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.
This workshop is open to all levels of experience, though our focus will be on intermediate and advanced practices. Please write directly to Ellen@Ellen-Watson.com with questions.
Transpersonal breathwork practices, including Holotropic Breathwork® and time-honored global, multi-cultural breathwork practices, have been validated by Western scientific methods.
Holotropic Breathwork was developed at Esalen in the 1970s by Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, with the support of his then-wife, Christina. This practice was created as a powerful way to enter non-ordinary states of consciousness without psychedelic medicines. This workshop will include four Holotropic sessions during the week.
Our days will begin with an energizing and empowering kata, led by Mac Murphy, who trained in breathwork during a seven-month immersion at the Five Immortals Temple in Wudang, Hubei Province, China. Mac will guide us in early morning qigong practice and through his Tummo- and Wim Hof-inspired breathing practices. Those interested can also take a cold water plunge at Hot Springs Creek. There will be time afterward to share feedback.
Participants will explore breathing practices designed to calm the nervous system and elicit effects documented in The Relaxation Response and The Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson, MD, co-founder of the Harvard Mind-Body Clinic.
Our three-hour afternoon sessions will be entirely dedicated to the study of Holotropic Breathwork, which begins with both “sitter” and “breather” guided into full body relaxation. The sitter then assumes a comfortable position close to the breather’s upper body with access to the head and shoulders. Accelerated breathing is supported by evocative music specifically chosen to move upward through the chakra system. The last hour is for resolution, including possible bodywork and creative expressions of our experiences, such as drawing mandalas, writing poetry, and more.
To read more about Holotropic Breathwork, please read Stan Grof’s book The Holotropic Mind, or review these videos: Stanislav Grof – Holotropic Breathing (YouTube), Stanislav Grof: Holotropic Bodywork Workshop [Part 1] (YouTube), James Nestor Had a “Transformative” Experience in His Holotropic Breathing Class (YouTube)
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Ellen Watson fell in love with breath when she first arrived at Esalen in the 1980s. During the ensuing years, studying breath became a focus in all her pursuits. In addition to enhancing self-awareness, breath informs all the practices Ellen teaches at Esalen today. Among these practices are Esalen Massage & Bodywork, 5Rhythms®, Touching Essence, and the Vibrance Collective Practices.
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Mac Murphy is a practitioner of Esalen Massage & Bodywork and Human Transformation, and he guides students in harnessing their innate power. Mac teaches a variety of breathwork practices, including Daoist Qi Gong, Tumo breathwork, Kundalini, and Pranayama
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Sunday
8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Monday
7:30 am – 9:00 am
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Tuesday
7:30 am – 9:00 am
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesday
7:30 am – 9:00 am
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Thursday
7:30 am – 9:00 am
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Friday
9:30 am – 12:30 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.
This workshop is open to all levels of experience, though our focus will be on intermediate and advanced practices. Please write directly to Ellen@Ellen-Watson.com with questions.
Transpersonal breathwork practices, including Holotropic Breathwork® and time-honored global, multi-cultural breathwork practices, have been validated by Western scientific methods.
Holotropic Breathwork was developed at Esalen in the 1970s by Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, with the support of his then-wife, Christina. This practice was created as a powerful way to enter non-ordinary states of consciousness without psychedelic medicines. This workshop will include four Holotropic sessions during the week.
Our days will begin with an energizing and empowering kata, led by Mac Murphy, who trained in breathwork during a seven-month immersion at the Five Immortals Temple in Wudang, Hubei Province, China. Mac will guide us in early morning qigong practice and through his Tummo- and Wim Hof-inspired breathing practices. Those interested can also take a cold water plunge at Hot Springs Creek. There will be time afterward to share feedback.
Participants will explore breathing practices designed to calm the nervous system and elicit effects documented in The Relaxation Response and The Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson, MD, co-founder of the Harvard Mind-Body Clinic.
