Portugal 2026

The 28th TaoZen International Retreat @ Portugal

Brave Heart,Gentle Soul TaoZen Life Practice :
Meditation, Breathwork, Qi Exercise, Healing, Life Art

October 23–28, 2026, at Valle Das Estrelas — the “Valley of the Stars”

This year’s international retreat will be held in Portugal. The theme is “Brave Heart, Gentle Soul: Take on challenges with courage, and be kind.”

This is the first retreat to fully embrace the concept of TaoZen Life Practice. While we’ve always had “Life as Art” as an internal theme, we’ve decided to make it the central theme starting this summer. This year, we’ll be holding it in a new location: Portugal.

This retreat allows you to choose a theme from the five pillars of TaoZen (Meditation, Breathwork, Chi Exercise, Chi Nei Tsang Healing, Life Art) and deeply experience “Making Life an Art” alongside people from diverse cultures.

Even if you’re not fluent in English or have never traveled alone before, that’s perfectly fine.
Please join us and enjoy a fun inner adventure.

Brave Heart, Gentle Soul

This retreat is an invitation to practice deeply, act with courage, live gently, and experience life more fully. Please consider joining us.

●Curriculum

Breathwork –
Turtle Breathing, Tanden Power Breathing, Bone Breathing

We will proceed by selecting several from over 20 TaoZen breathing techniques. We want you to actually experience various breathwork practices with your body. In TaoZen, there is no single “best” breathing technique. Different breathing patterns change our way of being. This time, we will go into detail about turtle breathing, tanden power breathing, and alternate nostril breathing, and learn them. Turtle breathing is a breathing technique that draws out latent power. It is said to be related to the kidneys, youthfulness, and courage. Tanden power breathing is a breathing technique that stimulates the source of qi. It is expected to uplift internal organs and correct posture from within. We will also learn bone breathing, which is connected to bone healing.

Bone Healing –
Awakening the Bone Wisdom

Bones are not just hard structures that support posture and movement. Bones are alive.
They hold deep, ancient information and support life in ways we don’t realize. We will also practice bone meditation, which allows you to experience the connection to the subconscious and ancient information. Just finding a small dinosaur bone reveals the ecology of a giant dinosaur, and finding the bones of a deceased person brings a sense of peace to the soul; the romance of bones expands. Humans have 206 bones, and we believe that each one is not only different in shape but also holds unique information and wisdom. When you begin to listen to the voice of your bones, bone wisdom begins to awaken. And when you work with your bones, you will begin to experience their relationship to tendons, muscles, the nervous system, and the entire body. In this retreat, you will learn bone meditation, bone breathing (from beginner to advanced levels), and Qi tapping for self-healing of the bones.
As we age, bone care becomes extremely important.

Shujaa Qigong
– The Adventure Within

Traditional Qigong movements are linked together to create a delightful 7-minute routine. Hidden within it is a grand story and profound wisdom. We carefully learn each movement,
and as we continue the overall movement, we begin to notice the story behind it. It’s a mythical tale of a boy or girl, like those found in any culture, who one day sets out on an adventure alone, encounters various situations, makes friends, fights for justice, tries new things, fails, and experiences many things before returning to their home. By then, they have grown bigger, stronger, and kinder than before. As you practice this Qigong diligently, you may find that a passion or adventurous spirit wells up within your soul. We value each individual discovering and experiencing their own unique story.

Shujaa is a Swahili word that evokes feelings of courage to move forward, heroism, or heroine. I borrowed this word because it perfectly matches the image I had in mind. TaoZen Qigong is not just about learning the correct movements or harmonizing the body; it is about smoothing the flow of energy, and we hope that it will have an impact on the very source of one’s way of life, even in the parts that are invisible to the eye. This Qigong is performed standing, but it can also be done while sitting in a chair. The most important thing is to enjoy the movement and the flow of energy without overexerting yourself. No matter your age, you’re the hero/heroine.

Belt-Channel Meditation:
Build, protect, and open.

From the many meditation methods available, I chose Belt Channel Meditation. This meditation is performed while activating the energy channel traditionally known as the Daimai (belt meridian). It’s called that because it’s located where one would tie a belt. In the retreat, we will deepen that basic belt channel meditation, expanding it throughout the entire body.
As we do this, three important things will become interconnected.

