:30pm (or earlier to accommodate trains and flights)

Group of women taking a boat ride

What People Are Saying

  • I sit and stand much more confidently now, speak more calmly and authoritatively in public settings, and generally feel healthier and more attractive. I can see myself looking different in photos.

    Katie T.

  • I won 20% of my energy back, just because I started 'doing less' to have 'good posture'. I immediately felt lighter and better.

    Joanna Podgorska, Google

  • This class has given me more confidence and I have been more at ease in the classroom and in presentations. It has made a huge difference in how I feel and how I am received.

    Rosemary Taylor, Postdoctoral Fellow/Visiting Assistant Professor at The Graduate Center, CUNY

  • The workshop heightened my awareness of my posture and of how I sometimes overcorrect rather than attend to alignment issues. . .I spoke to a group of 80 people today and did not lose my voice by the end of the day.

    Giselle Martin-Kniep, President Learner-Centered Initiatives, Ltd.

  • A lifetime of poor posture made me skeptical about being able to improve, so I was surprised to discover how much I learned at each session and happy that the training has had such a positive effect on how I sit, stand, walk, and feel.

    Donna D., New York