Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
Learn More.

Learn more.

Due to road closures along Highway 1 to our north and south, Esalen is closed through April 11.
Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
past workshop

Aligning with Nature: A Winter Solstice Yoga Retreat

December 13–15, 2024

Sarana Miller

Winter solstice is a time to reflect — to cultivate vitality and nurture ourselves. The dark days of winter are an opportune time to slow down and make space for self-care. This winter solstice yoga retreat will focus on cultivating inner awareness. By practicing in community, we build inner vitality and brightness to return home renewed.

During this retreat, we will combine three healing practices to  revitalize the body and calm the mind in the exquisite and rejuvenating natural environment of Esalen.

Together, we will focus our attention on being by using:

  • Yoga to yoke body and mind for present-moment awareness.
  • Meditation to cultivate concentration and empathy.
  • Chanting with bhakti yoga, the practice of the heart.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still) because the seasonal movement of the sun’s path appears to come to a stop before reversing direction at the solstices. Moving into stillness, we can return to our lives refreshed and strengthened for the new year to come.  

All levels are welcome.

This workshop includes an additional $45 faculty tuition.

Sarana Miller

Sarana Miller has been a faculty instructor at Yoga Journal and leads annual retreats at Esalen, Wilbur Hot Springs, Mexico, and Alaska. Trained in the Iyengar and Forrest Yoga traditions, she has built her life around sharing the benefits of the practice of yoga.

Full Bio