Bohemian Gravity: Transformation Through Dance and Meditation

Bohemian Gravity is a weekend ecstatic dance and meditation workshop at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by the multidisciplinary artist Yemi Akinyemi Dele. It brings together expressive dance and quiet inner practice, and it is open to anyone, regardless of age or movement experience.

The title names the two poles of the work: "Bohemian" for imaginative, expressive movement, and "Gravity" for grounding, introspective practice. Over the weekend, the focus is on the distance between the head and the heart.

What to Expect

The weekend moves between dynamic and deeply restful states. Dance and intuitive movement release energy outward, while guided meditation turns attention inward. Breathwork and other somatic practices fill the space between. The idea running through it is that movement carries its own intelligence, whether it is movement of the body, of perspective, or of breath and air.

The music is curated from ethical, electronic, and instrumental sources. Sessions are designed to awaken awareness, deepen creativity, and bring head, heart, and gut into alignment. Participants often describe a release of long-held tension rooted in unconscious patterns, which opens room for imagination, joy, and a sense of inner freedom.

The schedule runs across three days:

- Friday: an orientation, "How to Drop into Esalen," from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, then the workshop opens from 7:15 to 9:30 pm with arrival and an opening session.
- Saturday: a morning session from 9:30 am to 12:45 pm and an afternoon session from 3:00 to 6:15 pm.
- Sunday: a closing session from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

About Yemi Akinyemi Dele

Yemi Akinyemi Dele, also known as Yemi A.D., is a multidisciplinary artist with 20 years of experience. He is the founder of the Moonshot Platform, a space mission candidate, and is passionate about youth empowerment. His work has appeared at the VMAs, SNL, and Coachella, and his collaborations span Kanye West, Virgil Abloh, and SpaceX.

The Setting

Esalen Institute sits on the Big Sur coast and is known for its openness to exploration, its hot springs, and its campus grounds. Workshop guests can stay on site or off site, or attend with an individual day pass.

On-site stays include housing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus coffee, tea, and snacks. Rooms range from shared sleeping bag space and bunk rooms to private rooms, yurts with ocean views, and named suites such as the Price House Suite, the former residence of Esalen co-founder Dick Price. Sleeping bag space is shared by up to six guests and requires your own bedding. Bunk rooms and the shared standard rooms are also shared, while the Standard Queen and the Premium rooms are private.

Getting to Esalen has some particulars. Highway 1 through northern Big Sur has been operating under a travel advisory, with Caltrans convoys at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm as the only times to travel into and out of the area. Plan your arrival and departure around them, and check current conditions before you travel.

Before You Go

No dance or meditation experience is needed. The approach is adaptable and welcoming to all ages and levels.

Your workshop fee covers the workshop sessions, and with an on-site stay, housing, meals, hot springs access, campus amenities, and the open schedule classes. Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage or other holistic services, specialty coffee, tea, or alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are extra. A scholarship application is available for those who need it.