Our three-hour afternoon sessions will be entirely dedicated to the study of Holotropic Breathwork, which begins with both “sitter” and “breather” guided into full body relaxation. The sitter then assumes a comfortable position close to the breather’s upper body with access to the head and shoulders. Accelerated breathing is supported by evocative music specifically chosen to move upward through the chakra system. The last hour is for resolution, including possible bodywork and creative expressions of our experiences, such as drawing mandalas, writing poetry, and more.
To read more about Holotropic Breathwork, please read Stan Grof’s book The Holotropic Mind, or review these videos: Stanislav Grof – Holotropic Breathing (YouTube), Stanislav Grof: Holotropic Bodywork Workshop [Part 1] (YouTube), James Nestor Had a “Transformative” Experience in His Holotropic Breathing Class (YouTube)
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Ellen Watson fell in love with breath when she first arrived at Esalen in the 1980s. During the ensuing years, studying breath became a focus in all her pursuits. In addition to enhancing self-awareness, breath informs all the practices Ellen teaches at Esalen today. Among these practices are Esalen Massage & Bodywork, 5Rhythms®, Touching Essence, and the Vibrance Collective Practices.
Mac Murphy is a practitioner of Esalen Massage & Bodywork and Human Transformation, and he guides students in harnessing their innate power. Mac teaches a variety of breathwork practices, including Daoist Qi Gong, Tumo breathwork, Kundalini, and Pranayama
May 7–12, 2023
This program is full. Find another.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
This workshop is open to all levels of experience, though our focus will be on intermediate and advanced practices. Please write directly to Ellen@Ellen-Watson.com with questions.
Transpersonal breathwork practices, including Holotropic Breathwork® and time-honored global, multi-cultural breathwork practices, have been validated by Western scientific methods.
Holotropic Breathwork was developed at Esalen in the 1970s by Stanislav Grof, MD, PhD, with the support of his then-wife, Christina. This practice was created as a powerful way to enter non-ordinary states of consciousness without psychedelic medicines. This workshop will include four Holotropic sessions during the week.
Our days will begin with an energizing and empowering kata, led by Mac Murphy, who trained in breathwork during a seven-month immersion at the Five Immortals Temple in Wudang, Hubei Province, China. Mac will guide us in early morning qigong practice and through his Tummo- and Wim Hof-inspired breathing practices. Those interested can also take a cold water plunge at Hot Springs Creek. There will be time afterward to share feedback.
Participants will explore breathing practices designed to calm the nervous system and elicit effects documented in The Relaxation Response and The Relaxation Revolution by Herbert Benson, MD, co-founder of the Harvard Mind-Body Clinic.
Our three-hour afternoon sessions will be entirely dedicated to the study of Holotropic Breathwork, which begins with both “sitter” and “breather” guided into full body relaxation. The sitter then assumes a comfortable position close to the breather’s upper body with access to the head and shoulders. Accelerated breathing is supported by evocative music specifically chosen to move upward through the chakra system. The last hour is for resolution, including possible bodywork and creative expressions of our experiences, such as drawing mandalas, writing poetry, and more.
To read more about Holotropic Breathwork, please read Stan Grof’s book The Holotropic Mind, or review these videos: Stanislav Grof – Holotropic Breathing (YouTube), Stanislav Grof: Holotropic Bodywork Workshop [Part 1] (YouTube), James Nestor Had a “Transformative” Experience in His Holotropic Breathing Class (YouTube)
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Ellen Watson fell in love with breath when she first arrived at Esalen in the 1980s. During the ensuing years, studying breath became a focus in all her pursuits. In addition to enhancing self-awareness, breath informs all the practices Ellen teaches at Esalen today. Among these practices are Esalen Massage & Bodywork, 5Rhythms®, Touching Essence, and the Vibrance Collective Practices.
Mac Murphy is a practitioner of Esalen Massage & Bodywork and Human Transformation, and he guides students in harnessing their innate power. Mac teaches a variety of breathwork practices, including Daoist Qi Gong, Tumo breathwork, Kundalini, and Pranayama
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org