Soma & Soul: Come Home to Self Through Somatic Wisdom and Embodied Relating

Your body knows things your mind has yet to articulate. In this three-day immersion at the legendary Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, you'll learn to listen—deeply—to the somatic wisdom held in your flesh, breath, and movement. Led by trauma-informed facilitator Ash Witham, Soma & Soul is an invitation to reclaim your personal power not through doing more, but through becoming more fully yourself. Rather than adding another practice to your already-full life, this workshop invites you home to your own embodied knowing.

Too often, we seek transformation through the intellect alone. We think our way toward change, only to find ourselves stuck in familiar patterns. This healing workshop takes a different path. Drawing on somatic research and embodied traditions, the work centers on the revolutionary premise that your body is an inner compass—one that can guide you toward authenticity, presence, and sustainable change in your relationships and daily challenges. Insight emerges not from ideas alone, but from direct felt experience. Over three days at Esalen's transformative Big Sur setting, you'll access this wisdom through your own nervous system.

What to Expect

This immersion weaves together multiple modalities and formats to create a rich, multisensory experience. You'll engage in solo reflection to deepen self-awareness, partnered exploration to practice embodied relating, small group work for deeper processing, and collective ceremonies that anchor the learning. The curriculum includes somatic theory, breathwork practices, vocal activation, and expressive movement—all designed to help you inhabit your body with greater ease and agency.

Ash Witham creates a trauma-informed container where all bodies, identities, abilities, and lived experiences are genuinely welcomed. Every modality—whether seated, standing, or movement-based—is offered with adaptability in mind, so you can meet yourself exactly where you are. You'll leave this workshop with a renewed sense of embodied presence, practical tools for attuning to your body's signals, and a felt understanding of how somatic wisdom can anchor you through life's complexities.

Venue & Logistics

This three-day healing workshop takes place at Esalen Institute, the pioneering wellness sanctuary perched on the cliffs of Big Sur, California. The event runs October 23–25, 2026. Wear comfortable, movable clothing and bring layers for the coastal climate. Esalen's accessible grounds welcome all participants; contact the venue directly for specific accessibility requests. Accommodation and meals are available on-site or in nearby communities.