Come experience wellness, community, & healing in Yosemite đŚ
Retreats ⢠Yoga Teacher Trainings ⢠Guided Hikes ⢠Community Programs & more since 2000
Consider this our application to be your favorite memory in 2026 đŤśđź
Whether youâre visiting Yosemite for a little bit,
Or a long whileâŚ
Weâd love to be a part of your journey.
With over 25 years of offering wellness retreats and guided adventures in Yosemite, itâs our passion to create meaningful experiences out in nature for folks just like you.
Reach out to us + learn all the ways you can transform your next Yosemite visit into something truly unforgettable! â¨
đ¸ by @fred_pompermayer
#visitcalifornia #yosemiteyoga #yosemite #visityosemite #californiaretreats
Our next Notes from the Sierra is here! đ
The May Edition features Allison of @resonanceperfumery â¨
In her piece, Allison explores the profound connection between scent, memory, and the âsacred brain,â revealing how aromatic plants and the sense of smell can bypass the thinking mind and guide us back to a deeper state of presence, intuition, and wholeness.
We invite you to read Allisonâs piece over at the Balanced Rock Journal đ
Photos provided by @resonanceperfumery
Mariposa still has a way of feeling like home to me.
I do not live there now, but I used to, and some of my very favorite humans still do. So coming back for Mariposa Facelift felt a little like returning to a place that still knows my heart. There is something wildly inspiring about watching a whole town roll up its sleeves for the simple, beautiful act of caring. Young kids, grandparents, families, friends, piles of trash being weighed, coffee in hand, tacos on deck, raffle prizes everywhere, and people genuinely happy to help. It is small-town magic with a dusty, wholesome, slightly chaotic sparkle.
I was so happy to be part of the Balanced Rock booth sharing yoga, art, nature, and wellness in the middle of all that goodness. It felt like one big reminder that community care can be joyful, a little quirky, and deeply meaningful all at once.
Mariposa, you are full of good humans and big heart. Thanks for still feeling like home. đ¤đżâ¨
April in Yosemite and the surrounding Sierra can feel like pure magic. This month, we asked our team:â
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đ¸đ What small sign of springtime has made you smile lately?â
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Swipe to hear from our team! âĄď¸
Three weeks with these humans felt both expansive and impossibly brief.
Iâm still taking in all that was shared, witnessed, and felt. We gathered as a deeply diverse group of kind people and, somewhere along the way, became a little piece of community for one another. We cried, we laughed, and moved through so many beautiful experiences in Midpines, along the Merced River, and in Yosemite Valley.
There was something profoundly special about being held by the land while also being held by people willing to show up with such openness, tenderness, and heart. The pace of it all now feels like a blink, yet the experience continues to echo through me.
Iâm leaving with deep gratitude for the beauty, the honesty, the connection, and the reminder that meaningful transformation often happens in simple moments of presence.
Still breathing it all in.
Thank you @balancedrockorg for creating this opportunity for the community.
Photos taken and edited by yours truly. đ¤
As we step into April, the second edition of our Notes from the Sierra goes live today, featuring @innerether đâ
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This digital storytelling series is a space for the wisdom of lived experience, the elemental insights that shape our work, and the inspiration we draw from the mountains, forests, and beyond. â
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Each month, someone from our teaching, guiding, or creative circles shares a reflection, a story, a lesson, or perhaps a moment of relationship with nature or Self. â
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This month's piece, Sound, Silence, and Nature: An Exploration in Deep Listening by Kirstie Kleine Jaeger, is a powerful piece that dives into the transformational world of sound journeys.â
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Head over to the link in our bio to read Kirstie's piece!â
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This past week carried a beautiful reflection of cyclical time. As we stepped into our Spring Awakening Retreat in Ojai, we also came to a close with our 3-week Art, Nature and Wellness Immersion program.
The Ojai group gathered as the Immersion group dispersed, much like the puffs of pollen were becoming well-acquainted with these days (cue the sneezing!) đ¤§đ
In the spirit of Springâs cheeky lightheartedness, weâre leaning into the reminder that this time of year is hardly something we observe passively, but rather a time we are often thrust into (with a little spritely oomph!) đ§
With that playful energy in mind, we find ourselves expanding outward come Aprilâconnecting with community as we offer yoga and interactive booths at local outreach events. We hope to see you out there đ
April 11 ⢠Mariposa Facelift @yosemiteclimbingassociation
April 25 ⢠Yosemite Health & Wellness Fair
May 2 ⢠Spring Fling! @yeaforus
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đ¸ Yerba Santa blooming in the Merced River canyon (credit: Meg Olsen)
This week one of our senior guides @yosemiteyogamom had the pleasure of guiding one of our favorite annual clientsâRustad Toursâon their spring tour of Yosemite Valley!
While Balanced Rock offers the chance to experience Yosemite with our local, experienced guides year round, our season generally begins to kick off in late February and early Marchâcoming into full swing by the height of summer.
If youâre looking for a unique and personalized way to explore Yosemite on your next visit, reach out to our team. We have flexible formats for solo travelers, families, company/team retreats, and small & large groups, ranging from quick tours to full day excursions.
Visit our Guided Adventures page on the BR website to learn more!
đ¸ by @yosemiteyogamom
This week we welcomed a new group into our Art, Nature & Wellness Immersionâa 3-week journey rooted in creativity, connection, skills-building, and local community.
Together weâll be exploring the intersection of artistic practice, mindful movement, and nature connection here in the Sierra foothills. Each week is an invitation to slow down, notice more deeply, and let the landscape shape the creative process.
There is something powerful about gathering in community to make art, move our bodies, and listen to what the natural world is offering.
Weâre excited to see what unfolds over the coming weeks, and we canât wait to share it with you đż
đ¸ by @fred_pompermayer
If youâre not a subscriber for our weekly e-newsletter, you may have missed this news! đ
We launched our first Notes from the Sierra series this Marchâa new monthly storytelling series from the incredible group of artists, practitioners, guides, and teachers who shape Balanced Rock and the surrounding community.
Our first entry is written by @mia.embodyenergy đŤ a Yosemite-based Clinical Massage Therapist and one of our favorite facilitators.
In her piece, Mia reflects on the art of stewarding your energy through nature-based metaphors and embodied wisdom. Through the lens of her own lived experience, she asks the question:
⨠how we can shift from striving and burnout to alignment, resilience, and sustainable flow? â¨
You can read Miaâs full entry in the Balanced Rock Journal by following the link in our bio!
Retreat to Ojai this Spring with Balanced Rock đđ¤âď¸
We have one private room still available + a few beds in shared rooms for a cozy community experience!
Spring Awakening Retreat in Ojai, CA
March 26-29, 2026
Registration closes soonâdonât miss this amazing spring retreat!
With Spring peeking out just beyond the next bend in the trail, Winter gently reminds us that our time with her is not yet through đŠľ
In this time of thresholds and seasonal portals, there is beauty and deep wisdom in the in-between âď¸đ¸
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Yosemite Valley after the winter storms, captured by @makayasage
Snow on flowers, captured by @heathasulli
