Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
Learn More.

Learn more.

Due to road closures along Highway 1 to our north and south, Esalen is closed through April 11.
Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.

Esalen opens May 3, 2024

Visitors are now able to access Esalen as well as other businesses and trails in northern Big Sur via twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 operated by Caltrans.

Convoys run only at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. These are the only opportunities to travel into and out of Big Sur, so visitors must plan accordingly.

Learn more.

James Baraz

James Baraz has been teaching mindfulness meditation classes and retreats in the US and internationally since 1978. He is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. James has been teaching his popular “Awakening Joy” online course since 2003. James is a guiding teacher of Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley (IMCB) where he leads a weekly sitting group. He serves as a Guiding Teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change. His books include Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids.

James Baraz is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He has been teaching the popular “Awakening Joy” online course since 2003. His books include Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids.

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James Baraz

James Baraz has been teaching mindfulness meditation classes and retreats in the US and internationally since 1978. He is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. James has been teaching his popular “Awakening Joy” online course since 2003. James is a guiding teacher of Insight Meditation Community of Berkeley (IMCB) where he leads a weekly sitting group. He serves as a Guiding Teacher to One Earth Sangha, a Virtual EcoDharma Center devoted to Buddhist responses to Climate Change. His books include Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids.

James Baraz is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He has been teaching the popular “Awakening Joy” online course since 2003. His books include Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to Happiness and Awakening Joy for Kids.

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