Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the alternate route directions.
Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.
A consistent meditation practice can lower stress, improve health, strengthen relationships, and increase happiness. A regular writing practice can help you make sense of the world and your place in it while making you a better and more creative writer. This combination writing and meditation workshop invites writers and meditators of all levels to delve deeply into both practices and combine their benefits.
Our daily guided meditations will nourish your creativity by encouraging you to be present, establishing a strong mind/body connection, and helping you access emotion and empathy — all important tools for writing.
Daily bursts of free writing will provide opportunities to tap into your creative energy — without judgment — so you can do your most original and authentic writing. Both practices will be supported by discussions of the craft of writing to help you master the technical aspects of storytelling. Each day, we will set aside time to share our work in a safe and supportive environment.
By the end of the workshop, everyone will have acquired the tools necessary to develop daily meditation and writing practices — and make them stick. Participants will also receive a free month’s membership to Creative Caffeine Daily, an online community to inspire, share work, and provide feedback.
Recommended Reading: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg and Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Janis Cooke Newman is the author of two award-winning novels, and a memoir. She has taught writing and mindfulness workshops at Esalen and for the San Francisco Zen Center. She is a long-time practitioner of Zen.
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Monday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm *How to Drop Into Esalen*
7:15 pm – 9:30 pm
Tuesday
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesday
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Thursday
9:30 am – 1:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Friday
9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.
More activities can be found on our open class schedule.
See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.
Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.
We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.
Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.
Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.
We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.
For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.
Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.
Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.
As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
A consistent meditation practice can lower stress, improve health, strengthen relationships, and increase happiness. A regular writing practice can help you make sense of the world and your place in it while making you a better and more creative writer. This combination writing and meditation workshop invites writers and meditators of all levels to delve deeply into both practices and combine their benefits.
Our daily guided meditations will nourish your creativity by encouraging you to be present, establishing a strong mind/body connection, and helping you access emotion and empathy — all important tools for writing.
Daily bursts of free writing will provide opportunities to tap into your creative energy — without judgment — so you can do your most original and authentic writing. Both practices will be supported by discussions of the craft of writing to help you master the technical aspects of storytelling. Each day, we will set aside time to share our work in a safe and supportive environment.
By the end of the workshop, everyone will have acquired the tools necessary to develop daily meditation and writing practices — and make them stick. Participants will also receive a free month’s membership to Creative Caffeine Daily, an online community to inspire, share work, and provide feedback.
Recommended Reading: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg and Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Janis Cooke Newman is the author of two award-winning novels, and a memoir. She has taught writing and mindfulness workshops at Esalen and for the San Francisco Zen Center. She is a long-time practitioner of Zen.
September 25–29, 2023
This program is full. Find another.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
A consistent meditation practice can lower stress, improve health, strengthen relationships, and increase happiness. A regular writing practice can help you make sense of the world and your place in it while making you a better and more creative writer. This combination writing and meditation workshop invites writers and meditators of all levels to delve deeply into both practices and combine their benefits.
Our daily guided meditations will nourish your creativity by encouraging you to be present, establishing a strong mind/body connection, and helping you access emotion and empathy — all important tools for writing.
Daily bursts of free writing will provide opportunities to tap into your creative energy — without judgment — so you can do your most original and authentic writing. Both practices will be supported by discussions of the craft of writing to help you master the technical aspects of storytelling. Each day, we will set aside time to share our work in a safe and supportive environment.
By the end of the workshop, everyone will have acquired the tools necessary to develop daily meditation and writing practices — and make them stick. Participants will also receive a free month’s membership to Creative Caffeine Daily, an online community to inspire, share work, and provide feedback.
Recommended Reading: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg and Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Janis Cooke Newman is the author of two award-winning novels, and a memoir. She has taught writing and mindfulness workshops at Esalen and for the San Francisco Zen Center. She is a long-time practitioner of Zen.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org