Wintering Within: Meditation, Music, and Gentle Yoga for the New Year

Imagine five days wrapped in the silence of winter, perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Big Sur, where the rhythm of your own breath becomes as present as the migrating whales passing below. Wintering Within is a rare invitation to pause at the threshold of a new year and learn the art of genuine rest—not as laziness, but as a deliberate spiritual practice. Led by respected Buddhist teacher Chandra Easton, this five-day yoga retreat at the legendary Esalen Institute explores "wintering": the ancient wisdom of turning inward when the world grows quiet, of allowing renewal to happen in stillness.

This is not a vigorous, sweat-focused retreat. Instead, you'll move through carefully sequenced gentle yoga, seated meditation, and mantra practices designed for bodies of all abilities and experience levels. The heart of the program rests in shamatha (calm-abiding) meditation—a foundational Buddhist practice that trains the mind to settle into its own clarity—paired with mindfulness of breathing and awareness techniques that build genuine peace from the inside out. What makes this retreat distinct is the live, immersive soundscape woven throughout: virtuoso musicians Cassian Rose and Robert James Ryan III of Sorelia infuse each session with violin, percussion, flute, vocals, and looping, transforming meditation and yoga into an embodied sonic journey that quiets the mind even as it opens the heart.

Whether you're new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, you'll find yourself held by both the teachings and the community. The setting itself—Esalen's clifftop grounds, the ocean's presence, the hush of winter—becomes your teacher. You'll leave not just rested, but genuinely renewed, with concrete practices to carry the "wintering" spirit into 2027.

What to Expect

Each day weaves meditation, movement, and music into a gentle arc. Mornings begin with seated meditation and breathing practices, often held in open-air settings where you can feel the salt air and watch for passing whales. Mid-day sessions blend therapeutic yoga—designed for ease and accessibility—with mantra recitation. Evenings deepen into longer meditation periods accompanied by the live music of Sorelia, their soundscapes creating a container for profound inner work. Teachings on shamatha and Buddhist-based awareness practices anchor the retreat, offering both philosophy and practical instruction. By day five, you'll have integrated a coherent personal practice to take home: simple, sustainable, and rooted in genuine understanding of why winter—and slowing down—matters.

Venue & Logistics

This retreat takes place at Esalen Institute, the pioneering retreat center perched on the cliffs of Big Sur, California, one of the most spiritually potent settings in North America. The retreat runs Monday, December 28, 2026. Wear comfortable, layered clothing suitable for California coastal winter (mornings are cool; afternoons mild). Bring any personal meditation cushions or props you prefer, though Esalen provides essentials. The retreat welcomes all bodies and all experience levels; gentle yoga is designed for accessibility and can be modified as needed.