Life these days can be busy, to say the least. Even when we have a couple of hours to relax, our bodies may remain in “flight or fight” mode anticipating stress to come. Only by giving ourselves an extended break from daily routines can the body and mind really reset. Why not give yourself the gift of time at Esalen to unwind old patterns and rejuvenate your whole self?
A Time to Reflect is a unique program that enables you to come to Esalen without registering for a workshop. Pick and choose from the following sampler to create your own weekend or five-day Esalen experience.
Explore mindfulness and meditation. Join one of our movement or meditation classes or make your way to the meditation roundhouse, a place for contemplation located next to our fresh-water creek. Visit the Conley bookstore for selections of classic and breakthrough works on healing, growth, and transformation. Let the rhythm of ocean waves guide your breath and open you to new insight.
Discover your creative side. Give yourself daily sessions in the Art Barn to play with paint, clay, and other art materials. Sketch by the creek, write in your journal overlooking the sea, and let Esalen’s breathtaking natural beauty fill you with inspiration and wonder.
Nurture yourself. Esalen is the perfect place for restorative self-care. Join a yoga class, and then stroll down to the baths to soak in the healing waters of our natural hot springs. Enjoy three fresh, farm-to-table meals a day, and partake of our wide array of massage and bodywork offerings. Dive into that novel you’ve been meaning to read, and nurture all aspects of your being.
Make deeper connections. Enjoy daily opportunities to learn something new and connect with others during your stay. Volunteer in the Garden to connect with the Esalen land and get your hands dirty or join the folks in the Esalen kitchen where reciprocity, hard work, and fun come together to create three nourishing meals a day. Esalen is a place where connection abounds. You are sure to meet new friends and encounter new dimensions of yourself.
Register today for A Time to Reflect.
“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 these days can be busy, to say the least. Even when we have a couple of hours to relax, our bodies may remain in “flight or fight” mode anticipating stress to come. Only by giving ourselves an extended break from daily routines can the body and mind really reset. Why not give yourself the gift of time at Esalen to unwind old patterns and rejuvenate your whole self?
A Time to Reflect is a unique program that enables you to come to Esalen without registering for a workshop. Pick and choose from the following sampler to create your own weekend or five-day Esalen experience.
Explore mindfulness and meditation. Join one of our movement or meditation classes or make your way to the meditation roundhouse, a place for contemplation located next to our fresh-water creek. Visit the Conley bookstore for selections of classic and breakthrough works on healing, growth, and transformation. Let the rhythm of ocean waves guide your breath and open you to new insight.
Discover your creative side. Give yourself daily sessions in the Art Barn to play with paint, clay, and other art materials. Sketch by the creek, write in your journal overlooking the sea, and let Esalen’s breathtaking natural beauty fill you with inspiration and wonder.
Nurture yourself. Esalen is the perfect place for restorative self-care. Join a yoga class, and then stroll down to the baths to soak in the healing waters of our natural hot springs. Enjoy three fresh, farm-to-table meals a day, and partake of our wide array of massage and bodywork offerings. Dive into that novel you’ve been meaning to read, and nurture all aspects of your being.
Make deeper connections. Enjoy daily opportunities to learn something new and connect with others during your stay. Volunteer in the Garden to connect with the Esalen land and get your hands dirty or join the folks in the Esalen kitchen where reciprocity, hard work, and fun come together to create three nourishing meals a day. Esalen is a place where connection abounds. You are sure to meet new friends and encounter new dimensions of yourself.
Register today for A Time to Reflect.
“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 these days can be busy, to say the least. Even when we have a couple of hours to relax, our bodies may remain in “flight or fight” mode anticipating stress to come. Only by giving ourselves an extended break from daily routines can the body and mind really reset. Why not give yourself the gift of time at Esalen to unwind old patterns and rejuvenate your whole self?
A Time to Reflect is a unique program that enables you to come to Esalen without registering for a workshop. Pick and choose from the following sampler to create your own weekend or five-day Esalen experience.
Explore mindfulness and meditation. Join one of our movement or meditation classes or make your way to the meditation roundhouse, a place for contemplation located next to our fresh-water creek. Visit the Conley bookstore for selections of classic and breakthrough works on healing, growth, and transformation. Let the rhythm of ocean waves guide your breath and open you to new insight.
Discover your creative side. Give yourself daily sessions in the Art Barn to play with paint, clay, and other art materials. Sketch by the creek, write in your journal overlooking the sea, and let Esalen’s breathtaking natural beauty fill you with inspiration and wonder.
Nurture yourself. Esalen is the perfect place for restorative self-care. Join a yoga class, and then stroll down to the baths to soak in the healing waters of our natural hot springs. Enjoy three fresh, farm-to-table meals a day, and partake of our wide array of massage and bodywork offerings. Dive into that novel you’ve been meaning to read, and nurture all aspects of your being.
Make deeper connections. Enjoy daily opportunities to learn something new and connect with others during your stay. Volunteer in the Garden to connect with the Esalen land and get your hands dirty or join the folks in the Esalen kitchen where reciprocity, hard work, and fun come together to create three nourishing meals a day. Esalen is a place where connection abounds. You are sure to meet new friends and encounter new dimensions of yourself.
Register today for A Time to Reflect.
“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