Self-Guided Explorations Week of February 1-5, 2027

There is a version of retreat where the schedule is handed to you, and another where you are trusted to listen for what you actually need. Self-Guided Explorations at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, is the second kind. It is a wellness retreat built around a simple principle: you choose, or you choose not to choose, and either is honored.

Over the course of the week, you are held by opening and closing circles with your cohort, and the days between remain yours. You might deepen a yoga practice, sit with breathwork or meditation, move in conscious dance, write, or spend long hours in solitude with the land. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are among the Teachers in Residence for this program, bringing their presence to the community of the week.

If you have been craving a reset without a rigid agenda, this offers the space to reconnect with yourself, your dreams, and your desires, whether that means awakening dormant passions, healing old wounds, or simply remembering the joy of being alive.

What to Expect

The week begins with an opening circle, where your cohort gathers and sets intention together. From there, the structure falls away. Each day offers a curated open schedule of classes and activities, and you decide which to attend.

Daily open classes are led by Teachers in Residence and may include:

- Yoga and dance-based movement
- Journaling and creative writing
- Breathwork
- Meditation and other practices that encourage joy and mindfulness

Guest faculty presentations and expressive arts are also part of the offering. Between sessions, you can soak in the hot springs, wander the gardens, take in the ocean views, or rest. A closing circle gathers the group again to mark what has unfolded.

Many participants leave with a renewed sense of vitality and a clearer feeling for their own intuition and curiosity, shaped by their own pace rather than a prescribed path.

Esalen Massage and other holistic healing services are available for an additional cost, and can be a meaningful complement to the week.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is a musician serving as a Teacher in Residence for this Self-Guided Explorations week. Teachers in Residence lead the daily open classes, offering a variety of practices designed to encourage joy and mindfulness.

Micha Merrick is a musician and also a Teacher in Residence for the week. Alongside Sam Stern, Micha helps shape the open schedule that participants draw from as they craft their own experience.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place in person at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, a campus known for its natural hot springs, gardens, and ocean views. The program includes housing accommodations, three meals a day, 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 or bar purchases, and bookstore items are not included. Self-Guided Explorations participants have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops.

Registration options include a workshop with on-site stay, a workshop with off-site stay, and individual day passes. A scholarship application is available for those who need it. Highway 1 access to Big Sur has been affected by road closures and travel advisories, so please review Esalen's current travel advisory before planning your journey.