Life took many painful turns for Nani Almanza as the world was hit by a global pandemic, but she held strong to the mindset that things would get better. “I had been laid off from my amazing job. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. My relationship of two-and-a-half years ended brutally. I was forced to close the nut butter business I started the month before the first shelter-in-place orders. And worst of all, two of my sisters passed away,” she shares. “I was completely wrecked and clinging onto hope that things would take a positive turn.”
Though she’s originally from California’s Central Valley, Nani hadn’t actually heard of Esalen before moving to the Central Coast in 2013. “Suddenly, I was in the exact place I had dreamed of! The land kept inviting me back time and time again to experience the magic in various ways … adventures exploring the campus, dancing wildly at the mid-summer festivals, and bathing bare-skinned under the full moon.” Nani knew that applying for a position here was the right direction for her life. “It felt like a call to come home to the magical place my inner child somehow always knew I would find.”
While comparing her arrival at Esalen to washing up on the shore of a beautiful island “after being lost at sea,” Nani lists all the different things that make Esalen what it is: “It’s the land. It’s the community filled with unconditional love, unique life journeys, and an unspoken commitment to self-growth. It’s the teachers that come to Esalen week after week, eager to share their knowledge, tools, and sacred medicine. It’s the nights of wild ecstatic dancing. And, of course, the healing hot spring water that brings me tears of joy and makes me feel completely supported by a higher power no matter what is going on in my life.”
Since coming to Esalen, Nani has established a spiritual practice and discovered her passion for music and singing as healing experiences. “I have opened up to new perspectives on relationships with the world around me. I have realized how to let go of things that no longer serve me to make space for everything that is to come!”
Nani adds, “I now have a deeper and more meaningful connection to my voice as a healing tool for myself and for others. I consider myself very lucky to have amazing teachers coming to Esalen who have helped me unblock my creativity to write my first song; teach me how to sing with my whole body, heart, and soul; and how to be vulnerable for my most authentic self to shine.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Life took many painful turns for Nani Almanza as the world was hit by a global pandemic, but she held strong to the mindset that things would get better. “I had been laid off from my amazing job. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. My relationship of two-and-a-half years ended brutally. I was forced to close the nut butter business I started the month before the first shelter-in-place orders. And worst of all, two of my sisters passed away,” she shares. “I was completely wrecked and clinging onto hope that things would take a positive turn.”
Though she’s originally from California’s Central Valley, Nani hadn’t actually heard of Esalen before moving to the Central Coast in 2013. “Suddenly, I was in the exact place I had dreamed of! The land kept inviting me back time and time again to experience the magic in various ways … adventures exploring the campus, dancing wildly at the mid-summer festivals, and bathing bare-skinned under the full moon.” Nani knew that applying for a position here was the right direction for her life. “It felt like a call to come home to the magical place my inner child somehow always knew I would find.”
While comparing her arrival at Esalen to washing up on the shore of a beautiful island “after being lost at sea,” Nani lists all the different things that make Esalen what it is: “It’s the land. It’s the community filled with unconditional love, unique life journeys, and an unspoken commitment to self-growth. It’s the teachers that come to Esalen week after week, eager to share their knowledge, tools, and sacred medicine. It’s the nights of wild ecstatic dancing. And, of course, the healing hot spring water that brings me tears of joy and makes me feel completely supported by a higher power no matter what is going on in my life.”
Since coming to Esalen, Nani has established a spiritual practice and discovered her passion for music and singing as healing experiences. “I have opened up to new perspectives on relationships with the world around me. I have realized how to let go of things that no longer serve me to make space for everything that is to come!”
Nani adds, “I now have a deeper and more meaningful connection to my voice as a healing tool for myself and for others. I consider myself very lucky to have amazing teachers coming to Esalen who have helped me unblock my creativity to write my first song; teach me how to sing with my whole body, heart, and soul; and how to be vulnerable for my most authentic self to shine.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Life took many painful turns for Nani Almanza as the world was hit by a global pandemic, but she held strong to the mindset that things would get better. “I had been laid off from my amazing job. My dad was diagnosed with cancer. My relationship of two-and-a-half years ended brutally. I was forced to close the nut butter business I started the month before the first shelter-in-place orders. And worst of all, two of my sisters passed away,” she shares. “I was completely wrecked and clinging onto hope that things would take a positive turn.”
Though she’s originally from California’s Central Valley, Nani hadn’t actually heard of Esalen before moving to the Central Coast in 2013. “Suddenly, I was in the exact place I had dreamed of! The land kept inviting me back time and time again to experience the magic in various ways … adventures exploring the campus, dancing wildly at the mid-summer festivals, and bathing bare-skinned under the full moon.” Nani knew that applying for a position here was the right direction for her life. “It felt like a call to come home to the magical place my inner child somehow always knew I would find.”
While comparing her arrival at Esalen to washing up on the shore of a beautiful island “after being lost at sea,” Nani lists all the different things that make Esalen what it is: “It’s the land. It’s the community filled with unconditional love, unique life journeys, and an unspoken commitment to self-growth. It’s the teachers that come to Esalen week after week, eager to share their knowledge, tools, and sacred medicine. It’s the nights of wild ecstatic dancing. And, of course, the healing hot spring water that brings me tears of joy and makes me feel completely supported by a higher power no matter what is going on in my life.”
Since coming to Esalen, Nani has established a spiritual practice and discovered her passion for music and singing as healing experiences. “I have opened up to new perspectives on relationships with the world around me. I have realized how to let go of things that no longer serve me to make space for everything that is to come!”
Nani adds, “I now have a deeper and more meaningful connection to my voice as a healing tool for myself and for others. I consider myself very lucky to have amazing teachers coming to Esalen who have helped me unblock my creativity to write my first song; teach me how to sing with my whole body, heart, and soul; and how to be vulnerable for my most authentic self to shine.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
