Self-Guided Explorations Weekend of February 12-14, 2027

Some weekends ask you to follow a schedule. This wellness retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA asks you to follow yourself. Self-Guided Explorations is built for the seeker who wants to reconnect with their own dreams, desires, and sense of aliveness, and who trusts that the next right step will reveal itself in the moment rather than on a printed agenda.

Set on Esalen's clifftop campus above the Pacific, this three-day retreat is anchored by opening and closing circles with your cohort. Between them, the weekend is yours to shape. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are part of the gathering, adding a musical presence to a landscape already rich with sound, stillness, and sea air.

Whether you arrive to awaken a dormant passion, tend an old wound, or simply remember the joy of being alive, the invitation is the same: choose what calls to you, and leave the rest.

What to Expect

The retreat unfolds in three movements: a shared opening circle, an open schedule you navigate by intuition, and a closing circle that gathers the cohort once more.

During the open schedule, you can choose from daily classes led by Esalen's Teachers in Residence, which may include:

- Yoga and dance-based movement
- Journaling and creative writing sessions
- Breathwork and meditation
- Other practices designed to encourage joy and mindfulness

You can also take a long soak in the hot springs under the stars, spend quiet time with the land, or do much less. Esalen Massage and holistic healing services with practitioners are available as additions for those who want deeper support.

The pace is self-directed and unhurried. Many people leave feeling reset, refreshed, and recalibrated, carrying a clearer sense of what their own body and intuition are asking for.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is a musician taking part in this Self-Guided Explorations weekend at Esalen. Music has long been a companion to contemplative practice, and his presence adds another layer of resonance to a program centered on listening inwardly.

Micha Merrick is a musician also featured on this weekend's lineup. Alongside Sam Stern, Micha contributes to the retreat's atmosphere of reflection, embodiment, and creative openness.

Daily open classes are led by Esalen's Teachers in Residence, who guide the movement, journaling, and breath-based offerings on the open schedule.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The program includes housing accommodations, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, coffee, tea, and snacks, access to the hot springs and other campus features, and classes on the open schedule. Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage, specialty coffee, tea or bar purchases, and bookstore purchases are not included. Self-guided guests have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops. Registration options include staying on-site, staying off-site, or an individual day pass, and scholarships are available through Esalen.

Highway 1 travel advisories and road closures have affected access to Big Sur, so check Esalen's current travel advisory before making plans.