– Clarify your energetic presence.
– Protect your body and mind from external energies.
– Expand your self.

These three important things begin to be felt at several levels of the body. Self-formation, the feeling of being oneself, is important. It can also be called the establishment of the ego. We often feel that we are being invaded, without our knowledge, by emotional, informational, and energetic influences. This is considered very effective in protecting ourselves from such influences. It is a form of energy self-defense. However, if we protect ourselves too much, we will thicken our own shell. It is always necessary to expand ourselves. We will work on these important issues with a realistic approach across seven levels of the body.

This might sound complicated when explained like this, but we’ll proceed in a way that even complete beginners can understand. It’s a fun meditation technique that can also be used for “dream meditation” during naps.

A special place: Valle d’As Estrelas, Portugal
A wonderful place: Villas surrounded by beautiful nature and stars

The retreat will be held in a beautiful area of ​​Portugal, near the sea, about two hours from Lisbon. It’s possible to travel there by train from Lisbon. We’ve found a wonderful villa in Valle Dás Estrelas (meaning “Valley of the Stars”). It’s a quiet, soul-filling environment, enveloped in beauty, fresh air, and a relaxed atmosphere. The location itself is a crucial element of the retreat. I’ve spoken with the owners, Anna and Ala, many times; they are a very warm, wonderful couple who have traveled the world. Spending time with amazing companions who will be gathering from all over will make the retreat even more profound. https://www.valleyofthestars.co.uk/

A Day by the Sea —

During this daytime retreat by the sea, we will take a field trip to one of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches. (at your own expense) We will visit the local town, enjoy the coastal scenery and air, and savor famous Portuguese seafood. This, too, is part of the TaoZen Life Practice: enjoying life, places, beauty, food, and connections with people.

A Day in Lisbon –
Sunlight , Slopes, Saudade: 

Planned for October 21st, optional, at cost.
Lisbon is a hilly, slightly old-fashioned, and very romantic city. Join us at TaoZen for a day to experience both the old and new Lisbon, riding the cable car, eating freshly baked egg tarts, enjoying Portuguese cuisine at local restaurants, listening to Fado (Portuguese music full of melancholy, like traditional Japanese ballads). We are planning to ask Ekua, a TaoZen member who lives in Lisbon, to be our guide.

● Participants: The majority of participants are expected to be from Europe and America.

● The workshop will be conducted in English, but we will also provide support in Japanese if necessary.
● Language: For participants who have little to no English proficiency, we also offer support in Japanese, French, and Spanish.

● The owners of the restaurant are a British couple who traveled the world before settling here. They prepare three heartfelt meals a day, focusing on organic ingredients and featuring both Portuguese and international cuisine. Please let us know in advance if you have any allergies or special dietary restrictions.

● Portugal in October: While Portugal is extremely crowded with tourists from all over Europe during the summer, it calms down at this time of year, making it the perfect season as it’s not yet too cold.

●Transportation and Meeting: While the plan is to meet and disperse at the destination, most participants will meet in Lisbon, travel by express train (approximately 2 hours),
and then take a minibus to the lodge. *Transportation costs will be at your own expense. The return trip will be the same.

● Questions? If you have any questions, please contact the secretariat at taozen@taozen.jp or Miranda.Maher.Tao@gmail.com.

TaoZen International Retreat in Portugal:
The 28th TaoZen International Retreat

Brave Heart, Gentle Soul,
Portugal.
October 23rd (Fri) – 28th (Wed), 2026 (5 nights, 6 days)

Price: Room, Board, and Workshop:
Early Bird deadline: September 25th
Early Bird Discount: 300,000 yen (Twin Room) / 380,000 yen (Single Room) *Early Bird 
Regular Price: 330,000 yen (Twin Room) / 410,000 yen (Single Room)

Invoice can be generated in Euros or US dollars. The conversion rate would be subject to the rate in effect at the time of payment.

● Not included in Main Fee:
Lunch and dinner on the day trip
Alcoholic beverages such as wine
Expenses for sightseeing in Lisbon.

● Payment Method
Please make payment in advance via bank transfer (Japan) or PayPal. (via invoice)

*For inquiries, please contact Taozen (taozen@taozen.jp) or Miranda in U.S. (Miranda.Maher.Tao@gmail.com)