November 24-28, 2025
The Heart of Gratitude: Embodied Practices for Grateful Living Save the Date
Esalen Institute
Steven Harper & Friends
“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.”
~Rumi
This Thanks-Giving week, join us to explore gratitude as a path to presence, belonging, and an expanded sense of aliveness. In this workshop, we’ll dive into the heart of gratitude not simply as a mental state but as a full-bodied experience—a way of living that invites us to feel a profound sense of connection and be deeply receptive to life’s gifts, from small daily presentations to life-changing moments.
Drawing from ancient wisdom traditions and the latest research in neuropsychology, we will explore how gratitude affects the brain and body, supporting resilience, well-being, and a heightened sense of connection. Through a range of guided practices, we’ll cultivate gratitude from the inside out, engaging with it as a felt sense that can be recognized and nurtured within the body. Each day will weave together movement, mindfulness, and nature-based practices, inviting us to awaken an embodied awareness that fosters deeper connection to ourselves, others, and the natural world. We’ll explore how living with gratitude brings warmth and openness to our hearts, strengthens resilience, and offers clarity and a sense of belonging, even in challenging times.
Practices you can expect include:
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Mindful Movement and Somatic Awareness: Simple yet powerful movement practices that ground us in our bodies, helping us sense and welcome the flow of gratitude that arises in presence.
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Nature-Based Meditation and Contemplative Walking: Time spent outdoors on the Esalen grounds, connecting with the natural landscape as we deepen our capacity to experience appreciation, wonder, and belonging within the world around us.
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Gratitude Circles and Sharing Exercises: Small-group and partner practices that create space for listening and sharing our unique expressions of gratitude, strengthening our ability to both give and receive appreciation.
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Contemplative and Journaling Practices: Guided prompts and quiet time for personal reflections on gratitude, helping us integrate our insights and carry them forward.
Whether new to gratitude practices or wishing to deepen an existing one, this workshop offers a chance to explore gratitude as a transformative way of being. Together, we’ll open to the abundance of each moment, experiencing gratitude not as an idea but as a full-bodied, heart-centered approach to life. Join us in discovering the gifts of gratitude.
Register Now
McWay Falls in Saddle Rock Cove in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park