Peniche, Portugal
January 11–17, 2026
The Zen Retreat
You’ve Been Waiting For
A week for those who want to:
– exhale
– rest far from the hustle and bustle
– strengthen their health
– explore the foundations of traditional Chinese wellness practices.
– exhale
– rest far from the hustle and bustle
– strengthen their health
– explore the foundations of traditional Chinese wellness practices.
No esoterics or made-up mysticism. Just what truly works.
- 2 Qigong Classes per Day
We will learn several exercise routines.
With regular practice, these routines can help you:
– relieve back and joint pain
– support the function of internal organs
– strengthen the immune system - Full Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis
You’ll receive a personal consultation with a Chinese medicine practitioner, including:
– Pulse diagnosis – assessing the condition of internal organs through the pulse
– Tongue diagnosis – revealing the overall balance of your body
– Case history – sleep, digestion, mood, energy levels
– Identification of your unique imbalances (based on Yin–Yang, Five Elements, and the meridian system)
– Lifestyle, diet, and self-practice recommendations
This holistic approach allows not only to recognize symptoms, but to understand their root causes — and begin addressing them gently and effectively.
- 4 Acupuncture Sessions
– Personalized point selection based on your diagnosis
– Addressing chronic fatigue, stress, and pain
– Improving sleep, digestion, and overall vitality
– Gently restoring balance in the body’s systems - Peniche — Where the Land Meets the Ocean
– Secluded beaches and the endless Atlantic
– The perfect place to pause and reset
– Fresh fish, seafood, and authentic Portuguese cuisine - The Zen Retreat
Simple practices to restore your focus, breath, and body.
No overwhelm. No rush.
A space to slow down — and truly feel yourself again.
Daily Schedule
(Subject to change depending on the weather)
Morning
Get plenty of rest.
Take a walk along the beach.
Enjoy a cup of coffee.
Savor a delicious breakfast.
10:00 – 11:30
First Practice
Bodywork focused on gentle spinal mobilization, stretching the body, and "lubricating" the joints.
Get plenty of rest.
Take a walk along the beach.
Enjoy a cup of coffee.
Savor a delicious breakfast.
10:00 – 11:30
First Practice
Bodywork focused on gentle spinal mobilization, stretching the body, and "lubricating" the joints.
Afternoon
- Free time to rest or explore.
- Acupuncture session after lunch
Evening
16:00 – 17:30
Second Practice
In the late afternoon, we’ll focus on calming the mind through Qigong sets designed to balance emotional states.
After practice — free time: watch the sunset, walk on the beach, enjoy dinner, and gently process the day.
Your team:
Qigong Instructor
Maria Pipenko
Qigong Instructor
Maria Pipenko
– Lived and practiced for 8 years in the Wudang Mountains, China
– Completed teacher training at the China Daoist Kungfu Academy, later becoming a full-time coach
– Studied Taiji, Qigong, Chinese philosophy, and medicine under various masters
– Currently lives in Bali and is enrolled in a 5-year program in Neigong, Qigong, Taiji, and Chinese Medicine with Damo Mitchell (Lotus Nei Gong)
– Holds an MA in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Sociology
– Over 20 years of personal practice and 10 years of teaching experience (7 of them in China)
Maria is known for making complex concepts—such as qi, yin and yang, and the structure of body and consciousness—clear and accessible, without mysticism, but with depth and respect for tradition.
– Completed teacher training at the China Daoist Kungfu Academy, later becoming a full-time coach
– Studied Taiji, Qigong, Chinese philosophy, and medicine under various masters
– Currently lives in Bali and is enrolled in a 5-year program in Neigong, Qigong, Taiji, and Chinese Medicine with Damo Mitchell (Lotus Nei Gong)
– Holds an MA in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Sociology
– Over 20 years of personal practice and 10 years of teaching experience (7 of them in China)
Maria is known for making complex concepts—such as qi, yin and yang, and the structure of body and consciousness—clear and accessible, without mysticism, but with depth and respect for tradition.
Chinese Medicine Practitioner:
Gaël Deloménie
Gaël Deloménie
Gaël has been practicing Qigong and Chinese internal arts since the age of 15.
In 2014, he graduated with honors from the Wang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Toulouse (AWMTC), after which he completed a one-year internship in Beijing.
He then spent four years studying Qigong and Taiji in the Wudang Mountains at the Daoist Academy under Master Chen Shixing. During that time, he also taught Chinese medicine theory to students.
Since 2023, Gaël has been living primarily in Bali, where he continues his studies in Qigong, Chinese medicine, and Daoist energetic practices under Damo Mitchell, founder of Lotus Neigong and Xian Tian College.
Gaël is known for his unique technique of painless needle insertion — especially appreciated by patients who are afraid of pain.
In 2014, he graduated with honors from the Wang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Toulouse (AWMTC), after which he completed a one-year internship in Beijing.
He then spent four years studying Qigong and Taiji in the Wudang Mountains at the Daoist Academy under Master Chen Shixing. During that time, he also taught Chinese medicine theory to students.
Since 2023, Gaël has been living primarily in Bali, where he continues his studies in Qigong, Chinese medicine, and Daoist energetic practices under Damo Mitchell, founder of Lotus Neigong and Xian Tian College.
Gaël is known for his unique technique of painless needle insertion — especially appreciated by patients who are afraid of pain.
Price (including accommodation):
€1030
€1030
Includes
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Daily classes for joint and spine health
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Daily Qigong classes
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Comprehensive diagnosis within Chinese medicine
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4 acupuncture sessions
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Private bedroom in a four-bedroom villa with 3 bathroomsтами
Zen retreat, here I come
Send an inquiry