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 alternate route directions.
Esalen is currently closed through May 2, 2024 due to a road closure. See our travel advisory for more information.
Esalen Institute Summer Series
July 19 – 21, 2024
|
July 22 – 26, 2024
Choose Your Dates

Welcome to Summer Groove, an exhilarating celebration of sound, creativity, and movement nestled amidst the breathtaking beauty of Esalen Institute. Immerse yourself in a transformative experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional festivals, inviting you to explore the depths of your inner self while connecting with a vibrant, intimate community of like-minded seekers.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Esalen, perched on the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, California, Summer Groove unfolds as a harmonious blend of nature's splendor and artistic expression. The festival is a testament to the belief that the synthesis of sound, creativity, and movement has the power to awaken the spirit and foster a sense of unity among participants.

The heartbeat of Summer Groove is its diverse and eclectic lineup of musicians, artists, and movement facilitators, each carefully curated to provide a multisensory experience that resonates.

Music

Expect an array of musical genres, from soul-stirring live performances to pulsating electronic beats, ensuring that every festival-goer finds their own unique rhythm. The stages, strategically placed to capture the magic of the surroundings, become portals to otherworldly dimensions, where the music becomes a conduit for self-discovery and communal celebration.

Creativity

Interactive art installations, workshops, and collaborative projects dot the festival grounds and add to the musical tapestry. Engage your senses in a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and mediums as you wander through the artistic wonderland that awaits. Whether you're a seasoned artist or someone looking to unlock their creative potential, the festival provides a space where inspiration flows freely, and the boundaries between artist and observer blur.

Movement

Explore the physicality through yoga, dance, and somatic practices. Guided by experienced facilitators, these movement sessions serve as a gateway to self-discovery, allowing festival-goers to tap into the innate wisdom of their bodies. Whether you find yourself in a sunrise yoga session overlooking the Pacific or engaging in a spontaneous dance under the starlit sky, movement at Summer Groove is a celebration of the body's capacity for expression and joy.

Get playfull and joyfull.

During Esalen's signature summer series, our own faculty will be joined by very special guests to add amazing and delightful programming to each week and weekend.

Feed mind and body.

Savor three hearty, healthy meals per day. Our kitchen draws on global culinary traditions, using the fruits of the Esalen Farm & Garden and other local Big Sur providers to create delicious meals that support holistic health — for you and for the earth.

Create space for reflection.

Esalen’s beloved mineral hot springs perch dramatically over the Pacific Ocean, a juxtaposition of intimate and infinite. A core part of Esalen from its inception, the baths and tubs are an ideal place to reflect, find clarity, and set new intentions.

A man dances facing the Pacific Ocean on the pool deck at Esalen.

Imagine if you pressed pause
on your life for four weeks to
give yourself time and space
to transform.

Self-Guided Explorations Sample Schedule

This is a sample schedule only. Please refer to the posted schedule on campus for actual class offerings during your stay.
See general schedule information including arrival, departure, and meal times.

MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY














7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

8:00 – 9:00 pm
Self Guided Exploration Welcome Circle


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ



2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class
Visiting Faculty

4:30 pm
Intro to Gestalt
JJ



7:30 – 8:30 am
Moja Yoga
Megan



2:15 – 3:15 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self-Renewal
Micha


7:30 pm
Wednesday Evening Program
Visiting Faculty


7:30 – 8:30 am
Soul Movement Sanctuary
Jovinna


2:15 – 3:15 pm
The Hive and the Hum
Deva






11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle




7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ



2:30 – 3:30 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self-Renewal
Micha


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pranotthan Yoga
Jovinna

11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle





MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY


No classes on Monday


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


No classes on Sunday

4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore


4 – 5:00 pm
Restore

MONDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation


8:00 – 9:00 pm
Self Guided Exploration Welcome Circle

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class
Visiting Faculty


4:30 pm
Intro to Gestalt
JJ

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Moja Yoga
Megan


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal
Micha


7:30 pm
Wed Evening Program

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Soul Movement Sanctuary
Jovinna


