Retreat in Summer 2026! 

Private Day Retreats Now Booking at Cedarmere, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association or an Historic Location Near You 

This summer, give your team (or yourself!) a much-needed opportunity to recharge, reconnect, and return to school inspired. Bring your district to a Writing Yoga® retreat that is designed to help fuel curiosity, reduce burnout, and reawaken the joy of teaching and leading. Your staff will get to explore local gardens, architecture, literature, poetry, and community at a beautiful and historic location.

All group retreats include journals and tools to boost creativity. Just wear comfortable clothes and experience how the Writing Yoga® Method has been helping develop calm, creative and compassionate school communities for decades.

It's time to teach and lead differently. Start with a retreat your whole team will remember.

Why Educational Leaders and Educators Need to Retreat

Working in education is an intense responsibility. The weight of leading a classroom, library, or entire school community can leave us feeling scattered and stressed. Burnout becomes too common and it’s easy to lose touch with the passion that brought us here in the first place. Retreats remind us how to lead and teach differently. 

Writing Yoga® is an effective and practical method that will help you get through difficult days all year long. Group retreats offer educators and school leaders a rare opportunity to take a break, breathe, and reset. With simple mindfulness practices, creative writing sessions, and gentle movement, your staff will gain practical tools to:

• Clear mental clutter and improve focus, even during the busiest school days.

• Reconnect with creativity and rediscover the inspiration that fuels authentic teaching and leadership.

• Engage with local history and nature in beautiful, immersive settings that support reflection and renewal.

• Build healthy habits for managing stress; habits they can bring back to the classroom and school community.

This isn’t just another professional development session. It’s a restorative experience that improves how you work and live.

What Makes Writing Yoga® Retreats Unique for Educational Leaders

At Writing Yoga®, we know school administrators and educators wear a lot of hats: leader, mentor, problem-solver, and everything in between. That’s why these retreats are carefully designed to meet educators and school leaders where they are, blending creativity with wellness to support both their personal and professional growth.  

The Writing Yoga® Method is more than movement or writing: it’s a comprehensive educational experience. Grounded in research and reflective practice, it encourages balance, creativity, and well-being. Retreat participants gain the tools to model calm, focused, and inspired leadership, benefitting not just themselves, but their students and colleagues as well.

Activities Designed for Educators and Leaders

Each retreat is thoughtfully crafted to support the professional and personal well-being of your team, through:

• Mindfulness and Movement: Gentle stretches and breathing exercises will help your staff feel grounded, focused, and better equipped to manage daily stressors, all skills they can bring back to the school environment.

• History Meets Creativity: Your team will explore the fascinating stories behind some of America's historical figures. Customized activities will highlight ways that literature, art, and nature intersect. Your staff will also gain materials to share with their students and colleagues.

• Time to Write and Reflect: Whether they're seasoned writers or haven’t journaled in years, your team will reconnect with creativity through guided prompts, reigniting curiosity and modeling reflective practices that work well in the classroom.

• Collaborative Breakout Groups: Facilitated discussions during the retreat provide space for idea-sharing, inspiration, and deeper connection for your staff. Sessions will be customized in advance to align with your district’s goals and your team’s unique strengths and needs.

Growth That Goes Beyond the Retreat

This isn’t just about feeling good for a day (though that’s part of it!). Writing Yoga® retreats go beyond rest: they provide lasting tools your staff can bring back with them. Educators and leaders will build skills like mindful leadership, clearer communication, and the resilience to navigate challenges with greater calm and clarity.

Because when educators feel supported and inspired, that energy ripples out to students, colleagues, and the entire school community. That’s the lasting impact of the Writing Yoga® Method.

The Key Benefits For Your Team

• Practical Mindfulness Tools: Your staff will learn easy-to-use techniques for managing stress and staying centered, all tools they can use daily in the classroom or front office.

• Connection to Nature, Literature, and History: Held at Cedarmere and The Walt Whitman Birthplace in Summer 2026, these retreats offer immersive learning experiences that bring ELA, Social Studies, and even the Sciences to life in meaningful, memorable ways.

• Creative Spark: Your team will reconnect with their creativity, which will fuel innovative lesson planning, and inspire leadership and personal growth.

• Stronger Team Connection: Educators and leaders will bond in a supportive, collaborative space where ideas and inspiration flow freely.

• Renewed Perspective: Your team will return recharged and motivated, ready to lead with clarity, compassion, and renewed commitment to their work.

What to Expect at the Retreat

At a Writing Yoga® retreat, teachers, librarians and school administrators are invited to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with themselves, all while surrounded by the beauty of Long Island’s historic gems. Here’s what a typical retreat day looks like:

A Day Rooted in History, Nature, and Creativity

Imagine your team stepping into a place where history, nature, and inspiration come alive. Whether gathering at Cedarmere or the Walt Whitman Birthplace, educators and school leaders will feel the pull of these beautiful and historic spaces and engage in research and activities to plan their school year. 

Tools Your Staff Will Bring Back To Your School

Your team will leave the retreat not only feeling refreshed but equipped to enhance Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Science curricula through hands-on, experiential learning. They’ll take home easy-to-implement tools such as mindfulness practices, creative problem-solving techniques, and fresh perspectives on leadership. All include resources that can be shared throughout your school community right away.

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How Writing Yoga® Retreats Transforms School Communities

The impact of Writing Yoga® doesn’t stop at the retreat, it ripples out into entire school communities, creating spaces where calm, creativity, and compassion thrive. 

Real Stories, Real Change

Here are a few words from past retreat attendees: “It was a lovely day that was stress free and informative.” - School Administrator

“This was the best retreat our school ever had and I have booked them all!” - School Principal and Retreat Coordinator 

“I enjoyed learning about Mr. Bryant [at Cedarmere].  How surprising to learn that it took three hours to travel from the city to the island.  Participating in yoga was refreshing!” - School Principal 

“I thought the day was excellent! I enjoyed the time to write...it had been a long time since I made time to write just for myself and the grounds definitely lend itself to that.”  - Building Administrator 

Fostering Lasting Change

Writing Yoga® gives educators the tools to cultivate mindfulness and creativity not only in themselves but also within their schools. Imagine:

• Calmer Classrooms: Techniques for mindfulness reduce stress and help everyone, both teachers to students, stay grounded.
• Creative Leaders: Reignited creativity sparks innovative lesson plans, fresh approaches to leadership, and a more vibrant school culture.
• Compassionate Communities: The focus on mindfulness and self-reflection fosters empathy and connection among educators, staff, and students alike.

These retreats don’t just change the lives of individual educators, they create a ripple effect that transforms entire school communities. It’s about building a school culture that values well-being, connection, and creativity.