Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the alternate route directions.
Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.
Esalen massage promotes feelings of wholeness and a return to our natural state of ease. Whether a novice or professional, this course guides you through basic massage concepts, with exercises to awaken your senses and plenty of at-the-table guidance. The senior instructors will demonstrate the essential elements, highlighting comfortable draping, the foundational long, integrating strokes, gentle assisted movements, and the all-important pause. Grounding, contact, and the impact of touch will be introduced and practiced with classmates, building an embodied learning experience. The professional caregiver or practitioner can also refresh their existing work with Esalen’s pace, presence — “the listening hand” — and mindful body mechanics. Don’t be surprised if you come away realizing you like to give a simple Esalen massage as much as you like to receive it.
Arrive prepared to enjoy the healing waters of Esalen’s natural hot mineral springs and the serene beauty of the Esalen land. As a gift option, the group will meet for an evening ritual in the baths, weather and space permitting. The sound of the waves and the flowing strokes harmonize into an extraordinary massage experience.
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Brita Ostrom has led massage and somatic workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 40 years. She is a founding member of the Esalen Massage School, practices Gestalt awareness work, and participated in Esalen’s two-year somatic education program. She is also a licensed psychotherapist.
Read More
Vicki Topp is a senior practitioner and instructor of Esalen Massage® and somatic bodywork. She teaches workshops and training groups internationally, and is a registered Movement Therapist and practitioner of Body-Mind Centering.
Read More
Friday
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Saturday
9:30 am – 12:45 pm
3:00 pm – 6:15 pm
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Optional Session)
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 harken back to those days of yore.
More activities can be found on our open class schedule.
See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.
Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.
We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.
Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.
Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.
We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.
For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.
Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.
Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.
As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Esalen massage promotes feelings of wholeness and a return to our natural state of ease. Whether a novice or professional, this course guides you through basic massage concepts, with exercises to awaken your senses and plenty of at-the-table guidance. The senior instructors will demonstrate the essential elements, highlighting comfortable draping, the foundational long, integrating strokes, gentle assisted movements, and the all-important pause. Grounding, contact, and the impact of touch will be introduced and practiced with classmates, building an embodied learning experience. The professional caregiver or practitioner can also refresh their existing work with Esalen’s pace, presence — “the listening hand” — and mindful body mechanics. Don’t be surprised if you come away realizing you like to give a simple Esalen massage as much as you like to receive it.
Arrive prepared to enjoy the healing waters of Esalen’s natural hot mineral springs and the serene beauty of the Esalen land. As a gift option, the group will meet for an evening ritual in the baths, weather and space permitting. The sound of the waves and the flowing strokes harmonize into an extraordinary massage experience.
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Brita Ostrom has led massage and somatic workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 40 years. She is a founding member of the Esalen Massage School, practices Gestalt awareness work, and participated in Esalen’s two-year somatic education program. She is also a licensed psychotherapist.
Vicki Topp is a senior practitioner and instructor of Esalen Massage® and somatic bodywork. She teaches workshops and training groups internationally, and is a registered Movement Therapist and practitioner of Body-Mind Centering.
October 28–30, 2022
This program is full. Find another.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
Esalen massage promotes feelings of wholeness and a return to our natural state of ease. Whether a novice or professional, this course guides you through basic massage concepts, with exercises to awaken your senses and plenty of at-the-table guidance. The senior instructors will demonstrate the essential elements, highlighting comfortable draping, the foundational long, integrating strokes, gentle assisted movements, and the all-important pause. Grounding, contact, and the impact of touch will be introduced and practiced with classmates, building an embodied learning experience. The professional caregiver or practitioner can also refresh their existing work with Esalen’s pace, presence — “the listening hand” — and mindful body mechanics. Don’t be surprised if you come away realizing you like to give a simple Esalen massage as much as you like to receive it.
Arrive prepared to enjoy the healing waters of Esalen’s natural hot mineral springs and the serene beauty of the Esalen land. As a gift option, the group will meet for an evening ritual in the baths, weather and space permitting. The sound of the waves and the flowing strokes harmonize into an extraordinary massage experience.
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Brita Ostrom has led massage and somatic workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 40 years. She is a founding member of the Esalen Massage School, practices Gestalt awareness work, and participated in Esalen’s two-year somatic education program. She is also a licensed psychotherapist.
Vicki Topp is a senior practitioner and instructor of Esalen Massage® and somatic bodywork. She teaches workshops and training groups internationally, and is a registered Movement Therapist and practitioner of Body-Mind Centering.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org