The Mindful Dragon Weekend Retreat with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

The Mindful Dragon Weekend Retreat

A qigong and meditation experience with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

Welcome in the first full moon of the Year of the Dragon with movement, energy and deepening insight.

Topanga, CA // February 23-25, 2024

When qigong’s powerful, spiraling dragon forms meet the transformative potential of mindfulness, magic can happen. Join Mimi for a three-day, weekend retreat – auspiciously held during the first full moon of the Year of the Dragon – to explore these two forces as one direct, embodied experience.

Through gentle yet deeply strengthening practices, Mimi will share her love of qigong dragons forms. She will also share Buddhist wisdom and mindfulness through talks and guided meditation. Most importantly, it will be fun! Get ready to swim through the seas and soar through the skies breathing clouds (did you know that Chinese dragons don’t breathe fire, they breathe clouds?).

Together, we will hone the qualities bestowed by dragons: confidence and kindness, resilience and resourcefulness, protection from harmful thoughts and emotions, and the ability to transform difficulties into wisdom and insight.

All levels of experience, shapes, and interests are welcome and encouraged to join. Come play, explore and awaken your mindful dragon-like possibilities!

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Retreat Schedule & Details

Check In: Arrive between 2:00pm and 3:00pm on Friday. Lodging may be available Thursday night — inquire here if interested.

Friday, February 23
3:00pm - 4:00pm: Welcome
4:00pm - 5:30pm: Qigong and meditation
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Satsang (community sharing, questions/comments)

Saturday, February 24
7:00am - 7:30am: Fruit, Tea, Coffee
7:30am - 8:30am: Meditation & Gentle Qigong
8:30am - 9:30am: Breakfast
10:00am -12:00pm: Morning session (discussion, qigong, meditation)
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm - 4:00pm: Free Time to Hike, Swim, Sauna, Cold Plunge & Nap + Fresh Bread & Snack Spread
4:00pm - 6:00pm: Afternoon session (discussion, qigong, meditation)
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Full moon dragon qigong + satsang

Sunday, February 25
7:00am - 7:30am: Fruit, Tea, Coffee
7:30am - 8:30am: Meditation & Gentle Qigong
8:30am - 9:30am: Breakfast
10:00am - 12:00pm: Morning session (discussion, qigong, meditation)
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch

Check Out: Depart after lunch. Topanga is full of epic hikes and cool little local shops, plus the beach is just 20 minutes away! Ask us for recommendations. Lodging may be available Sunday night — inquire here if interested.

Commune Topanga is located off Old Topanga Canyon Road. Directions will be provided with your ticket purchase.

Questions? Email us at [email protected].

Meet Mimi

Mimi Kuo-Deemer, MA, is one of our most popular Commune teachers as well as the author of Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis: Nourishing Practices for Body, Mind and Spirit and Xiu Yang: The Ancient Chinese Art of Self-Cultivation. She teaches meditation, qigong, internal martial arts (6th generation lineage holder in Baguazhang) and Daoist Flow yoga. Born in the United States, she lived in China for 14 years before settling in the British countryside with her husband and their dog, three cats, 8 chickens and 60,000 bees.

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Our Playground

At the end of the end of the end of a road, perched atop a remote valley of the Santa Monica mountains, sits Topanga Commune: 10 acres of meandering paths, oak trees, palms and gardens abutting state land. You won’t believe you are less than an hour from the heart of LA.

The property has a main house, a guest house, four tea house private rooms, three sweet A-Frame cabins, and plenty of space for camping. Sleep on organic mattresses and linens and enjoy the bounty of LA’s best local farmers for every home-cooked meal.

The property also has a sauna, hot tub, plunge pool, basketball, badminton, and a plethora of hammocks.

Songwriter Neil Young lived on this property for many years and was deeply inspired by this magical spot. If there is anywhere in the world to find “a heart of gold,” it may be here.