Self-Guided Explorations Weekend of February 26-28, 2027

Some weekends ask nothing of you except that you listen to what you need. Self-Guided Explorations is a retreat built around that invitation: a few days at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where the schedule bends to your intuition rather than the other way around. Rest, move, write, soak, or wander the land. The choice is yours.

The weekend is bookended by an opening and closing circle with your cohort, which gives the days a shape and a sense of company. Between them, the time is participant-directed. You might deepen a yoga practice, explore breathwork and meditation, take part in conscious dance, spend an afternoon with the creative arts, or do much less than any of that. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are part of the lineup for this retreat, adding a musical presence to a weekend devoted to reconnecting with what your body and heart are asking for.

If you have been craving a reset without a rigid curriculum, this retreat in Big Sur offers a supportive, nurturing setting to awaken dormant passions, tend to old wounds, or simply remember the joy of being alive.

What to Expect

The arc is simple: gather, explore on your own terms, and gather again. Within it, you choose from a range of open offerings and quieter pursuits.

- Opening and closing circles with your cohort
- Daily open classes led by Teachers in Residence, which may include yoga and dance-based movement, journaling, and breath work
- Presentations by guest faculty
- Time for solitude, writing, and quiet enjoyment of the land
- Long soaks in the hot springs, including under the stars
- Optional Esalen Massage and holistic healing services with compassionate practitioners, available separately

The program draws on somatic work, Gestalt practice, contemplative traditions, and embodied creativity. Participants leave with a recalibrated sense of vitality and well-being, shaped by their own curiosity rather than a prescribed path.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is a musician featured at this retreat. Within a weekend of movement, breath, and reflection, music can support the mood of the circles and the open practices. Specific details of Sam's offerings are best confirmed with Esalen as the schedule is shared.

Micha Merrick is also a musician on the lineup. Alongside Sam Stern, Micha contributes to the atmosphere of the weekend. Specific details of Micha's offerings are likewise best confirmed with Esalen.

Daily open classes are led by Teachers in Residence, who guide participants through activities designed to encourage joy and mindfulness.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. Registration options include a workshop with on-site stay, a workshop with off-site stay, and an individual day pass. The on-site package includes housing, three daily meals, coffee, tea, and snacks, access to the hot springs and other campus features, and classes on the open schedule. Healing arts sessions, specialty coffee and tea, alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are not included. Participants have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops. Scholarships are available through an application.

Esalen has posted a travel advisory for Highway 1, with closures to the north and south at times, so check the current advisory before you travel.