Self-Guided Explorations Week of April 5 - 9, 2027

There is a particular kind of rest that only arrives when no one is asking anything of you. Self-Guided Explorations, a retreat on the Big Sur coast at Esalen Institute, offers that kind of space: a few days to step out of daily rhythms and attune to your own inner compass, with the Pacific as your backdrop and the redwoods nearby.

The structure is simple. Opening and closing circles with your cohort bookend the week, and everything in between is yours to shape. Some guests deepen a yoga practice, explore breathwork and meditation, or move through conscious dance. Others immerse themselves in the creative arts, write, rest, or soak in the hot springs under the stars. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are among the teachers in residence for this Big Sur retreat.

If you are seeking to reconnect with your dreams and desires, tend old wounds, remember the joy of being alive, or simply breathe more fully, this retreat meets you where you are. The invitation is, in Esalen's words, "to choose not to choose."

What to Expect

The week begins with an opening circle and ends with a closing circle, creating a shared container around a largely open schedule. Between the circles, your days follow your intuition and curiosity.

- Movement, yoga, breathwork and meditation on the Open Schedule
- Conscious dance and creative arts
- Presentations by guest faculty
- Solitude on the land, writing, conversation or stillness
- Time in the natural hot springs and across the campus
- Optional Esalen® Massage and holistic healing services, booked separately

Esalen's teachers are described as seasoned, credentialed facilitators whose backgrounds span psychology, mindfulness, somatics, creative arts and holistic healing. They offer a supportive framework for exploration rather than a fixed curriculum. Participants leave with a sense of vitality and well-being, having reset, refreshed and recalibrated in whatever way they needed.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is a musician listed among the teachers in residence for this Self-Guided Explorations retreat. As a musical presence within the Esalen community, Sam adds to the creative and contemplative atmosphere of the week.

Micha Merrick is a musician also listed among the teachers in residence. Micha joins the faculty offering of the retreat, contributing to the range of experiences available to guests as they shape their own journey.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place in person at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Registration options include a workshop with an on-site stay, a workshop with an off-site stay, or an individual day pass. The on-site workshop 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.

Not included are Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage or holistic services, specialty coffee, tea or alcohol purchased from the bar, and bookstore purchases. Self-Guided guests have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops. A scholarship application is available for those who need one.

Esalen has posted a travel advisory regarding Highway 1 road closures, so please review the current advisory before planning your journey to Big Sur.