Connect in Nature CME Retreat
A three-day mindfulness retreat in the redwood forests, gardens, and coastline of West Marin.
Led by Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang @ Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center
December 2-4, 2026
October 6-8, 2027
“If you are looking for a nourishing and rejuvenating way to get CME, look no further! Not only will you come away with many actionable tools to improve your well-being, but you will also leave feeling cared for and refreshed. This was the best thing I have done for myself in a very long time.”
-Dr. Miriam Rhew, Pediatrician
There is a better way to do medicine - and life.
Connect in Nature is a three-day experience for women in medicine who want to step out of the usual, spend time in extraordinary places, and reconnect with what matters.
Come for mindfulness, movement, and meaningful conversation.
Leave with practical tools, renewed energy, and a clearer sense of how you want to show up in your life and work.
12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ • Limited to 16 participants • Open to all
“We experienced time in all of my favorite places in nature - forests, beaches, and gardens!
And had the time to truly experience them all mindfully in an amazing community.
It was truly restful and energizing.”
An Experience that Feels Different
Over three days, we gather in gardens, under redwoods, beside the ocean, and in a cozy yurt.
We practice mindfulness. We walk. We nourish ourselves with farm-to-table food. We rest.
We talk openly and honestly.
We laugh. We play. We remember - that there is more to life than simply getting through.
There are no conference rooms. No lectures. No networking events.
Simply space, wise guidance, incredible women, and practices that help you create a life that feels good on the inside.
“The thoughtful and intentional creation of the experience gifts you the space and conditions to reflect and consider how you want to show up and chart your course.” — Lee Anne Wong, MD, Pediatrics & Physician Leader, Sutter Health
Place Matters
Some learning can only happen outside.
The beauty of West Marin is not simply the backdrop for this retreat. It is part of the teaching.
We practice in the gardens at Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center. We move slowly through redwood forests. We sit beside the ocean. We notice what changes when we step outside the rooms, roles, and rhythms that usually hold us.
Nature does not ask you to achieve anything.
It invites you to pay attention.
When we pay attention, we remember what we already know.
“What if I brought my senses to appreciate and savor my last thirty days? Connect in Nature reminded me that mindfulness is not only for navigating the hard moments. It can help us notice the beauty of the really special ones, too.”
—Dr. Kelly Derbin, family physician and physician leader
“It’s a transformative experience. The work we do is hard. We need retreats like this to lift us up, to reflect on why and what is making us stressed, and to feel a part of a loving community.”
What Will You Learn at the Retreat
Practices for real life
Each day is intentionally designed to offer both structure and spaciousness.
You will be guided but never rushed.
You will experience mindfulness, coaching, and communication practices in a garden, beside a creek, amid wildflowers, on a mountaintop, and in a forest.
We will explore:
Mindfulness in gardens, redwood forests, and by the ocean
Restorative and yin yoga in a beautiful yurt
Sound healing and nervous-system-supporting practices
Forest bathing and sensory experiences in nature
Mind-body medicine and the physiology of mindfulness
Small-group coaching and facilitated reflection
Mindful eating, mindful communication, and meaningful connection
Intention-setting practices for your work, relationships, and next chapter.
You do not need any experience with yoga, mindfulness, or coaching to join us. Come with curiosity. We will meet you where you are.
“The framework and seeds cultivated during this retreat are immensely impactful and healing. You’ll likely be surprised by how quickly your nervous system settles and your heart opens.” - LM, Radiation Oncologist
Details & Planning
When is the retreat?
December 2-4, 2026
October 6-8, 2027
Where is it?
Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center with optional morning experiences in Muir Woods & at Muir Beach
What time does the retreat begin and end?
Core retreat sessions are held from 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. each day at Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center.
Optional morning experiences in Muir Woods and at Muir Beach are offered on days two and three.
How large is the retreat?
We limit attendance to 14 to ensure it remains a calm, nourishing, and quiet experience.
Is CME available?
Yes. The retreat offers 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
What is the cost?
