Deepening December

Tier 2 Advanced Teacher Training Week

Step Into the Teacher You’re Becoming

Sunday, December 13 to Friday, December 18, 2026

Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel, California

Limited to 30 teachers.

Become the teacher your students feel.

You've been teaching, and your students keep coming back. You may be sensing that an even deeper level of teaching is ahead; a quiet feeling that something deeper is ready to unfold, where the qi you share is felt by everyone in the room and guiding others comes naturally.

This is the week that helps you get there: 40 hours of in-person training with Lee, alongside a small circle of teachers who are right where you are, in a forest that adds its own lessons along the way.

This week is for you if you’re already out there teaching and feel called to take the next step toward your Tier 2 certification. You’ll go deeper into the practice, grow into a teacher who leads with skill and heart, and share the qi in a way that makes a real difference in the lives of your students and your community.

How you'll be transformed

By the end of the week, you will:

Teach from sensation, not just instruction.

Explore the Five Elements, the Three Treasures, and embodied learning until they live within you. When you guide others from the current moving through your body, they feel it too, and that’s where the magic of your teaching begins.

Lead with confidence.

Leave with simple, practical business and marketing strategies that help you share what you love with more people. You’ll be ready to start growing your classes the week you get home, with the heart and clarity to back it up.

Break through what’s been holding you back.

Gently uncover the old stories and internal barriers that have kept you from reaching more students. You’ll work through them in a room full of teachers who understand, root for you, and are doing the same.

Find your circle.

In mastermind and small-group sessions, you’ll build real friendships with colleagues who understand your work. You’ll leave with people who are ready to cheer you on long after the week ends.

Feel the energy of a group at your level.

Nothing beats practicing alongside experienced practitioners. Their qi lifts yours, and you’ll feel your own practice open up in the field you create together.

Get answers in the moment.

Sit down face-to-face with Lee and the Holden QiGong team and ask what’s really on your heart. Instant, personal feedback helps you grow faster and feel supported every step of the way.

The shift you'll feel

You arrive as

A skilled, devoted teacher who gives your all to your students

Ready to grow your classes and sensing there's more possible

Sensing your own teaching voice just beneath the surface

Carrying old stories about what's possible for your teaching

Teaching and practicing mostly on your own

Studying the Five Elements and the Three Treasures with devotion

You leave as

A teacher whose students feel the qi, filled up and overflowing with more to share

Clear on who you're here to serve and what your next step is, with simple strategies you can start using right away

Leading in your own voice, with ease and with heart

Lighter, having worked through what's been holding you back, with room to reach more students

Part of a circle of advanced teachers who understand your work and cheer you on

Becoming them, and teaching from the qi that moves through you

Learn with people who get it

This week is intentionally small, with just 30 teachers, so you can sit close to Lee and ask what’s really on your heart. Here, you’ll practice beside teachers who understand exactly what you’re carrying. You’ll share what’s working, swap stories, and learn from one another’s teaching; by the end of the week, you’ll head home with fresh ideas, steadier confidence, and the feeling that you’ve found your people.

Your training ground: Land of Medicine Buddha

A sanctuary in the redwoods

Nestled on 108 acres of ancient redwood forest and sunny oak meadows in the coastal foothills south of Santa Cruz, Land of Medicine Buddha is a tranquil, spiritually centered retreat venue. It's a refuge for peace, Qi Gong, yoga, meditation, learning, and renewal, drawing people from around the world who seek rest, reflection, and deeper connection.

Set well away from the busy coastal roads, the site is reached by a winding, narrow drive through tall trees. The journey offers an intentional transition, letting you leave behind the noise and pace of everyday life before you even arrive.

Where your practice has room to deepen

Practice among the redwoods. Majestic groves, fern-lined paths, and open grasslands invite quiet walks, contemplative meditation, or simply being immersed in nature.

Walk the land. Large prayer wheels to spin, a meditation bell, and traditional shrines offer places to pause and invite inner stillness.

Follow the trails. Meandering paths, such as the Eight Verses Pilgrimage Loop, have instructional signs and seated benches for reflection.

Be nourished. A central dining hall serves healthy vegetarian meals and includes a tea and coffee bar, fostering community, nourishment, and relaxation.

The atmosphere is simple and respectful, fostering inner peace and insight while blending traditional Tibetan Buddhist elements with California’s beautiful landscape.

To attend this event, you must

Be a Tier 1 Holden QiGong Certified Teacher
Have your Certification Maintenance Hours up to date

If your maintenance hours aren’t up to date, please email [email protected] and contact Lewis, your Teacher Certification Mentor.

Tier 2 certification requirements

Tier 2 builds on your Tier 1 certification. You need an additional 300 hours of training to become an Advanced Teacher.

