Visitors are now able to access Esalen as well as other businesses and trails in northern Big Sur via twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 operated by Caltrans.
Convoys run only at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. These are the only opportunities to travel into and out of Big Sur, so visitors must plan accordingly.



Alex Halenda is known for her holistic approach to yoga practice, weaving movement, self-study, compassion, and humor through her all-levels classes. Her clear speaking voice, direct cueing, and comforting approach to the practice help students feel capable and at ease.
Through practice with Alex, you can expect to increase strength, openness, and confidence, learn tools to move safely on and off the mat, develop self-soothing skills, as well as contentment and peace, and build tolerance for existence.
Alex has received multiple certificates in Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Yin Yoga, and Trauma-Informed Yoga, studied Yoga & Psychology, and completed a year of Yoga, Service and Community at the Mount Madonna Center. She has learned from well-known modern teachers, such as Baba Hari Das, Bhagavan Das, Ashley Turner, Seane Corn, Hala Khouri, Suzanne Sterling, Mark White, and Greg Nardi, as well as many lesser-known master teachers in various communities. She has also been inspired by the work of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Yogananda, and Swami Sri Yukteswar, to name a few.
Alex has a passion for meeting others with humility, studying wisdom traditions of the world, observing patterns in the universe through astrology, drawing simple teachings from witnessing nature, and questioning reality.
Alex Halenda is a yoga teacher (E-RYT 200) of 16 years, with over 10,000 hours of teaching experience. Her passion is inspiring students to practice both serious contemplation and playful curiosity, which leads them to make intuitive improvements in their daily lives.