The Dao HouseDesign your Life

A Traveling Work Experience

By Maria Camille

Sitting high on a mountain at 9,200 feet, at theedge of Rocky Mountain National Park, is The DaoHouse - under direction of Yun XiangTseng—known as Master Chen—a 25th-generationTaoist priest from Wudang Mountain in China.

Don't Forget to Breathe

I came to visit Master Chen in 2012 to help with the vision ofbuilding a wellness retreat. What I discovered was a mostbeautiful 82-acre property, which was previously a workingDude Ranch. What special potential this property had.

I stayed for a year!

I learned that the Native American culture had thrived in this valleyfor centuries. Master Chen based the foundation of the wellness retreaton the simple concept of simplicity. With the beauty of thesurrounding high mountains, forests and broad valley, the land bringsan immediate sense of calm.

The word Simplicity describes it perfectly.

Time Stands Still Here

Our focus was to offer wellness programs and retreats forguests along with Master Chen's Internal Marital Artsprograms.

As hikers visited from around the world, we designed aspecial Asian-style foot treatment on the expansive deck of

the lodge, which looks directly at Longs Peak, the highestmountain in Rocky Mountain National Park.

It became a big hit! Our guests were able to nurture tired feetwhile they enjoyed wine, cheese, and crackers. The focus was tooffer a "spiritual time-out," a rejuvenation of the mind and bodyat the end of the day.

One day our spateam and I werehiking up on themountain behind thelodge . . . . .

We came upon an oldstructure. The setting wasbeautiful as it faced LongsPeak - at 14,450 feet high.

What a Rocky MountainHigh!

We got the idea that thisshould be a Spa Tent wherewe would provide massagetreatments and guestscould sit and comtemplatelife.

Here is how the projectturned out - - - -

Our guests could ride horses up to the spa tent

Everyone loved our "cowboys" -

Our Christmas Holidays weresuch a special time. We hadsleigh rides and warm fires inthe huge fireplace at the lodge.

Master Chen teaching Wudang Arts

The "big lodge room"looking out at themountains

Horseback riding is specialOur Spa Team

All the fun and building of the new retreat came to an endin the Fall of 2013. It had been raining a lot - in fact therewas more rain that year than in over 100 years.

I had just le� the mountain a week before.

About 10:30 at night the following week, those that were atthe Lodge heard a big roar - like an avalanche. However, therewas no snow - instead it was one side of the mountain behindthe property that was coming down into the lodge.

It looked like this - - -

The lodge was immersed in water and mud along with taking out thesewer and water systems. The resort had to close.

Winter came soon a�er with the typical deep snow and 60 mile an hourwinds that come down through the Rocky Mountains.

True to the Daoist nature and holding on to the vision, a small group stayed at the Lodge along with Master Chen and worked throughout thewinter to re-open the retreat in the Spring.

What respect I felt for their fortitude!

The Dao Houseopened as planned in the spring with new Retreats and Trainings. The retreat continues to prosper as

Master Chen teaches and guests join in from around the world.

6120 Highway 7 Estes Park, Colorado 80517 •970.586.4094 • 866.734.4326 • info@daohouse.com