Have you created the impact you hoped for? Are you showing up in the way you want to? Are you moving in the right direction? At this moment in your life, you are unlike anyone you have ever been before: shaped by your age, your experiences, and everything you know now. This workshop offers a chance to pause, reflect, and notice what is changing — and what you truly need in order to feel fulfilled.
This highly interactive workshop is designed around experiential exercises rather than lectures. Alongside useful theory and time for reflection, participants can expect movement, coaching, a little dance, and many opportunities to share insights. Active participation is strongly encouraged, though always voluntary.
The intention is to step back from daily life and renew. Together, we will build a courageous community that supports challenge, care, and authentic self-expression. Participants will explore what brings them joy and purpose, then shape a vision that can serve as a foundation for the coming year and the next chapter of life.
Through a progression of individual and group exercises, we will focus on reflection, movement, and listening to inner wisdom. We will look at how to move through major life transitions, strengthen intuition, and identify the behaviors that support success — as well as the ones that quietly work against goals and fulfillment. This renewal program will be especially meaningful for anyone seeking a more powerful and authentic impact on the world around them.
Lead photo: Angie Smith
Mark Nicolson is an executive coach in Silicon Valley. He supports visionary entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and catalysts for social change as they move beyond upper limits and step into their zone of genius.
Caitlin Wild is a wilderness guide, wholeness coach, musician, and facilitator of Wild Soul awakenings. A student of wild lands, she has led traditional and experimental wilderness workshops internationally and is devoted to helping us remember our miraculous and creative wild soul.
Workshop Schedule
Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend begins and ends with a circle, and includes festive, nostalgic activities that evoke days gone by.
Additional activities are available through the open class schedule.
See general schedule information for arrival, departure, and meal times.
Accommodations & Tuition
Click Register Now to view accommodation availability and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop, and additional faculty fees may apply.
Scholarship funds are available for those with financial need. Learn more.
For this workshop, registration and payment for accommodations and tuition are completed in two separate steps.
First, sign up and pay tuition directly to [Esalen].
Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.
Accommodation prices include lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.
Designed for shared stays, this room type accommodates four to six guests in a welcoming, gender-inclusive setting, with a maximum stay of seven consecutive days. It’s a practical choice for retreat participants who value comfort, simplicity, and a sense of community during their time away.
Each bunk room includes twin-size bunk beds and a private bathroom with a shower, offering the privacy and convenience guests need throughout their stay. Fresh towels, bath soap, and bed linens are provided, so you can settle in with ease and focus on your experience rather than the details.
With its straightforward layout and thoughtfully provided essentials, this accommodation supports a restful and uncomplicated stay, making it well suited for those looking to share space while still enjoying comfort and functionality.
Ideal for guests who want a more social stay without the atmosphere of a dorm, this cozy shared room offers a comfortable and practical setup for up to three people of the same gender. The space is arranged with three beds: two on the main floor and one tucked into a sleeping loft, creating a simple, welcoming environment that still feels private and restful.
Each room includes an in-room bathroom with a shower, making daily routines easy and convenient. To help you settle in with ease, towels, bath soap, and bed linens are all provided. Whether you are traveling for a retreat, a wellness stay, or a peaceful getaway with others, this room offers a warm balance of connection, comfort, and simplicity.
Designed for guests seeking a little extra privacy, this inviting room offers a peaceful place to unwind within the charming, Big Sur-inspired motel atmosphere of the property. Thoughtfully located for convenience, it overlooks the main campus and garden, giving you a calming view to return to throughout your stay.
Inside, you’ll find a private bathroom and a comfortable setting that supports rest, simplicity, and easy access to the wider retreat experience. It’s an ideal choice for solo travelers or couples looking for a quiet, well-situated space to recharge between wellness activities, meals, and moments of relaxation.
If you’d like to share the room, one additional guest may join for an extra $250 per night.
Settle into a relaxed stay surrounded by the charming motel-inspired atmosphere of Big Sur. This Standard Two Double Beds room offers a comfortable, unfussy space designed for easy rest and shared travel. With two double beds and a private bathroom, it is a practical choice for friends, couples, or family members looking to enjoy time together while still having room to unwind.
The room’s simple, welcoming feel makes it easy to slow down after a day of exploring, reconnecting, or simply enjoying a peaceful break. Whether you are traveling for a quiet getaway or a shared adventure, this space provides the comfort and privacy you need for a restful stay.
Mark Nicolson is an executive coach based in Silicon Valley who supports visionary entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and changemakers in navigating their upper limits and stepping more fully into their zone of genius. His work is designed for people who are ready to grow with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Through thoughtful guidance and practical insight, he creates a space where leaders can...
Read more
Caitlin Wild is a wilderness guide, wholeness coach, musician, and facilitator of Wild Soul awakenings. Drawing from a deep relationship with wild lands, she brings a grounded yet expansive presence to her work, inviting participants into experiences that reconnect them with creativity, instinct, and inner truth. She has guided both traditional and experimental wilderness workshops internationally, creating spaces where nature becomes...
Read more
Mon, Jul 27 – Fri, Jul 31