Because self-care without self-leadership
is just a temporary escape.
Welcome to your permanent shift.
Join us September 5–7, 2026 at Lake Cle Elum, Washington, for a self-leadership retreat
grounded in meditative calligraphy and transformative coaching.
Learn More About The Retreat Inward - Lake Cle Elum
Join us for a one-of-a-kind wellness retreat to gain clarity and vision for your life through meditative calligraphy and transformative coaching, set against the still waters and mountain air of Lake Cle Elum.
Through an intimate, safe, and creative environment, the Retreat Inward will lead you to a place of clarity, freedom, and vision for your life.
The Retreat Inward best serves:
High achievers seeking deeper fulfillment and balance
Leaders ready to think strategically about life, not just work
Individuals craving space to reconnect with their values and vision
Those feeling something is missing, despite external success
People who value privacy, depth, and curated connection
Intellectually curious minds drawn to practical, data-informed growth
Those ready to invest in themselves with intention and without guilt
Self-care relaxes the mind.
Self-leadership transforms the life.
A vacation numbs the noise for a weekend, but the old patterns are always waiting when you unpack your bags. This isn't about escaping your life—it's about gathering the tools, the clarity, and the deep internal alignment to lead it differently.
Surrounded by the still water and quiet pines of Lake Cle Elum, you will learn the art of meditating through calligraphy and be led through revelatory self-exploration over the course of three days. This will culminate in your Compass Word, which will be memorialized in your final calligraphy artwork that you will take back home with you.
While the goal of this retreat is to give you clarity for the season ahead, you will gain knowledge, skills, and confidence that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
DAY 1REFLECT
Where has your internal compass led you this year? Did you get what you wanted? What you needed?
We will create a safe environment and supportive community together so that you can explore the art and discipline of introspection.
You will learn a unique and effective methodology for reflection that will help you fully appreciate and make peace with the season behind you.
DAY 2RECONNECT
Who are you when the expectations and pressures placed upon you are silenced?
You will learn and practice the art of disconnecting from external demands to make room for curiosity and inspiration about what you find beneath the noise.
Through the mindful practice of taking the perspective of and experiencing deep alignment with your true self, you will discern what you wish to carry forward and set aside in the year ahead.
DAY 3RENEW
How do you want your life to reflect your true self and ambitions?
Through our sessions together, you will gain deep clarity and confidence from knowing how to tune into and trust your internal compass.
You will be led through a creative process to uncover the word that reflects your internal compass for 2026 and leverage your newfound calligraphy skills to create your own artwork to empower you throughout the year ahead.
The Experience
Every aspect of the retreat has been curated to foster reflection, reconnection, and renewal.
MEDITATIVE CALLIGRAPHY
Connect with yourself while you connect pen to paper. Let the rhythmic movements of calligraphy help you let go of mental chatter and ground yourself with each fluid stroke. Daily workshops will offer a sacred space for mindfulness through artistic expression.
Renowned artist and calligrapher, David Chang, will teach and lead you through the art of meditative calligraphy.
TRANSFORMATIVE COACHING
As you start diving deeper into your internal world, Grace Manley’s compassionate, yet direct guidance will give you direction and help you navigate what you unearth and discover.
By coupling wisdom and compassion with her remarkable ability to see and speak beneath the surface, Grace creates a safe, yet optimally challenging environment for you to finally achieve the breakthroughs and lasting change you weren't sure would ever be possible.
OPENING CEREMONY
Connect with one another and yourself through our unique Name Ceremony.
DAILY MOVEMENT
Connect with your physical self daily through movement, including meditative lakeside walks.
NOURISHMENT
Nourish your body and experience through shared meals together.
FIRE CLOSING CEREMONY
Gather around the fire pit as the retreat draws to a close, releasing what no longer serves you and setting intention for what comes next.
Welcome to the Water
The still waters and pine-covered ridgelines of Lake Cle Elum create a serene sanctuary for deep meditation and rejuvenation. We will connect with ourselves while connecting with the natural world around us. The quiet of the Cascade foothills fosters a profound connection with inner calm and clarity.
Our workshop sessions will take place lakeside at our retreat home, where we will be surrounded by mountain views and the sound of water at the shoreline.
Private retreat preparation coaching session with Grace Manley
One group meal daily with additional optional group dining
Calligraphy lessons and meditative calligraphy sessions with David Chang
Self-leadership facilitated sessions with Grace Manley
Personal calligraphy set
Your Compass Word, framed
Curated and personalized retreat gifts
What’s Included
$x,xxx
Retreat fee includes listed meals, and everything under "What's Included." Lodging and transportation to Lake Cle Elum/Suncadia is not included.
Your Stay. Your Choice
To fit your ideal retreat experience, we offer two distinct pathways for lodging. Whether you want to stay in the thick of the communal magic at our private lakefront estate, or prefer to retreat to a luxury resort room at the neighboring Suncadia Resort each evening, your days will be seamlessly shared.
Option A:
The Private Lakefront Estate
Live, learn, and relax under one roof. Immerse yourself fully in the retreat energy with immediate access to fireside chats, early morning lake views, and casual kitchen-table connections.
