Self-Guided Explorations Week of January 11-15, 2027

There is a version of retreat where no one tells you where to be next. Self-Guided Explorations at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, is built around that idea: a week to reconnect with yourself, your dreams and your desires, shaping each day by intuition and curiosity rather than a fixed schedule. Whether you are awakening a dormant passion, tending an old wound, or simply remembering the joy of being alive, the program offers a nurturing space to reset, refresh and recalibrate.

This retreat is for the seeker who wants room to choose, or to choose not to choose. Musicians Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are among the featured teachers, and the coastal landscape of Big Sur provides the setting for movement, writing, solitude and rest.

Opening and closing circles with your cohort bookend the week, offering connection at either end of an otherwise open journey.

What to Expect

The experience is unstructured by design. Between the opening and closing circles, you build your own days from the open schedule of classes led by Teachers in Residence. Offerings may include:

- Yoga and dance-based movement
- Journaling and writing sessions
- Breathwork and meditation
- Conscious dance and creative arts
- Presentations by guest faculty
- Time in the hot springs, including a long soak under the stars

You might fill your days with classes, or take much less and spend them quietly on the land. Esalen® Massage and a selection of holistic healing services are also available for those who want to deepen the inquiry, though these are not included in the program price.

Participants leave with a renewed sense of vitality and well-being, and with a practice of listening to what they actually need. Note that Self-Guided Explorations guests have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is listed as a musician among the featured teachers for this Self-Guided Explorations week. As part of the Teachers in Residence offering, the daily open classes are designed to encourage joy and mindfulness, and Sam's presence adds a musical voice to the week.

Micha Merrick is also listed as a musician on the lineup. Micha joins the Teachers in Residence who lead the open schedule, which may include movement, journaling, breathwork and other mindful pursuits.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place in person at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Registration options include a workshop with an on-site stay, a workshop with an off-site stay, or an individual day pass. The on-site package includes housing, 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, tea or alcohol from the bar, and bookstore purchases are not included. Scholarships are available through an application. Because Highway 1 has been subject to closures and travel advisories, please review Esalen's current travel advisory and confirm access before planning your journey.