Self-Guided Explorations Weekend of March 5–7, 2027

There is a weekend at Esalen Institute where nothing is asked of you except to listen for what you actually want. Self-Guided Explorations is a retreat for the seeker who has outgrown a packed itinerary, someone ready to reconnect with their own dreams and desires, to awaken a dormant passion, tend an old wound, or simply remember the joy of being alive. It unfolds on the cliffs of Big Sur, CA, where the Pacific, the hills, and the hot springs do much of the teaching.

Rather than following a fixed curriculum, you arrive with an intention and shape the days yourself. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are listed among the teachers for this Friday-to-Sunday retreat, adding a musical presence to a program built around embodiment, creativity, and rest.

If you have been wondering whether a retreat can be spacious rather than scheduled, this one is designed around the idea of choosing, or choosing not to choose.

What to Expect

The retreat opens and closes with a circle with your cohort. Between those two gatherings, the path is yours. Esalen describes the offerings as including:

- Deepening your yoga practice
- Breathwork and meditation
- Conscious dance
- Creative arts and writing
- Presentations by guest faculty
- A long soak under the stars
- Solitude and quiet time on the land

You can also add Esalen Massage or other holistic healing services offered by practitioners on campus, or do much less and let the days be quiet. The organizer's guiding idea is that your experience is shaped by your own intuition and curiosity.

Esalen's teachers are described as seasoned, credentialed facilitators with backgrounds spanning psychology, mindfulness, somatics, creative arts, and holistic healing. They offer a supportive framework for introspection, creativity, and inner growth. Participants leave having had room to reset, refresh, and recalibrate, with a renewed sense of vitality and well-being.

Please note that Self-Guided Explorations guests have access to classes on the Open Schedule but not to preregistered workshops.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is listed as a musician among the teachers in residence for this retreat. No further biographical details were provided by the organizer, so we prefer to say only what is known: his music is part of the offerings surrounding this weekend of self-directed exploration.

Micha Merrick is also listed as a musician among the teachers in residence. The organizer has not published a biography, so we leave the details to be discovered in person, in the spirit of a retreat that invites you to follow your own curiosity.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, a place founded on principles of human potential and embodied learning. The registration fee covers 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. Healing Arts sessions, specialty coffee and tea or alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are extra.

Registration options include a workshop with an on-site stay, a workshop with an off-site stay, or an individual day pass. Scholarships are available through an application. Highway 1 travel conditions near Big Sur have been affected by road closures, so please review Esalen's current travel advisory before planning your journey.