Nourish

Nourish is a weekend yoga retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by Vinyasa teacher Janet Stone. It is made for anyone whose nervous system feels worn thin and who wants a slower pace: restorative yoga, meditation, pranayama and chanting, practiced over three days on the Big Sur coast. Registered yoga teachers can also earn continuing education credit.

What to Expect

Janet designed the weekend to replenish the nervous system and adrenals, support the immune system, and ground the heart and mind in simplicity. The practice looks for the space between effort and surrender, and for a way out of the cyclical fight-or-flight response toward sustainable power, rest and healing.

Together you will practice:

- Slow yoga to build sustainable power
- Restorative postures for regeneration
- Meditation toward stillness
- Pranayama (breathwork) to balance hormones and the whole being
- Chanting to awaken the heart's longing

The weekend begins on Friday. Early evening offers an orientation, "How to Drop Into Esalen," and the workshop opens that night with an arrival and opening session. Saturday is the full day, with a morning session, an afternoon session, and an optional evening practice. Sunday brings a final morning session and a closing, after which you can leave by 10:00 am or stay on for lunch.

About Janet Stone

Janet Stone traveled to India in 1996 and dedicated herself to a conscious evolution through yoga. She blends that depth of knowledge and experience into a approach to Vinyasa yoga she describes as vigorous yet sumptuous. Janet teaches in San Francisco and leads retreats internationally.

The Setting

Esalen Institute sits on the Big Sur coast and is known for its openness and spirit of exploration. Guests have access to the hot springs and other campus features. Meals are included, with breakfast, lunch and dinner plus coffee, tea and snacks. Lodging runs from shared sleeping bag space and bunk rooms to private rooms, premium rooms with ocean or forest views, and yurts. You can also attend while staying off-site, or come for a single day.

Getting to Esalen has been affected by a travel advisory on Highway 1, with Caltrans-operated convoys running at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm each day. These are the only times to travel into and out of Big Sur, so plan your arrival and departure around them.

Before You Go

Bring an eye pillow. If you are driving, bring a sandbag and a bolster as well. The workshop is open to practitioners who want a gentle, restorative weekend, and ten hours of Yoga Alliance continuing education credit are available for Registered Yoga Teachers (see Janet for details). The workshop carries an additional faculty tuition.

Your stay includes the workshop, housing, meals, hot springs access and the open class schedule. Esalen Massage and other healing arts sessions, specialty coffee, tea and alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are extra. Guests attending as Self-Guided Explorations seekers can join open classes but not preregistered workshops such as this one.