Self-Guided Explorations Week of April 19-23, 2027

Self-Guided Explorations is a five-day wellness retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, for people who want to rest, reconnect and decide for themselves how to spend their time. There is no fixed workshop to follow. Guests take part in an open schedule of yoga, breathwork, meditation, conscious dance and creative arts, with plenty of room for solitude, writing and time on the land. Teachers in residence offer the classes, and Sam Stern and Micha Merrick, both musicians, appear on the open schedule.

What to Expect

The week is framed by an opening circle and a closing circle with your cohort. In between, the choices are yours: deepen a yoga practice, explore breathwork, sit in meditation, dance, attend a talk by guest faculty, soak in the hot springs under the stars, or do much less than that. Esalen describes the experience as shaped by your own intuition and curiosity.

The rhythm of the week runs roughly like this:

- Monday: Check-in begins at 2:00 pm and room keys are available at 4:00 pm. Dinner is served from 6:00 to 7:30 pm, followed by "How to Drop Into Esalen" (7:15 to 8:00 pm) and the Welcome Circle (8:00 to 9:15 pm).
- Tuesday to Thursday: Morning yoga and meditation classes start at 7:30 am. Mid-morning offerings draw on Gestalt, breathwork and somatic practice, and afternoon sessions cover creative arts, history and movement. Evenings hold programs and free time.
- Friday: A morning class at 7:30 am, the Closing Circle from 11:00 to 11:45 am, lunch until 1:45 pm, and checkout by 2:00 pm.

Open classes on the schedule include Pathways to Joy, Good Contact: Basic Practices of Gestalt, Breathscapes, Mahasandhi Meditation, The Body Electric, Exploring Creativity, and A Brief History of Esalen: The 60s. Open classes are first-come, first-served, with no advance sign-up. The schedule can change, so check listings on campus during your stay.

About Sam Stern and Micha Merrick

Sam Stern is a musician who teaches on the open schedule, including the class A Brief History of Esalen: The 60s. Micha Merrick, also a musician, leads Bathing Rituals of Self Renewal, an afternoon class built around the hot springs and baths.

The Setting

Esalen sits on the Big Sur coast, with hot springs, ocean views and wooded terrain. Guests have 24-hour access to the natural hot springs. Meals are served buffet style, at 8:30 am, 12:30 pm and 6:00 pm, with coffee, tea and snacks available. Accommodations range from a budget sleeping bag space shared by up to six people, through bunk beds and standard rooms, to premium rooms, yurts and suites with ocean views. Some have private decks or patios.

Highway 1 access into northern Big Sur has been managed through twice-daily Caltrans convoys, at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. These are the only times to travel into and out of Big Sur, so plan your arrival and departure around them and check the current travel advisory.

Before You Go

Included are housing, all meals, coffee, tea and snacks, access to the hot springs and campus features, and the classes on the open schedule. Not included are Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage and holistic services, specialty coffee and tea, bar purchases, and bookstore purchases. Guests in this program can join open classes but not preregistered workshops. For dietary needs, contact the venue directly. Several ways to attend are available, including staying on-site, staying off-site, or coming for a single day.