The Turning Season: Aligning with Autumn's Sacred Rhythms

As the leaves shift color and the air grows crisp, autumn invites us into a sacred pause—a time to release what no longer serves us and prepare for renewal. The Turning Season is a four-day yoga retreat designed to help you honor this powerful transition with intention, rootedness, and grace. Held at the legendary Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, this immersive program offers a rare opportunity to align your inner rhythms with nature's wisdom, guided by yoga therapist and acclaimed author Jillian Pransky.

In our culture of constant doing, autumn calls us to be differently—to soften, to reflect, to let go. This retreat meets that invitation head-on through a carefully woven curriculum of slow-flow yoga, somatic movement, restorative practices, and Metta meditation. You'll learn to balance your nervous system while cultivating both deep rootedness and openness to change. With the acoustic resonance of double bassist Garth Stevenson supporting the work, each session becomes a sensory gateway into autumn's elemental wisdom. Whether you're navigating life transitions, seeking seasonal alignment, or simply hungry for a slower pace, this retreat offers the container and guidance to move through fall with ease.

This is not a vigorous yoga intensive—it's a gentle, trauma-informed approach to seasonal attunement that emphasizes self-nourishment as a foundation for serving the wider world.

What to Expect

Over four days, you'll move through a rhythm of daily yoga and somatic practices, restorative sessions, and guided meditation. Each morning and evening flows with intentional slower-paced asana, designed to meet your body where it is and strengthen your capacity to navigate change. Between sessions, you'll participate in seasonal rituals, journaling practices, and outdoor ceremonies that deepen your connection with autumn's elements and your own inner landscape.

Jillian Pransky's teaching draws on her expertise in yoga therapy and somatic awareness, meeting participants with warmth and clinical precision. Garth Stevenson's live acoustic bass creates an intimate, resonant atmosphere that supports the nervous system's settling. By retreat's end, you'll leave with concrete practices for nervous system regulation, a renewed sense of seasonal attunement, and a felt sense of permission to release what you've been holding.

Venue & Logistics

This retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, one of the world's most transformative retreat centers, perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The retreat runs Friday, October 9–12, 2026. Wear comfortable, layered clothing suitable for autumn weather and outdoor practice. Esalen's grounds, ocean views, and contemplative atmosphere provide the perfect sanctuary for this work. All meals and lodging are included; the institute accommodates various dietary and accessibility needs—reach out directly to discuss your requirements.