2:15 – 3:15 pm
The Hive and the Hum
Deva



FRIDAY




11:00 – 11:45 pam
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class
Visiting Faculty

SUNDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pranotthan Yoga
Jovinna


11:00 – 11:45 pam
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle



MONDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation


8:00 – 9:00 pm
Self Guided Experience Welcome Circle

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class
Visiting Faculty


4:30 pm
Intro to Gestalt
JJ

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Moja Yoga
Megan


2:15 – 3:15 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal
Micha


7:30 pm
Wed Evening Program
Visiting Faculty

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Soul Movement Sanctuary
Jovinna


2:15 – 3:15 pm
The Hive and the Hum
Deva



FRIDAY




11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Experience Closing Circle


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ


2:30 – 3:30 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal
Micha



SUNDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pranotthan Yoga
Jovinna


11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Experience Closing Circle





MONDAY


No classes today

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Restore

FRIDAY


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Enliven


4:00 – 5:00 pm
Expand

SUNDAY


No classes today

MONDAY


7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

8:00 – 9:00 pm
Self Guided Exploration Welcome Circle

TUESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Afternoon Class

4:30 pm
Intro to Gestalt
JJ

WEDNESDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Moja Yoga
Megan

2:15 – 3:15 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal
Micha

7:30 pm
Wednesday Evening Program
Visiting Faculty

THURSDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Soul Movement Sanctuary
Jovinna

2:15 – 3:15 pm
The Hive and the Hum
Deva

FRIDAY


11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle

7:00 – 7:45 pm
Orientation

SATURDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pathways to Joy
JJ

2:30 – 3:30 pm
Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal
Micha
‍‍

SUNDAY


7:30 – 8:30 am
Pranotthan Yoga
Jovinna

11:00 – 11:45 am
Self Guided Exploration Closing Circle

Meet Our Teachers
Staff

Staff

Ongoing
Cara Chandler

Cara Chandler

Ongoing
www.lanamaste.com

While at Esalen, Cara realized her path of holistic healing. Using her background in Entertainment paired with yoga, meditation, and psychology, Cara has crafted a practice to support self-expression, self-discovery and cultivate a mind-body connection.

Deva Munay

Deva Munay

Ongoing
sacredsound.love

Deva is passionate about the transformational power of sacred sound. She has a certificate in Sound Healing from the Globe Institute of Sound & Consciousness in San Francisco, and lives in Big Sur where she leads sound journeys and teaches yoga, meditation, and her signature class The Hive and the Hum, about honeybees and frequency.

JJ Jeffries

JJ Jeffries

Ongoing

JJ Jeffries resides at the Esalen Institute, and has been offering movement classes here for almost two decades. Though BEING is his preferred state, he is intensely curious about all things DOING leading to BEING. He is a devotee of play and laughter, and welcomes your company.

Jovinna Chan

Jovinna Chan

Ongoing
jovinna.com

Jovinna Chan, E-RYT 500, YACEP, is co-founder of Shakti Initiation Yoga Leadership School and A Wild Life Sanctuary™. She is a certified Soul Motion™ and LetYourYogaDance Teacher, and co-founder of Pranotthan School of Yoga. She leads transformational programs around the world.

Megan Cassamas

Megan Cassamas

Ongoing
@moja.yoga

For nearly a decade Megan has provided a somatic-based approach to yoga. Her passion is to serve as a guide to support others in bridging meditation and motion in empowering embodiment classes. She is the founder of Moja Yoga.

Micha Merrick

Micha Merrick

Ongoing

Micha shares vibrational ritual and embodied herbalism as a heartfelt communion with our living ecosystem. Through personal mentorship with shamanic Lahu medicine women of Thailand and spiritual midwives in Bali, Micha currently facilitates the Herbal Clearing Ritual at Esalen, an energetic healing practice combining sound, touch, herbs, and intention. Micha offers sanctuary and grounding in connection with the earth.

