Teacher Retreats: Upcoming opportunities for educators

Introducing Truth for Teachers Retreats with Angela Watson

You spend your career taking care of everyone else. These retreats are where you finally get to be taken care of.

Our retreats are rejuvenating weekend experiences designed for PreK-12 educators and school-based staff. Over a weekend, you’ll learn practical, research-based techniques to manage stress and restore balance. Through both community connection and intentional solitude, you’ll explore what it means to pause, reset, and bring restorative practices into your daily life. You’ll leave not only refreshed, but equipped with a lasting toolkit of strategies to sustain your wellbeing back home.

See upcoming teacher retreat dates and locations

Our Core Truths

The word truth is in our name because we always begin with honesty. Teaching is both beautiful and demanding, and educators deserve spaces that acknowledge both. These are the truths that guide our time together:

1. The truth is that teaching takes an enormous emotional, mental, and physical toll. These retreats create space to acknowledge those challenges honestly, while also exploring sustainable practices that restore balance.
2. The truth is that your wellbeing matters just as much as your students’. These retreats are designed to give you permission to rest, reset, and carry simple wellbeing tools back into everyday life.
3. The truth is that lasting change comes from sustainable practices. That’s why these retreats aren’t just a weekend of relaxation, but an introduction to restorative practices you can continue at home, long after the retreat ends.
4. The truth is, you’re not alone. At these retreats, you’ll connect with fellow educators who understand your journey, and you’ll walk away with both community and a toolkit for resilience.

What to Expect

These aren’t your typical professional development sessions. There are no new strategies to implement, no action plans to create, no pressure to bring anything back to your classroom.

These retreats exist for one purpose: to help you reconnect with yourself, restore your energy, and remember why you love this work in the first place.

Throughout each 3-day experience (typically 4 PM Friday through early afternoon Sunday), you’ll be offered a variety of experiences. Everything is included in the retreat pricing and everything is optional: select as many activities as you’d like to try, and use your downtime to journal, meditate, walk the natural grounds of our retreat site, nap, or chat with other educators. You never have to participate in anything you’re uncomfortable with. Listen to your body and do what you need in each moment.

These are phone-free events: practice intentional connectivity by using your phone for calls, texting, etc. only in the privacy of your room. During our time together, we’ll be fully present with one another.

2026 Retreat Dates

Pennsylvania (Himalayan Institute, Honesdale)

Exhale and Renew: A Summer Retreat for Educators June 12-14, 2026

Restore in the Wild: An Autumn Retreat for Finding Rest October 23-25, 2026

North Carolina (INDIGO Retreat Center, Old Fort)

Awakened Retreat: Transform Your Teaching Through Mindful Practices July 24-26, 2026

Arizona

March 2027 (details coming soon)

Learn more or book teacher retreats

About the Facilitator

If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Angela Watson, a National Board Certified Educator with over 25 years of experience as a classroom  teacher and instructional coach.

I’ve been sharing best practices for productivity and mindset here on my website since 2003! I have a podcast, have published 6 books for teachers (including Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching and Fewer Things, Better: The Courage to Focus on What Matters Most), and developed countless online and in-person professional development opportunities.

For 2026, I’m bringing a long-term dream into reality, and conducting teacher retreats to share what I’ve learned about restorative practices. I’m blending my professional expertise with my personal expertise in meditation, nature, mindfulness, art and music therapy, and more. I hold accredited certifications as a Restorative Yoga Teacher, Sound Healing Practitioner, and Forest Therapy Guide.

My vision is for everything I do at these retreats to be replicable by you at home, so you can create sustainable resiliency practices in your everyday life.

Retreat Highlights

Everything is included in the retreat pricing and everything is optional: select as many activities as you’d like to try, and utilize your downtime to journal, meditate, walk the natural grounds of our retreat site, nap, or chat with other educators. You never have to participate in anything you’re uncomfortable with: listen to your body and do what you need in each moment.

