Hardwire Happiness: Rewire Your Mind for Calm, Clarity, and Joy

Hardwire Happiness is a weekend meditation retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by Dr. Shauna Shapiro. It brings together neuroscience and mindfulness for people who want practical, science-based ways to feel calmer, think more clearly, and build a steadier baseline of happiness. No prior meditation experience is mentioned as a requirement, and the weekend suits anyone curious about how attention and repetition shape the brain.

What to Expect

The premise is that the brain can be changed through practice. Dr. Shapiro explains the basic brain science behind this, including how neural pathways strengthen through repetition and attention, then teaches practices for putting it to use. The themes are joy, gratitude, and connection, along with mindfulness and self-compassion. A good part of the weekend is spent on bringing these practices into everyday life, so they last beyond the retreat.

The schedule is unhurried and runs over three days:

- Friday: an orientation called How to Drop Into Esalen in the early evening, followed by an opening workshop session from 7:15 to 9:45 pm.
- Saturday: a morning session from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm, a break for meals and personal reflection, then an afternoon session from 3:30 to 6:30 pm focused on the core teachings.
- Sunday: a final session from 10:00 am to noon for integration and closing.

Outside the workshop hours, guests can join the open schedule of classes at Esalen, and use the hot springs and campus facilities.

About Shauna Shapiro

Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a best-selling author, professor, and clinical psychologist, and an internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and self-compassion. She has published over 150 papers and three critically acclaimed books. Her TEDx Talk, What You Practice Grows Stronger, has been viewed over 2.5 million times. She is described as a leading scientist studying the effects of meditation on well-being. Her books Good Morning, I Love You: Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Practices to Rewire the Brain for Calm, Clarity + Joy and its companion guided journal are the recommended reading for the workshop.

The Setting

Esalen Institute sits on the Big Sur coast, and the weekend is a residential stay on campus. Accommodation ranges from budget-friendly shared sleeping bag space and bunk rooms to standard private rooms with a queen bed or two beds, and premium rooms and wooden yurts, some with ocean or forest views and private outdoor areas. Suites include the historic Price House, once the home of Esalen co-founder Dick Price. Some guests choose to stay off-site, and day passes are also offered.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, along with coffee, tea, and snacks. Access to Highway 1 into northern Big Sur has been managed by Caltrans through twice-daily convoys, at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., which are the only times to travel in and out. Check current conditions and plan your travel accordingly.

Before You Go

The workshop fee includes the sessions with Dr. Shapiro, housing, all meals, coffee, tea and snacks, hot springs access, and enrollment in open schedule classes. Healing arts sessions such as Esalen Massage, craniosacral therapy, and coaching are extra, as are specialty beverages, alcohol, and bookstore purchases. An additional faculty tuition applies to this workshop. Anyone facing financial hardship is invited by Dr. Shapiro to contact her directly about a tuition scholarship.