Private King Suite
$x,xxx
3 NIGHTSPrivate Queen Suite
$x,xxx
3 NIGHTS*On-site lodging is highly limited to preserve the intimacy of the house and is expected to fill quickly.
Option B:
The Suncadia Resort Stay
Enjoy all daytime sessions, workshops, and group meals at the lakefront home, with the added luxury of retreating to your own private sanctuary at the nearby Suncadia Resort each night. (Includes resort amenities, golf access, and full spa options).
Single Occupancy
$x,xxx
PER PERSON | 3 NIGHTSDouble Occupancy
$x,xxx
PER PERSON | 3 NIGHTS*Suncadia Resort accommodations are booked directly by the attendee and are not included in the retreat package price.
Optional Activity Add-ons
Private calligraphy lesson with David
Private integration session with Grace
There will be ample free time in the schedule to allow for space to reflect and enjoy the offerings of the area.
Meet your hosts
Grace Manley
Grace Manley is a highly sought-after executive coach, leadership consultant, speaker, and facilitator. After a distinguished tenure as an Executive Leader at the National Security Agency, Grace launched her successful coaching and consulting firm, ‘With Grace’. She partners with people-first companies to design and deliver their most impactful leadership and workforce development solutions to increase engagement, innovation, and bottom-line results. As an executive coach, Grace specializes in coaching leaders who experience being the "Only" – a trailblazer by choice or lack of representation – and the "Other" – an outsider whose belonging is questioned within or by others.
Grace is inspired by the hidden potential she sees in others and is uniquely gifted in helping them develop the clarity and confidence needed to lead and live with greater purpose. By coupling wisdom and compassion with her remarkable ability to see and speak beneath the surface, Grace creates a safe, yet optimally challenging environment for her clients to finally achieve the breakthroughs and lasting change they weren't sure would ever be possible. Grace is deeply committed to her own pursuit of self-leadership and living a life of less regret, and her life mission is to help others do the same.
Learn more about Grace.
David Chang
David Chang is a renowned artist who has pursued the art of calligraphy for the past 20 years, merging the traditions of Western calligraphy and Eastern philosophy and techniques. His masterful study of calligraphy is driven by a passion for bringing the essence of a word or message to life, through the unique spirit of each individual.
While you may have seen David’s work in TV, film, music, and galleries, his true calling and spiritual gift is using meditative calligraphy to facilitate a deeper connection with self and spirit. He is passionate about helping people connect with themselves by finding and making their unique mark through the art of meditative calligraphy.
Learn more about David.
a message from the hosts
We are thrilled to welcome you back to The Retreat Inward—a gathering that continues to evolve in the most beautiful ways.
Moving from the expansive shores of Hawaii to the quiet, grounding embrace of Lake Cle Elum allows us to lean into what this retreat does best: creating an intimate, ultra-private sanctuary to quiet the noise of the outside world. There is something profoundly settling about mountain air, a crackling fire, and a tight-knit community of like-minded souls.
As you reflect on the past year with all its unexpected moments, imagine gathering this upcoming season in a serene lakeside haven to find true wisdom and unexpected gifts from your experiences. Setting your intention now to retreat inward isn't just about a few days away; it's an intentional act of self-investment that changes how you show up for yourself and everyone who depends on you.
Because self-care without self-leadership is just a temporary escape. Welcome to your permanent shift.
We are honored to hold this space for you in this beautiful new setting.
With deep gratitude and anticipation,
Grace & David
If you resonate with the principles of our signature retreat but want something uniquely yours, we partner with you to design a retreat blending neuroscience-based practices with practical tools, ensuring you return home with clarity, alignment, and lasting change.
Invest in yourself or your guests with a tailored experience crafted to meet your goals, your rhythm, and your vision for meaningful growth and fulfillment. Contact us to begin your journey.
Our experiences are more than a pause, they are a strategic investment in yourself.
Grounded in neuroscience, they’re designed to recalibrate your inner compass by integrating your doing brain and being brain, unlocking greater clarity, alignment, and access to your authentic self.
You’ll leave not only restored, but recalibrated, with practical tools, grounded wisdom, and a renewed sense of direction that’s sustainable, intentional, and deeply aligned with your essence
2025 Retreat Gallery
Next Steps
1.
APPLY
In order to preserve the intimate nature of our retreat and to ensure each person gets the most out of our time together, we ask that you answer a few questions to make sure we're the right fit for your self-leadership investment.
Approved applicants are not under obligation to complete a booking, so if you are interested we recommend submitting an application.
2.
BOOKING
Within one week of submitting your application, a member of the Retreat Inward team will reach out within two (2) days regarding your application status.
Final payment is due August 3.
3.
RETREAT INWARD
We will meet you at Lake Cle Elum for three days of meaningful reflection, (re)connection, and renewal.
All you have to do is show up. Leave the rest to us.
We'll see you in September.
ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS
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We want to ensure that the Retreat Inward serves all our participants. We have a few questions in the application that will help us get a better understanding of what you are looking for and to ensure we are the right fit for you.
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A member of the Retreat Inward team will be in touch within 1 week of your application submission.
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We recommend you purchase your flights after you provide the first deposit.
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You will fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SeaTac). The retreat is approximately 1.5 hours away.
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Absolutely. Please send us a message through the contact form and someone will be in touch to schedule a call.