The activities and schedule offered vary by season and location, but may include:

• Japanese Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku): Participate in a guided, meditative stroll through nature to experience proven benefits for reducing stress and restoring focus
• Mindful Walks: Learn to transform everyday movement into a calming, centering ritual
• Workplace Stretching: Gentle, accessible postures designed to release tension and renew energy in sitting postures while at work
• Restorative Yoga Postures: Learn stretching routines to release tight muscles and unwind in the evenings
• Breathing for Stress Relief: Practice simple, science-backed techniques to calm the nervous system anytime, anywhere
• Sound Bath Meditation: Immerse yourself in soothing sound vibrations for deep relaxation
• Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy: Try techniques like Zentangle and mandala designing which NIH studies have shown to positively impacts cognitive focus, emotional well‐being, and brain activity
• Art for Stress Release: Explore playful, no-pressure art-making as a form of personal expression and joy
• Tea Ceremony: Learn how to incorporate a mindful ritual of slowing down and savoring presence during a hot drink of choice after work
• Foot Rolling Self-Massage: Discover quick, easy techniques with a massage ball you’ll get to take home to relieve physical fatigue and pain in your feet after standing all day.

Sample Mindfulness Mini-Seminars

Join our group for 30 minute mini-seminars with teaching from Angela, discussion opportunities, and reflection time on topics such as:

• Practicing Presence — how to anchor yourself in the here and now
• Sitting with Boredom — learning to rest without reaching for your phone
• Experiencing Awe — cultivating wonder as a form of resilience
• Harnessing the Power of Diffuse Attention — using daydreaming and mind wandering to tap into creative problem solving and divergent thinking

Connection & Community:

• Shared meals: A simple but nourishing breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided.
• Evening campfire gathering: Share stories, laughter, and inspiration with other educators who understand your journey.
• Plenty of downtime: Have a cup of tea in the lounge and chat or read, wander the hiking trials alone or with a new friend, or use your time how you need.

Certificate of Completion

All attendees will receive a Certificate of Educator Wellbeing and Restorative Practices, acknowledging participation in training focused on mindfulness, restorative wellness, and practical stress-management strategies for teachers. This certificate can be added to your professional development portfolio or used to demonstrate continuing education.

Retreat Extension: Your Online Resource Hub

Your retreat doesn’t end when you go home. As part of your registration, you’ll receive exclusive access to a private online resource hub with resources to help you continue implementing your resiliency practices:

• A guided forest bathing meditation you can use in nature at home
• A sound bath recording for deep relaxation at home
• Step-by-step home guides for each practice and experience from the retreat
• Printable reminders and suggestions for self-guided routines

This ensures you can revisit what you learned anytime, and gradually weave these restorative practices into daily life.

Who These Retreats are For

The retreats are designed for PreK–12 educators who want:

• Practical, easy-to-use strategies to manage stress
• Time for rest, renewal, and reflection
• A supportive community of like-minded teachers
• Tools to carry wellness practices beyond the retreat and into everyday routines

No prior experience with yoga, meditation, music, art, or anything else is required—everything is beginner-friendly and adaptable. Neurodivergent folks and those with disabilities are welcome. 

See upcoming retreat dates and locations

FAQ

Where are the retreats held?

Our home base is the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, PA (in the Pocono Mountains, approx. 2 hours by car from NYC and Philadelphia). This location was selected for its proximity for Angela, affordable accommodations and amenities for teachers, and relaxing natural setting on 400 acres of forest land.

Angela will travel to other 2-4 additional locations throughout the year to accommodate teachers in other regions of the country. We choose locations offering “conscious simplicity” so you’re comfortable and safe, but not in expensive luxury resorts.

When are the retreats held?

All year round!

Is there any religious affiliation?

No. We draw on wellbeing practices from around the globe and articulate the history of these practices while presenting them within a secular context. Some of our retreat locations may be founded by practitioners of an organized religion, but our group’s retreat interactions will be entirely secular. Everyone is welcome.

What is the cost?

Costs are based on the location and time of year, but are designed to fit with teacher budgets. The retreat costs are paid directly to Angela; you can then book your accommodations (which include 3 meals a day) through the resort and select the room type you prefer.

Can I bring someone who’s not an educator?

Sure! A friend or relative who also needs to develop resiliency and stress management techniques would be a great companion for this retreat. Just make sure they know we’ll be “talking shop” a bit, and the needs of educators will be centered.

Can I get my school to pay for this?

We accept purchase orders and are happy to work with your district or school leaders to arrange payment. A letter of interest you can submit to your admin will be provided here soon.

Can you come to my area to conduct a retreat?

I’m open to suggestions for sure! If you can get a group of educators together in your area, or book me for a school-based retreat or organization/union-sponsored teacher retreat, even better! Fill out the form below, and I’ll put together a custom proposal for you.