Advanced Teacher Training Week (40 hours): You must attend a week-long Advanced Teacher Training in person.
Tao Yin (40 hours): You must complete this program either online or in person.
Taoist Inner Alchemy (40 hours): Part 1: Pearl of Consciousness or Part 2: Kan & Li.
100 Hours of Teaching: Documented hours teaching as a Certified Holden QiGong Teacher.
80 Hours of Personal Practice and Additional Training: Using the Holden QiGong programs of your choice, including Tao Yin, Buddha Palm, Iron Shirt, Five Animal Frolics, Inner Alchemy: Pearl of Consciousness, and/or Video Class Subscription (up to 40 hrs).

Cost

Pay-in-Full, Single Room:

$2,697

Save $299 with our 10% pay-in-full discount. Regular price: $2,997. Includes a $500 non-refundable deposit.

Price includes lodging, meals, and 24/7 access to tea!

Pay-in-Full, Commuter, No Lodging:

$1,797

Save $200 with our 10% pay-in-full discount. Regular price: $1,997. Includes a $500 non-refundable deposit.

Price includes meals and 24/7 access to tea!

This event is limited to 30 teachers.

Your single room

Enjoy a peaceful stay in your own single room at Land of Medicine Buddha throughout the training. These rooms are simple, clean, and private, complete with a private bathroom. To maintain tranquility, rooms do not have phones, internet, or TVs, though an on-site phone booth is available if needed.

(limited single rooms available)

Healthy vegetarian meals and dining

Land of Medicine Buddha delights in serving delicious, healthy vegetarian breakfasts, lunches, and dinners during your retreat! The cozy dining hall is welcoming and accessible around the clock, featuring a full-size fridge for your convenience. Plus, enjoy the delightful coffee and tea bar, fully stocked with all the essentials.

Gluten-free, vegan, and allergen requests are welcome!

A Gift for the teachers who join us: Energy Mastery Level 1 for $500

Teachers who register for the Tier 2 Advanced Teacher Training Week can also join Energy Mastery Level 1 at a special teacher price of $500 (regularly $1,500 for teachers).

The more qi you gather in your own body, the more you have to share. That’s why we want you to have this.

Energy Mastery is Holden QiGong’s new flagship pathway for people who have found Lee, started a regular practice, and want to go beyond individual classes. Level 1 is a four-month guided program built around three routines Lee designed. You’ll learn each one live with Lee, explore the “why” behind each, and practice until they become your own. You’ll finish with an Energy Mastery Level 1 Practitioner Certificate. And because you’re a teacher, you’ll have the option to add a two-month teacher track to share the practice with your students.

Your next step is here

Teachers who say yes to this week tend to come home teaching differently. Only a few spots remain, and flights are easiest to book now.

Your attendance counts as 40 hours toward your Tier 2 Certification.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dates?

The Advanced Teacher Training Week runs Sunday, December 13 to Friday, December 18, 2026.

What is the training location?

We'll be at Land of Medicine Buddha, nestled in the redwoods just south of Santa Cruz in Soquel, California.

Is the Advanced Teacher Training Week streamed so I can attend from home?

Not this time. The Advanced Teacher Training Week is an in-person training, and much of what makes it powerful comes from being in the room together: practicing alongside other teachers, working in small groups, and getting your questions answered live by Lee. We're keeping the group intimate, with a maximum of 30 teachers, so there's no livestream or at-home option for this one.

If you can't make it this year, don't worry. We'll offer this training again in 2027.

Does the cost of the training include food?

Yes. Your tuition includes three delicious vegetarian meals a day and 24/7 access to tea and coffee. Gluten-free, vegan, and allergen requests are welcome.

How do I know if this teacher training week is right for me?

This week is ideal if you're actively teaching and want to complete your Tier 2 certification requirements. If you're not sure, write to us at [email protected] and we'll help you decide.

Can I count the Teacher Training Week toward my Certification Maintenance Requirement?

Yes, The Advanced Teacher Training week hours can be counted towards the 20-hour recertification maintenance requirement.

Does the Teacher Training Week count toward my 80-hour Personal Practice Requirement?

No, routines from the teacher training week cannot count towards the required 80-hours of personal practice because the 40 hours of teacher training week is already counted towards the 300-hour program.

Do I need to keep my certification current to register?

Yes. To attend, you must be a Tier 1 Holden QiGong Certified Teacher with your Certification Maintenance Hours up to date. If yours aren't current, write to [email protected] and contact Lewis, your Teacher Certification Mentor.

My question wasn't answered here. What can I do?

Send us an email at [email protected], and a member of the team will be happy to help.