Bringing Life to Life: A Retreat of Presence and Renewal

This retreat at Tassajara—San Francisco Zen Center's mountain monastery in Big Sur—integrates Zen sitting with Qigong and Daoist movement practice. The pairing is deliberate: Zen zazen and kinhin (walking meditation) work the mind; Qigong addresses the body's energy and breath in parallel ways. If you've sat sesshin before, you'll recognize the basic rhythm. If not, the Qigong components and afternoon free time make this a gentler entry point than a strict Zen sesshin.

The schedule runs mornings for formal practice—Qigong, zazen, kinhin, Zen talks, group reflection—then opens in the afternoons for restorative stretching, rest, and exploration of the land. Tassajara itself is the draw for many: a hot-spring canyon retreat center reachable only by narrow mountain road, with gardens, redwoods, and the creek. No cell service, no internet. The environment itself is part of the practice.

This is a residential stay, meaning you're on-site for five days. Meals are vegetarian and communal, included in the price. Accommodation is typically shared rooms or dormitory-style. Bring warm layers—Tassajara cools down at night even in June—and anything you'll need for offline days.