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Nature, Art, Movement and Ritual: Embodying the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine
April 11–15, 2022
April 11–15, 2022
with Jiling Lin

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.

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Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Embody the Five Elements of Chinese medicine through nature, art, movement and ritual. Experientially learn practical and poetic Five Element philosophy and tools to apply in daily life. Design your own elemental practices and rituals, aligning with seasonal rhythms, to come home to the wild beauty of your inner radiance.

Enjoy five nourishing days deeply connecting with ourselves, each other, and the surrounding sacred landscape as material and metaphor. We will begin with an overview of the Five Elements, focus on one Element each session, then integrate by crafting personal elemental rituals and enjoying a restorative group acupuncture experience.

The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine include Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. With each Element, we will:

  • Practice yoga asana and other embodiment forms to experience the Elements within ourselves, integrate breath and movement, and nourish health and well-being.
  • Experience elemental meditations to attune our inner and outer landscapes, and rest in present moment awareness.
  • Explore journaling and creative visual arts practices to reflect on, deepen, and integrate our experiences, welcoming insights.
  • Enjoy engaging presentations to identify Elements within ourselves and in nature, recognize imbalance, and gain tools for restoring dynamic equilibrium.
  • Explore the Esalen landscape with nature connection activities and rituals to enhance sensory awareness, hone intuition, and directly observe and learn from the Five Elements in their natural splendor.

Our indigenous ancestors communed intimately with the natural world, gathering information, inspiration, and both material and immaterial resources from the Earth. Come reconnect with your unique ancestral wisdom through the lens of the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine. Embody the Elements within and around you through nature connection, artistic creation, nourishing movement, and sacred ritual. Welcome spring by resting and resetting your current life trajectory, guided by the Five Elements. Experience gentle yet powerful transformation. Reconnect with the wild beauty within and all around. Feel loved, welcomed, and a sense of full belonging with every breath. Thrive.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
Jiling Lin

Jiling Lin

Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world.

Read More

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Workshop Schedule

Mon 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tue - Thu 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tue - Thu 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Fri 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.

Accommodations & Tuition

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.

Accommodations & Tuition

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.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

All-inclusive Pricing

with Jiling Lin

April 11–15, 2022
Register Now

Embody the Five Elements of Chinese medicine through nature, art, movement and ritual. Experientially learn practical and poetic Five Element philosophy and tools to apply in daily life. Design your own elemental practices and rituals, aligning with seasonal rhythms, to come home to the wild beauty of your inner radiance.

Enjoy five nourishing days deeply connecting with ourselves, each other, and the surrounding sacred landscape as material and metaphor. We will begin with an overview of the Five Elements, focus on one Element each session, then integrate by crafting personal elemental rituals and enjoying a restorative group acupuncture experience.

The Five Elements of Chinese Medicine include Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. With each Element, we will:

  • Practice yoga asana and other embodiment forms to experience the Elements within ourselves, integrate breath and movement, and nourish health and well-being.
  • Experience elemental meditations to attune our inner and outer landscapes, and rest in present moment awareness.
  • Explore journaling and creative visual arts practices to reflect on, deepen, and integrate our experiences, welcoming insights.
  • Enjoy engaging presentations to identify Elements within ourselves and in nature, recognize imbalance, and gain tools for restoring dynamic equilibrium.
  • Explore the Esalen landscape with nature connection activities and rituals to enhance sensory awareness, hone intuition, and directly observe and learn from the Five Elements in their natural splendor.

Our indigenous ancestors communed intimately with the natural world, gathering information, inspiration, and both material and immaterial resources from the Earth. Come reconnect with your unique ancestral wisdom through the lens of the Five Elements of Chinese Medicine. Embody the Elements within and around you through nature connection, artistic creation, nourishing movement, and sacred ritual. Welcome spring by resting and resetting your current life trajectory, guided by the Five Elements. Experience gentle yet powerful transformation. Reconnect with the wild beauty within and all around. Feel loved, welcomed, and a sense of full belonging with every breath. Thrive.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
Jiling Lin

Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher. Her integrative medical practice in Ventura, CA and holistic workshops, retreats, and writings empower thriving health and environmental stewardship in our bodies, communities, and world.

Read More

Workshop Schedule

Mon 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tue - Thu 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Tue - Thu 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Fri 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.

Accommodations & Tuition

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.

Accommodations & Tuition

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.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

COVID Update

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.

All-inclusive Pricing