Gratitude Retreat

Imagine spending three days in one of California's most sacred landscapes, guided back to what truly nourishes your heart and spirit. Nestled on the cliffs of Big Sur, the Gratitude Retreat at Esalen Institute invites you to explore gratitude not as a concept, but as a living practice—one that moves through your body, settles your mind, and connects you to something larger than yourself. Led by renowned Vinyasa teacher Janet Stone, this November 20–22 weekend weaves together dynamic asana, pranayama, seated meditation, and yoga nidra with the quiet medicine of solitude, hot spring bathing, forest walking, and shared meals. You'll arrive seeking restoration; you'll leave remembering what it means to be held by both practice and community.

This is not a typical yoga retreat where you move from classroom to classroom. Instead, the Gratitude Retreat honors the rhythm of genuine transformation: structured sessions alternate with spacious silence, group practice with individual reflection. Guest teachers and musicians join the faculty, bringing their own offerings to the collective field. Saturday morning features dedicated instruction; the opening and closing circles create intimate container for intention-setting and integration. Professional photography captures the retreat's essence, with images shared among participants so you carry the remembrance home.

What to Expect

The arc of your weekend unfolds like this:

- Dynamic mornings: Vinyasa flow led by Janet Stone, designed to open the body and meet gratitude as an embodied practice
- Breath and inner stillness: Pranayama techniques to calm the nervous system, followed by guided yoga nidra for deep restoration
- The Esalen landscape: Hot spring soaking, walking meditation through coastal forests, meals shared in conscious community
- Guest faculty & music: Additional teachers and musicians weave their gifts into the retreat's collective experience
- Opening & closing circles: Intimate group moments for reflection, intention, and collective remembrance

You'll leave with a deepened understanding of gratitude as a practice—not a feeling you chase, but a state you return to through body, breath, and presence. Many participants report a renewed sense of connection: to themselves, to others, and to the natural world surrounding Esalen.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—a retreat center renowned for its clifftop location, natural hot springs, and commitment to human potential and spiritual practice. Dates: Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, 2026. Bring comfortable yoga clothes, a journal, and an open heart. The retreat is accessible to all levels of yoga experience. Please contact the organizers with specific accessibility questions.