2026 Bay Area Sesshin

Everyday Zen's annual Bay Area Sesshin is a six-day retreat with a practical hybrid structure: sit in person at a retreat center on the California coast, or join the same sesshin remotely via Zoom. The retreat is led by Zoketsu Norman Fischer, founder of Everyday Zen, with Shuso Ryú Gen Myō Ei Tracy Grubbs as co-teacher.

Villa Maria del Mar in Santa Cruz sits overlooking Monterey Bay and serves as the physical anchor for the retreat. Those attending in person experience the full residential environment and daily schedule together. The online sangha participates from home, joining the same formal structure — a setup that acknowledges both the possibility and the reality of distributed practice communities.

Registration logistics matter here. In-person spots are limited and tiered: members of the current Practice Period register first (Feb 21), then general registration opens (March 7) and closes March 21. If you're considering online participation, registration opens later, April 18, announced via the center's mailing list. This phasing reflects the center's commitment to supporting their ongoing year-long practice program while remaining open to broader participation.