Resilience, Resourcefulness, and Renewal: A 4-Day Retreat

A Qigong and Meditation Experience with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

Step into the Spring Equinox with movement and insights for skillful living.

Topanga, CA // March 19–22, 2026

When life’s stronger winds begin to blow, we can feel uprooted—tossed about by the gale storms of change and uncertainty. In these times, we can turn to the wisdom of trees: Their deep roots help them stay resilient through spring’s raucous weather, enabling the cycle of growth and renewal to continue.

Join Mimi for this 4-day journey into awakening our innate capacity to meet life’s blustery winds. Through gentle yet deeply strengthening qigong practices, she will share tools that honor the rooted strength, resourcefulness, and visionary growth of Wood—the element associated with spring in the Chinese Five Phases (Wuxing 五行). Sessions will weave together Daoist and Buddhist teachings in highly experiential ways—unfolding with curiosity, insight, and the occasional giggle.

Together, we’ll nurture resilience and expand our capacity for goodwill and clear vision. Get ready to explore how to transform difficulties into wisdom and renew our relationship to ourselves and the world around us.

All levels of experience, body types, backgrounds, identities, and interests are warmly welcomed. Come play, explore, and awaken your sacred roots this spring!

Two partial scholarships will be offered, one for inclusivity and one for financial needs. Applications due January 8, 2026. Click here to apply.

JOIN THE RETREAT

Resilience, Resourcefulness, and Renewal: A 4-Day Retreat

A Qigong and Meditation Experience with Mimi Kuo-Deemer

Step into the Spring Equinox with movement and insights for skillful living
Topanga, CA // March 19–22, 2026

When life’s stronger winds begin to blow, we can feel uprooted—tossed about by the gale storms of change and uncertainty. In these times, we can turn to the wisdom of trees: their deep roots help them stay resilient through spring’s raucous weather, enabling the cycle of growth and renewal to continue.

Join Mimi for this 4-day journey into awakening our innate capacity to meet life’s blustery winds. Through gentle yet deeply strengthening qigong practices, she will share tools that honor the rooted strength, resourcefulness, and visionary growth of Wood—the element associated with spring in the Chinese Five Phases (Wuxing 五行). Sessions will weave together Daoist and Buddhist teachings in highly experiential ways—unfolding with curiosity, insight, and the occasional giggle.

Together, we’ll nurture resilience and expand our capacity for goodwill and clear vision. Get ready to explore how to transform difficulties into wisdom, and renew our relationship to ourselves and the world around us.

All levels of experience, body types, backgrounds, identities, and interests are warmly welcomed. Come play, explore, and awaken your sacred roots this spring!

Two partial scholarships will be offered, one for inclusivity and one for financial needs. Applications due January 8, 2026. Click here to apply.

JOIN THE RETREAT

Retreat Schedule & Details

Check In: Arrive between 1:00pm and 3:00pm on Thursday.

Thursday, March 19
3:00pm - 4:00pm: Welcome
4:00pm - 5:30pm: Qigong and meditation
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Free time

Friday, March 20
7:00am - 7:30am: Fruit, Tea, Coffee
7:30am - 8:30am: Sunrise Equinox 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 - 5:45 pm: Afternoon session (discussion, qigong, meditation)
6:00pm - 7:00pm: Dinner
8:00pm - 9:00pm: Satsang (community sharing, questions/comments)

Saturday, March 21
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: Satsang (community sharing, questions/comments)

Sunday, March 22
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.

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

Questions? Email us at [email protected].

 

Evening practice at the lookout from our last retreat with Mimi!

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.

JOIN THIS RETREAT

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.

 

“I want to live, I want to give. I've been a miner for a heart of gold. It's these expressions I never give that keep me searching for a heart of gold.”

~ Neil Young

“I want to live, I want to give. I've been a miner for a heart of gold. It's these expressions I never give that keep me searching for a heart of gold.”

~ Neil Young

La Casa

The Loft

La Casita

Tea House Singles

A-Frame Cabins

The Grounds

Retreat Ticket
with Shared Lodging

$1,450

Includes all meals and activities, plus shared lodging in La Casa, Casita, an A-Frame cabin, or the Ladies Lounge. You can indicate after purchase if you have a preferred roommate or room.

REGISTER WITH SHARED LODGING

Retreat Ticket
with Single Room

$1,900

Includes all meals and activities, plus private lodging in a Tea House Single.

REGISTER WITH SINGLE ROOM LODGING

Retreat Ticket
without Lodging

$1,250

Includes all meals and activities, plus property access.

REGISTER WITHOUT LODGING

2 Retreat Tickets
plus Master Bedroom

$3,400

Includes up to two people for all meals and activities, plus double occupancy of the Master Bedroom.

REGISTER WITH MASTER BEDROOM

We are committed to the cultivation of a community that is inclusive and diverse and acknowledge that retreats can be financially challenging, especially to people on low incomes. We also recognize that there is a lack of diverse representation in the wellness world, including, though not exclusively, people from the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.

We are offering two partial scholarships available to those for a Shared Lodging lodging space. To learn more and apply, please click here.

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP