Summer Lall is a board certified music therapist who works at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the organization Rhythm & Truth Music Therapy which seeks to empower at-risk youth. We recently spoke to Summer about what her Esalen experience has meant to her and how scholarship made it possible for her to be at Esalen. To learn more about scholarship giving opportunities, visit http://www.Esalen.org/give.
eNews: How has your Esalen experience impacted your work in the world?
Summer: As a music therapist, I have learned countless tools to better serve the youth I work with and my community at large. Esalen has hugely impacted the underserved youth in Los Angeles by giving me this opportunity to attend such groundbreaking workshops. While I’m looking honestly and openly at myself to find ways to learn and grow, I’m simultaneously able to apply this invaluable knowledge and wisdom in my community work.
eNews: Tell us about your first experience at Esalen.
Summer: I was absolutely astounded and overwhelmed with joy and love from the moment I arrived at such an incredible place. The breathtaking nature and warmhearted and genuine people only added to my deep personal growth taking place in the workshop. The delectable toast bar, the tubs, jamming out by the fire pit and meditating by the river left me overflowing with abundance afterwards. I couldn’t believe I had the chance to experience this utopia.
eNews: In what ways has Esalen impacted your life personally?
Summer: Esalen has been a personal refuge from the stressors of daily life. Beyond that, it has connected me with incredible people and helped open my eyes to new ways to better understand myself and serve my community.
eNews: Where would you like to see Esalen 10 years from now?
Summer: I would love to see Esalen continue to expand its diversity and outreach to include demographics who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate. I would like for Esalen to keep doing what it’s doing and resist becoming commercial and financially inaccessible. I’d also love to see even more emphasis on social justice issues.
eNews: How has receiving scholarship supported you in your Esalen experience?
Summer: I would have never had the opportunity to attend Esalen workshops had it not been for the kindness and generosity of Esalen donors. I continue to have deep gratitude for being able to attend.
“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?
Summer Lall is a board certified music therapist who works at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the organization Rhythm & Truth Music Therapy which seeks to empower at-risk youth. We recently spoke to Summer about what her Esalen experience has meant to her and how scholarship made it possible for her to be at Esalen. To learn more about scholarship giving opportunities, visit http://www.Esalen.org/give.
eNews: How has your Esalen experience impacted your work in the world?
Summer: As a music therapist, I have learned countless tools to better serve the youth I work with and my community at large. Esalen has hugely impacted the underserved youth in Los Angeles by giving me this opportunity to attend such groundbreaking workshops. While I’m looking honestly and openly at myself to find ways to learn and grow, I’m simultaneously able to apply this invaluable knowledge and wisdom in my community work.
eNews: Tell us about your first experience at Esalen.
Summer: I was absolutely astounded and overwhelmed with joy and love from the moment I arrived at such an incredible place. The breathtaking nature and warmhearted and genuine people only added to my deep personal growth taking place in the workshop. The delectable toast bar, the tubs, jamming out by the fire pit and meditating by the river left me overflowing with abundance afterwards. I couldn’t believe I had the chance to experience this utopia.
eNews: In what ways has Esalen impacted your life personally?
Summer: Esalen has been a personal refuge from the stressors of daily life. Beyond that, it has connected me with incredible people and helped open my eyes to new ways to better understand myself and serve my community.
eNews: Where would you like to see Esalen 10 years from now?
Summer: I would love to see Esalen continue to expand its diversity and outreach to include demographics who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate. I would like for Esalen to keep doing what it’s doing and resist becoming commercial and financially inaccessible. I’d also love to see even more emphasis on social justice issues.
eNews: How has receiving scholarship supported you in your Esalen experience?
Summer: I would have never had the opportunity to attend Esalen workshops had it not been for the kindness and generosity of Esalen donors. I continue to have deep gratitude for being able to attend.
“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?
Summer Lall is a board certified music therapist who works at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the organization Rhythm & Truth Music Therapy which seeks to empower at-risk youth. We recently spoke to Summer about what her Esalen experience has meant to her and how scholarship made it possible for her to be at Esalen. To learn more about scholarship giving opportunities, visit http://www.Esalen.org/give.
eNews: How has your Esalen experience impacted your work in the world?
Summer: As a music therapist, I have learned countless tools to better serve the youth I work with and my community at large. Esalen has hugely impacted the underserved youth in Los Angeles by giving me this opportunity to attend such groundbreaking workshops. While I’m looking honestly and openly at myself to find ways to learn and grow, I’m simultaneously able to apply this invaluable knowledge and wisdom in my community work.
eNews: Tell us about your first experience at Esalen.
Summer: I was absolutely astounded and overwhelmed with joy and love from the moment I arrived at such an incredible place. The breathtaking nature and warmhearted and genuine people only added to my deep personal growth taking place in the workshop. The delectable toast bar, the tubs, jamming out by the fire pit and meditating by the river left me overflowing with abundance afterwards. I couldn’t believe I had the chance to experience this utopia.
eNews: In what ways has Esalen impacted your life personally?
Summer: Esalen has been a personal refuge from the stressors of daily life. Beyond that, it has connected me with incredible people and helped open my eyes to new ways to better understand myself and serve my community.
eNews: Where would you like to see Esalen 10 years from now?
Summer: I would love to see Esalen continue to expand its diversity and outreach to include demographics who would otherwise not have the opportunity to participate. I would like for Esalen to keep doing what it’s doing and resist becoming commercial and financially inaccessible. I’d also love to see even more emphasis on social justice issues.
eNews: How has receiving scholarship supported you in your Esalen experience?
Summer: I would have never had the opportunity to attend Esalen workshops had it not been for the kindness and generosity of Esalen donors. I continue to have deep gratitude for being able to attend.
“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