Earth-Body: An Eco-Somatic Backpacking Journey & Retreat

Earth-Body is an eco-somatic backpacking retreat in Big Sur, California, led by Noël Vietor and Ariel Johnson. It pairs a four-day wilderness trek through Esselen tribal territory with a weekend of integration at Esalen Institute. It suits people drawn to somatic practice, meditation and time on the land, and no backpacking experience is required.

What to Expect

The program is rooted in the Gestalt traditions of Esalen and the emerging field of eco-somatics. The central idea is that inhabiting your own body fully is a way of reinhabiting the living Earth, and that healing is relational and ecological rather than only individual.

On the trail, the pace is slow and spacious. You attune to gravity, breath and the aliveness of place through silent hiking, intuitive movement, meditation and earth-based ritual. The days are spent in a small, intimate community, exploring embodiment together.

The full experience runs six days. The first four are spent backpacking through Big Sur wilderness, with silent hiking and somatic practice early on, and intuitive movement, meditation and ritual as the immersion deepens. On the fourth day the group arrives at Esalen in the afternoon. At 5:00 pm there is a "How to Drop into Esalen" orientation, followed by a welcome dinner from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

The weekend that follows is for integration. Saturday has a morning integration session from 10:00 am to noon, then free time or optional practices from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. On the final morning, a session and closing circle run from 10:00 am to noon, and then people depart.

About Noël Vietor

Noël Vietor is co-founder of Wildtender, a Big Sur organization exploring the embodied intersection of wilderness and wisdom traditions. Her work centers on helping people relate meaningfully with the land, themselves and each other. She finds joy in mindful hiking, nature drawing and wildcrafting, and she is raising her young daughter on a Big Sur ridge-top.

About Ariel Johnson

Ariel Johnson (she/her) is an embodiment facilitator and certified psychedelic integration coach who specializes in trauma-informed somatic practices. Her training includes ballet and modern dance, yoga (E-RYT 500) and Gyrotonic Level 1. She helps students cultivate presence and intuition in their connections with self, community and the earth-body.

The Setting

The wilderness portion unfolds in the backcountry of Big Sur, on Esselen tribal territory. The retreat then settles at Esalen Institute, on the Big Sur coast, where guests have access to the hot springs and other campus features. Classes on Esalen's open schedule are also available during the stay.

Accommodations at Esalen range from a shared sleeping bag space and bunk rooms to standard and premium private rooms, a yurt and a cliff-edge suite. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided, along with coffee, tea and snacks.

Before You Go

This is a partner program with Wildtender. Before registering with Esalen, you register and pay tuition separately through Wildtender for the wilderness portion. Wildtender's program page has the detailed hiking itinerary and the backpacking eligibility criteria.

No backpacking experience is needed. Wilderness skills are taught before and during the program, and participants are supported in their preparations.

Esalen stay and meals, hot springs access and open classes are covered in the lodging offering. Healing Arts sessions such as massage and bodywork, specialty coffee and tea, bar purchases and bookstore items are extra, as is the Wildtender wilderness tuition.