Self-Guided Explorations Week of January 25–29, 2027

There is a particular kind of rest that only arrives when no one is telling you where to be. At Esalen Institute in Big Sur, this five-day retreat is built around that idea: a week in which you decide, moment by moment, what your body, heart and imagination need. Some days that may be a morning of yoga and an afternoon of writing. Other days it may be a long soak in the hot springs under the stars, or simply a quiet hour on the land.

Self-Guided Explorations is a retreat for reconnecting with yourself, your dreams and your desires, whether that means awakening a dormant passion, tending an old wound, or remembering the joy of being alive. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are listed among the artists and teachers for this week, which begins on a Monday at the edge of the Pacific. If you are weighing a retreat that offers real choice rather than a fixed program, this one invites you to choose, or to choose not to choose.

What to Expect

The week is bookended by an opening circle and a closing circle with your cohort. Between them, the structure is yours to shape. You may attend the daily open classes led by Teachers in Residence, which can include:

- Yoga and dance-based movement
- Journaling sessions
- Breathwork and meditation
- Creative arts and presentations by guest faculty

You might also spend your time in solitude, in the hot springs, writing, or resting. The invitation is to follow your own intuition and curiosity, doing as much, or as little, as feels right. Many participants come to reset, refresh and recalibrate through embodiment practice, writing and quiet enjoyment of the land.

For additional support, Esalen Massage and a selection of holistic healing services are available with compassionate practitioners. These are not included in the retreat price and are booked separately.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is listed as a musician for this week of Self-Guided Explorations. The organizer's page does not share further biographical details, so this description leaves his story to be discovered in person, within the open and unhurried rhythm of the retreat.

Micha Merrick is also listed as a musician for this week. As with Sam Stern, no additional bio is provided by the organizer, and the specifics of how music will appear in the week are best confirmed with Esalen directly.

The daily open classes are led by Teachers in Residence, who guide yoga, dance-based movement, journaling, breathwork and other practices meant to encourage joy and mindfulness. Esalen's faculty draw from psychology, somatics and contemplative traditions.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The registration 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, specialty coffee, tea or alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are not included. Self-guided participants have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops.

Several ways to register are offered, including workshop with on-site stay, workshop with off-site stay, and an individual day pass. A scholarship application is available for those who need it. Esalen has posted a travel advisory for Highway 1 because of road closures, so please review the current advisory and confirm access with Esalen before you plan your journey.