The Earth holds us, breathes with us, and moves through us.
For as long as humans have walked the planet, we have lived in intimate relationship with the land—our movement shaped by terrain, our nervous systems influenced by the cycles of seasons and tides, our sense of self inseparable from the more-than-human world. In today’s fast, fragmented culture, it is easy to imagine the body as isolated, healing as something purely personal, and nature as something outside ourselves. This retreat offers a return to an older knowing: to inhabit the body fully is also to reinhabit the living Earth.
Grounded in the Gestalt traditions of Esalen and the emerging field of eco-somatics, this four-day backpacking journey leads into the wild beauty of Big Sur—Esselen tribal territory—for an immersive exploration of belonging, awareness, and interconnection, then continues with a weekend of retreat and integration at Esalen Institute.
As we travel through awe-inspiring wilderness, we will practice somatic approaches that help restore our felt kinship with the natural world. With an emphasis on slowness and spaciousness, we will listen to gravity, breath, and the sensual aliveness of place. Silent hiking, intuitive movement, meditation, and earth-based ritual will soften the imagined boundary between self and landscape. In a community setting, embodiment becomes something shared, moving beyond individual self-care toward healing as a relational and ecological experience.
Throughout the retreat, we enter a different rhythm—one guided by the living world around us and within us. As we listen with our whole bodies, we begin to recognize the reciprocity woven through all things. What emerges is more than connection; it is remembrance—a return to a relationship as ancient as our true body: the Earth.
Important Notes:
The full experience runs for six days, from Tuesday, October 13th to Sunday, October 18th, 2026.
This is a partner program with Wildtender, a Big Sur-based organization exploring the embodied intersection of wilderness and wisdom traditions. Before registering with Esalen, you must register and pay the tuition fees for the wilderness portion of the program through Wildtender. For additional details and registration, visit wildtender.org/earthbody
Backpacking experience is not required. Wilderness skills will be taught before and during the program, and participants will receive support with preparations. Please refer to Wildtender’s program page for a more detailed hiking itinerary and backpacking eligibility criteria.
Workshop Schedule
Friday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm *How to Drop into Esalen*
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Celebratory dinner outside the Esalen lodge)
Saturday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (Optional)
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that hark back to days gone by.
More activities can be found on our open class schedule.
See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.
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.
As co-founder of Wildtender, Noël Vietor brings a grounded, heart-centered approach to helping people build deeper relationships with the land, with themselves, and with one another. Her work is rooted in a genuine appreciation for the natural world and the ways it can support presence, reflection, and connection. Noël’s path is shaped by practices that invite people to slow down and...
Read more
Ariel Johnson (she/her) is an embodiment facilitator and certified psychedelic integration coach who brings a trauma-informed approach to somatic healing. Drawing on extensive training in ballet and modern dance, yoga (E-RYT 500), and Gyrotonic Level 1, she creates a grounded space for deeper awareness, self-trust, and embodied presence. Her work supports students in reconnecting with themselves while also exploring their relationship...
Read more
Sadia Bruce is a creative educator at Esalen, known for guiding transformative experiences where yoga, breathwork, somatics, and ancestral wisdom meet. Her approach encourages embodied inquiry, playful exploration, and a deeper sense of connection with yourself, with others, and with the unseen. Drawing on her expertise in breath-based movement, along with a deep reverence for the human experience and her...
Read more
For nearly a decade, Megan has offered a somatic-based approach to yoga, guiding students toward a deeper connection between body awareness, breath, and movement. Her classes are designed to help participants bridge meditation and motion in a way that feels both grounding and empowering, creating space for authentic embodiment and mindful presence. With a teaching style rooted in support and connection,...
Read more
Jovinna Chan, E-RYT 500 and YACEP, is a trained personal transformational facilitator, yoga teacher trainer, conscious dance teacher, and performing artist whose work blends movement, spiritual inquiry, nature, and sound healing into deeply immersive experiences. She guides transformational programs around the world, creating spaces where participants can explore embodied practice, inner reflection, and creative expression. Her approach is both grounded...
Read more
At Esalen, Cara Chandler discovered the calling that would shape her work in holistic healing. Drawing on a background in Entertainment as well as training and experience in yoga, meditation, and psychology, she has developed an approach that supports self-expression, self-discovery, and a deeper mind-body connection. Her sessions invite participants to slow down, tune in, and explore what it means to...
Read more
Rooted in a deep reverence for the natural world, Micha shares vibrational ritual and embodied herbalism as a heartfelt way of connecting with the living ecosystem around us. Their work is shaped by personal mentorship with shamanic Lahu medicine women in Thailand and spiritual midwives in Bali, bringing together ancestral wisdom and present-day healing practices. At Esalen, Micha currently facilitates the...
Read more
With a thoughtful, inquisitive style shaped by a strong academic background, Sam Stern brings depth and curiosity to every conversation he leads. As the host of the Voices of Esalen podcast, he guides a deep-dive interview series centered on Human Potential, which has already reached more than 1 million downloads. His work reflects a commitment to meaningful dialogue, exploration, and...
Read more