December 2026
$2,600 per person
$2,400 each when you come with a friend
Registration includes the full retreat experience and CME. Lodging and transportation are separate.
Where should you stay?
Participants arrange their own lodging nearby. Options include Mill Valley Inn, Mountain Home Inn, Acqua Hotel, Cavallo Point, Pelican Inn, and local Airbnb rentals.
Many participants extend the experience into a lovely friend or solo adventure in West Marin.
Where do you fly to?
San Francisco or Oakland. You will want to rent a car.
“This retreat is unique. It is run by physicians who understand the challenges of being a physician, how our training magnifies stress, and the pathophysiology behind the stress and interventions.”
The hosts of the Healing Medicine Podcast will be your trusted guides
Dr. Jessie Mahoney
Jessie is a physician wellness expert, certified coach, yoga and mindfulness teacher as well as a board-certified pediatrician.
She is the founder of Pause & Presence, where she offers 1:1 coaching, small-group coaching, and retreats, for those who are successful on the surface yet struggling underneath.
She speaks nationally on wellness, burnout, mindfulness, and mindset.
Jessie is a graduate of Dartmouth College and UCSF Medical School. She worked as a pediatrician and physician leader at The Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser) for 18 years.
Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang
Ni-Cheng is a mother, cancer survivor, mindfulness teacher, and pulmonologist.
She is a leader and international speaker on well-being, mindfulness, anti-racism, integrative and pulmonary medicine who has taught courses, led retreats, and designed well-being curricula for over a decade. She co-hosts the Healing Medicine podcast and founded the Mindful Healthcare Collective to help reduce suffering amongst healers.
She has been recognized as a seven-time San Diego Top Doctor, received the San Diego American Lung Association Lung Health Provider of the Year Award in 2019, and was recognized by Mindful Magazine as one of the 10 Powerful Women of the Mindfulness Movement in 2021.
“I left the retreat with the lowest cortisol I have had in years!” - Dr. Kelly Derbin, Family Medicine, PAFMG
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need experience with mindfulness or yoga?
No. You do not need any previous experience. The practices are welcoming, accessible, and designed for real people with real bodies and full lives.
Is this a silent retreat?
No. There are periods of quiet throughout the retreat, often 20–30 minutes at a time. Connection and community are also central to the experience.
Is this a spa retreat?
No. It is restorative, beautiful, and nourishing, but it is not a spa retreat.
Come if you are looking for meaningful learning, time in nature, practical tools, and space to reflect on how you want to live and work.
Who is this retreat for?
It is open to all. It is especially meaningful for physicians, clinicians (NP, PA, MFT, Psychologist, CNM), and their spouses and partners.
Who is this retreat NOT for?
This is probably not the right fit if you are looking for lectures, powerpoints, fixed agendas, a traditional conference, or a spa vacation.
It is also not a fit for those who prefer to remain indoors, are not open to gentle movement and new experiences in nature, or cannot comfortably walk about one mile on uneven but relatively flat terrain, or sit on a cushion on the floor.
Should you come alone or with a friend?
Both are wonderful.
Come alone if you want to step into something new and meet thoughtful people. Come with someone you care about if you want shared memories, a shared language, someone who can help you carry the practices home.
Learn more about the retreat by listening to these Healing Medicine Podcast Episodes
Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang and Dr. Jessie Mahoney share lessons from the Connect in Nature Mindfulness retreat.
Dr. Holly MacKenna shares her experience attending the Connect in Nature Retreat in 2024. She emphasizes the importance of coaching and leaning into a community of support when building something new.
Dr. Yvonne Juarez, TPMG physician, shares her Connect in Nature retreat experience.
Gift yourself three days to remember what is possible.
Gift yourself the redwoods, gardens, ocean, yoga, sound healing, good food, community, and connection. Leave calm, grounded, and equipped with the perspective that emerges when you step outside your usual space and pace.
CME Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by AKH, Inc., Pause & Presence, LLC.
AKH, Inc. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
AKH, Inc. designates this live activity for 12 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
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