HAND-PICKED EXPERIENCES

Editor's Picks

Curated events selected by the BrightStar team — transformational gatherings worth your time.

91 events curated

Yoga & Meditation

Weekly Deep Reset Evening Yoga

This weekly evening yoga session at Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram offers a dedicated space for practitioners to release the day's accumulated tension and recalibrate through a "deep reset" practice. Held in Boulder's respected ashram setting, the class invites both experienced yogis and newcomers to explore gentle, restorative, or vinyasa-based techniques designed to calm the nervous system and cultivate inner stillness. Whether you're seeking stress relief, deepened breath awareness, or community connection, this recurring practice anchors a sustainable yoga habit into your weekly rhythm.

Fri, Oct 2, 2026Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram, Boulder

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meditation retreat

The Art of Non-Sleep Deep Rest

This three-day retreat explores non-sleep deep rest, a waking state of profound relaxation documented by neuroscience to reset dopamine levels and reduce cortisol. Led by mindfulness trainer Kelly Boys, the program combines yoga nidra protocols with journaling and contemplative practice in Esalen's natural setting. The retreat addresses those navigating stress, life transitions, or seeking to deepen existing meditation practice. Participants will engage in lying-down guided sessions throughout the weekend, supported by research into neuroplasticity and sleep enhancement. No prior experience with yoga nidra is required. The large-group format encourages both inner work and gentle community connection, with ample time for reflection amid Big Sur's coastal landscape.

Fri, Oct 2, 2026Esalen Institute, Big Sur

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meditation retreat

C.E.B. – Cultivating Emotional Balance

A 42-hour training in emotional regulation and mental development, designed by psychologist Paul Ekman and contemplative scholar B. Alan Wallace at the direction of the Dalai Lama. The program integrates research on universal emotions with Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice, examining the seven fundamental emotional states and their physiological, behavioral, and relational dimensions. Participants learn to recognize emotional triggers, navigate refractory periods, and cultivate stable mental balance through attention training and guided meditation. The curriculum draws on neuroscience while maintaining grounding in traditional contemplative methods. The program has been validated by the American Psychological Association and is now taught as a primary course in the University of Pisa's Master's program in Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Contemplative Practices. The training unfolds over four weekend sessions held in-person at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa near Pisa.

Fri, Oct 2, 2026Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa, Pomaia

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meditation retreat

Concentration (Samādhi) Retreat: Cultivating Joy and Contentment

Samādhi—the steady unification of mind—forms a cornerstone of Buddhist practice and the Eightfold Path. This nine-night silent retreat explores concentration as both a meditation technique and a gateway to deeper states of absorption and clarity. The teaching faculty guides participants in developing stability and focus through practical methods, whether you arrive as a beginner or return as an experienced meditator. The retreat emphasizes how concentration naturally gives rise to joy, calm, and insight, enriching both formal practice and daily life. Teachers offer instruction on working with meditation objects, recognizing the qualities that support deeper states (jhanas), and weaving concentration into a broader Insight practice. With consistent support across morning and evening sessions, participants build a foundation for sustained attention and the ease that accompanies mental unification.

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre

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meditation

Online Dhamma Talk by Ven. Vimala

Ven. Vimala offers an online exploration of the Buddha's teachings centered on Sutta AN 10.61, a discourse from the Pali Canon that examines the path toward knowledge and freedom. The talk draws from classical Buddhist philosophy, examining how understanding flows into liberation. Conducted in English and accessible from any location, this session provides an opportunity to study foundational Buddhist teachings with a monastic teacher.

Sat, Oct 3, 2026Tilorien Monastery (Online)

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Spiritual Practice & Meditation

Practice Inner Freedom

Practice Inner Freedom is a spiritual gathering at the renowned JewelTree Center for Spiritual Growth & Guidance in Los Angeles. This contemplative session invites seekers to explore practices and perspectives that cultivate inner liberation and personal freedom. Whether you're new to spiritual practice or an experienced meditator, this event offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of freedom as both an inner state and a lived reality. The JewelTree Center's welcoming environment makes this an accessible entry point for anyone curious about spiritual growth.

Sun, Oct 4, 2026JewelTree Center for Spiritual Growth & Guidance, Los Angeles

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meditation retreat

The Realization Process: A Method of Embodied Healing & Awakening

The Realization Process is a method of embodied psychological and relational healing developed by Judith Blackstone. Under the guidance of senior teacher Theresa Scott, participants explore how mindful embodiment can open pathways to both psychological healing and nondual spiritual awakening. The practice integrates meditation, attentive movement, relational attunement, and trauma-release work known as Healing Ground. Rather than pursuing abstract states of consciousness, the method roots awakening in the body's lived experience, cultivating release of chronic patterns while expanding capacity for understanding, love, and connection with other beings. The workshop provides a contained, safe environment for this integrated work, though it is not recommended for those currently in acute crisis or working with severe trauma.

Sun, Oct 4, 2026Omega Institute, Rhinebeck

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meditation retreat

Self-Compassion as a Lifeboat Home: Remembering the Heart of Who We Are

Led by Caverly Morgan, a former monk and teacher of awakening, this five-day retreat at Esalen Institute invites participants to explore self-compassion not as a tool for self-improvement but as a refuge during difficulty. The program weaves together nondual meditation, experiential inquiry, and group dialogue to examine patterns of self-judgment and striving. Rather than attempting to fix oneself, participants are guided toward a direct experience of wholeness—a remembering of who they already are beneath conditioned patterns. Through daily practice and guided exploration, the retreat examines how compassion functions as a bridge to a more spacious, connected way of being. The work honors both the contemplative traditions from which these teachings emerge and the relational, embodied dimensions of practice. Situated on the dramatic California coast, Esalen's setting provides an environment conducive to deep introspection and communal learning.

Mon, Oct 5, 2026Esalen Institute, Big Sur

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meditation

PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA

PILGRIMAGE TO INDIA.

Mon, Oct 5, 2026TBA

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Wellness & Meditation

Meditation with Swami Sivananda

Join Swami Sivananda for a guided meditation session at Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram in Boulder. This is an opportunity to deepen your practice under the guidance of an experienced teacher rooted in traditional yoga philosophy. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to meditation, this session offers a chance to cultivate inner peace and connect with the deeper dimensions of your practice in a supportive ashram environment.

Tue, Oct 6, 2026Eldorado Mountain Yoga Ashram, Boulder

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meditation

Conversation with Laurie Santos

Wed, Oct 7, 2026TBA

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meditation retreat

The Art of Loving Kindness: A Heart-Centered Meditation Retreat

This three-day retreat at Kripalu offers immersion in metta, or loving-kindness practice, an ancient contemplative discipline rooted in the cultivation of compassion. Led by teachers Missy Brown and Stephen Cope, the program weaves seated meditation, walking practice, gentle movement, breathwork, and restorative offerings into a cohesive exploration of the heart's capacity for steadiness and care. Participants engage with crystal sound bowl healing, yoga nidra, journaling, and time in nature alongside interactive sessions designed to deepen somatic awareness. The retreat addresses both inner practice and its ripple into daily life, with emphasis on steadying the nervous system and building resilience through sincere, grounded engagement with metta. No prior experience required.

Fri, Oct 9, 2026Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Stockbridge

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