Sadia Bruce

Sadia Bruce

Ongoing
@breathisalanguage

Sadia Bruce (E-RYT 500, YACEP) combines her expertise in breath-based movement, her reverence for the human experience and her energetic gifts to guide you to an electrifying sense of your own embodiment. With over 20 years of teaching experience across disciplines and contexts, and over 15 years of dedicated yoga practice, Sadia endeavors to create energized, radically inclusive learning environments that are guided by breath and driven by inquiry.

Sam Stern

Sam Stern

Ongoing

Sam is the host of the Voices of Esalen podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential, with over 1 million downloads to date. He is a graduate of Brown University and received an MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts. His greatest pleasure is spending time with his wife Candice and daughter Roxy.

Class Descriptions

A Brief History of Esalen: The 60's

Sam Stern

(

Ongoing

)

Join Sam for a deep-dive into Esalen's archives to explore the transformative origins of the Esalen Institute and Human Potential. Discover the roots of a movement that forever changed the landscape of personal growth and self-discovery.

Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal

Micha Merrick

(

Ongoing

)

Meditate with the surging energy of the waves and let tension dissolve on the ocean breeze. Adorned with flowers and local healing herbs, this unique experience at the Esalen baths blends personal inquiry, herbal education, and sensory delight. Each ritual is an emergent collaboration of sound, sensation, intention, and floral offering to the sea. Come early, class size is very limited.

Body Language

Sadia Bruce

(

Ongoing

)

A spacious, slow-paced exploration of the body home using therapeutic yoga and other somatic modalities to make space for breath, alleviate tension, and access greater mobility and fluidity— in flesh and bones, and in life. Accessible to all levels.

Breathscapes

Sadia Bruce

(

Ongoing

)

Rhythmic breathwork for breath-body intimacy and heightened aliveness. Learn to shape, adapt and dance with your breath through joyful experimentation, using the medicine of rhythm as your anchor.

How to Drop Into Esalen

Staff

(

Ongoing

)

So, you’ve finally arrived at Esalen — welcome home! Join us in exploring Esalen’s historic, culture-shifting origins, the vision for human potential, and our core values, as we embark on another 60 years of transformational education. Prepare to learn, grow, experiment, and evolve as we shepherd you on how best to integrate into this unique community and get the most out of your time on this sacred, ancient land.

Intro to Gestalt Practice

JJ Jeffries

(

Ongoing

)

Gestalt, like meditation, is an awareness practice that also provides a means for us to connect in the present moment. In this class, we will re-create and experience an Esalen style check-in, building spontaneous and intentional community. An Esalen tradition.

MojaFlow

Megan Cassamas

(

Ongoing

)

MojaFlow is an experience to provoke and elevate you to discover new realms of energy and inspire you to experience the joy of going beyond barriers in your own practice and life. Class will include a somatic warm-up, breath-work, and strengthening exercises to support the body/mind connection.

Pathways to Joy

JJ Jeffries

(

Ongoing

)

Start your morning by awakening your energetic body, tracking each of the chakras through the experience of meditative guitar and resonant voice. Then, emerge fully into sunrise energy with Dance Awake, connecting to your YES! and inviting ecstatic play and heart opening!

Pranotthan Yoga

Jovinna Chan

(

Ongoing

)

In class we contemplate spiritual/philosophical teachings, slow down and move mindfully by co-ordinating breath with movement, sustain poses to deepen focus and awareness, practice breathing exercises and meditation to hone skillfulness in listening to the inner subtle experiences.

Soul Movement Sanctuary

Jovinna Chan

(

Ongoing

)

This is a conscious dance practice for people who love or are curious about movement. Here in the company of non-dancers and dancers, we get supple and strong, we explore expressions, we celebrate creativity, we expand empathy, we move and are moved.

The Body Electric

Sadia Bruce

(

Ongoing

)

Take a somatic dive into the depths of the self with an enlivening, vigorous moving meditation that borrows from a variety of modalities, incorporates ancestral movement, and culminates in seated stillness. Shake, sound, and dance your way to deepened connection with your miraculous body, and with the body of the world.

5 Days / 4 Nights
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3 Days / 2 Nights
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Photo: Ali Kaukas.