Pelvic Health Self-Care Retreat: Exploring the Pelvis Through Anatomy, Nutrition, and the Nervous System

Your pelvis holds wisdom. It carries the rhythms of your menstrual cycle, the capacity for pleasure and sensation, the intelligence of your digestive and nervous systems. Yet for most of us, this vital region remains largely unknown—mysterious, sometimes uncomfortable, rarely celebrated. This three-day wellness retreat at Esalen Institute invites you to reclaim embodied knowledge of your pelvic basin and discover practical self-care tools grounded in anatomy, nutrition, and nervous system awareness.

Led by Dr. Anietie Ukpe-Wallace, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health, and Krishna Dholakia, a nutritionist and yoga teacher devoted to women's wellness, this retreat weaves manual therapy principles, nutritional science, and somatic awareness into a cohesive exploration of pelvic wellbeing. Whether you're navigating preconception planning, supporting menstrual health, processing sexual wellness, optimizing digestive function, or moving through menopause, this program meets you where you are in your reproductive spectrum. Set against the breathtaking redwoods and coastal beauty of Big Sur, California, you'll have space to slow down, learn deeply, and reconnect with your body as a source of guidance and care.

This is not a clinical workshop, though it's rigorously informed by anatomy and science. It's an embodied learning experience designed to help you understand how your pelvic floor functions, how hormonal patterns influence your wellbeing, and how nervous system regulation supports healing and vitality.

What to Expect

Over three days, you'll move through a carefully sequenced curriculum that combines anatomical education, guided movement practices, mindfulness sessions, nutritional exploration, and community journaling. Each morning begins with gentle movement and breathwork to arrive in your body. Educational sessions demystify pelvic floor anatomy, menstrual and sexual health, digestive wellbeing, and fertility across life stages. Afternoon practice includes yoga and somatic techniques informed by manual therapy principles. Nutritional guidance addresses how foods and eating patterns support pelvic and hormonal health. Group journaling and sharing create space for integration and community.

You'll leave with concrete self-care practices you can implement immediately, a deeper understanding of your body's signals, and a renewed sense of agency in your health.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, a renowned sanctuary nestled on the dramatic California coast. The retreat runs Friday, September 25, 2026, through Sunday. Wear comfortable, layered clothing suitable for movement. Esalen's setting among ancient redwoods and ocean vistas creates an ideal container for this deep, intimate work.