Self-Guided Explorations Week of March 8-12, 2027

There is a rhythm to a week at Esalen that no schedule can quite write for you. Self-Guided Explorations is a five-day retreat built around a simple, generous invitation: to choose, or to choose not to choose. Perched on the rugged coast of Big Sur, California, it offers a supportive and nurturing space to reconnect with yourself, your dreams, and your desires.

Rather than following a prescribed curriculum, you shape the retreat by your own intuition and curiosity. Opening and closing circles with your cohort bookend the week, and in between lies an open schedule of classes, practices, and healing offerings. Whether you hope to awaken a dormant passion, tend an old wound, or simply remember the joy of being alive, this Esalen Institute retreat meets you where you are. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are listed among the teachers in residence.

What to Expect

The week begins and ends in circle with fellow seekers. Between those two gatherings, the choices are yours, and they include as much or as little as you want:

- Deepening a yoga practice
- Exploring breathwork and meditation
- Conscious dance and other embodiment practice
- Creative arts and writing
- Presentations by guest faculty
- A long soak in the hot springs under the stars
- Solitude and quiet time on the land

You may also add Esalen Massage or holistic healing services offered by compassionate practitioners. The faculty are described as seasoned, credentialed facilitators whose backgrounds span psychology, mindfulness, somatics, creative arts, and holistic healing. They offer a supportive framework and encouragement rather than a fixed path.

The atmosphere honors both activity and stillness, the social and the solitary. Participants leave with a sense of vitality and well-being, having had room to reset, refresh, and recalibrate.

What's included: 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.

What's not included: Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage or holistic services; specialty coffee, tea, or alcohol purchased from the bar; and bookstore purchases. Self-Guided participants can attend open classes but not preregistered workshops.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is listed as a musician among the teachers in residence for this Self-Guided Explorations week. Further biographical details were not provided by the organizer, so we invite you to explore the Esalen event page for updates on how his music may be woven into the week.

Micha Merrick is also listed as a musician among the teachers in residence. Further biographical details were not provided by the organizer, so we invite you to check the Esalen event page for updates on how her or his contributions may shape the open schedule.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Registration options include workshop with on-site stay, workshop with off-site stay, and an individual day pass, and scholarships are available through Esalen. Please note that Highway 1 travel advisories and road closures have affected access to Esalen, so review the current advisory on Esalen's website before planning your journey. The source material does not include packing or accessibility details, so check with Esalen directly for those.