Esalen Institute is open!

However, Highway 1 south of Esalen is closed indefinitely. Don't let this stop you — there are other routes to reach us. Please review these alternate route driving directions and allow for a little extra travel time while on your transformational and healing journey.

We look forward to welcoming you to Esalen.

Faculty

Esalen faculty represent a spectrum of disciplines, experiences, and perspectives — our faculty members have included Premal Shah, founder of Kiva.org; Robert Walter, Joseph Campbell’s longtime editor; mindfulness researcher Shauna Shapiro; and Wisdom 2.0 creator Soren Gordhamer.

Featured Faculty
Current and Recent Faculty
Paul HeussenstammA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Paul Heussenstamm

Paul Heussenstamm is a painter and teacher from Laguna Beach, California. His vibrant sacred art incorporates principles of many religious traditions, among them Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity.

Andrew HolecekA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Andrew Holecek

Dr. Andrew Holecek has completed the traditional three-year Buddhist meditation retreat and offers seminars internationally on meditation, lucid dreaming, and the art of dying.

Lucia HoranA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Lucia Horan

Born and raised in the Esalen community, Lucia Horan received life-long direct training with Gabrielle Roth in the 5Rhythms® method and is formally empowered to teach Buddha dharma in all capacities.

Peggy HoranA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Peggy Horan

Peggy Horan has been practicing and teaching Esalen Massage for five decades and is the author of Connecting Through Touch, A Couples Massage Book.

Russ HudsonA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Russ Hudson

Russ Hudson is one of the top teachers and developers of the Enneagram system in the world today. He is the co-author, with Don Richard Riso, of several books including The Wisdom of the Enneagram and Personality Types.

Andrea JuhanA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Andrea Juhan

Andrea Juhan, PhD, MFT has created her own form of movement practice called Open Floor, which draws on her decades of experience with Gabrielle Roth's 5Rhythms, Gestalt Awareness Practice, and Integrative Body Psychotherapy.

Dacher KeltnerA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner is a professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. His research focuses on the biological and evolutionary origins of compassion, awe, love, beauty, and more.

George KohlrieserA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
George Kohlrieser

George Kohlrieser is known world-wide for his keynotes and workshops on such topics as high performance leadership, conflict management, personal and professional development, and more.

The Brothers KorenA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
The Brothers Koren

With over twenty years as teachers, performers, and transformational leaders, Thorald and Isaac Koren are on a mission to hear the world’s song, one Big Voice at a time.

Jiling LinA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Jiling Lin

Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac), herbalist, and yoga teacher who cultivates thriving health through nature, art, movement, and ritual.

Miranda MacphersonA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Miranda Macpherson

Miranda Macpheron has been guiding others into direct experience of the sacred for 30 years internationally. Author of The Way of Grace, she offers a feminine and integrated approach to nondual realization.

Dean MarsonA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Dean Marson

Dean Marson is a Senior Esalen® Massage instructor whose approach to bodywork embraces elements of movement, awareness practices and conscious connection.

LaVerne McLeodA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
LaVerne McLeod

LaVerne McLeod is a workshop facilitator, author, public speaker, theatrical presenter, educator, and founder of Bridge Building to Equity Workshops and Purple Feather Press.

Mollie McNeilA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Mollie McNeil

Mollie McNeil, PhD, is a published writer and an award-winning teacher. She currently teaches a variety of creative writing classes at the Modern Elder Academy and in various Bay Area workshops.

Deva MunayA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Deva Munay

Deva Munay, founder of Sacred Sound & Wonder, has over 20 years of experience in the field of health and wellness, with a passion for sound healing.

Tom Little Bear NasonA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Tom Little Bear Nason

Little Bear is the Tribal Chairman of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. With a deep history at Esalen, a sacred site for the Esselen, he leads retreats centering around the relationships between humans, land, and Spirit.

Janis Cooke NewmanA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Janis Cooke Newman

Janis Cooke Newman is the author of two award-winning novels and a memoir. She is also the founder of the Lit Camp writers conference, and Creative Caffeine Daily, an online community for writers.

Brita OstromA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Brita Ostrom

Brita Ostrom is a licensed psychotherapist and a founding member of the Esalen Massage School. She has led massage and somatic workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 40 years.

William Padilla-BrownA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
William Padilla-Brown

William Padilla-Brown is a Multidisciplinary Citizen Scientist practicing social science, mycology, phycology, and molecular biology. He is founder and CEO of MycoSymbiotics, a permaculture research and production business.

Laurel Parnell, PhDA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Laurel Parnell, PhD

Laurel Parnell, Ph.D.,  is a clinical psychologist and one of the world’s leading experts on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

John W. PriceA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
John W. Price

John W. Price Ph.D., LPC is a depth psychotherapist, podcast host of The Sacred Speaks, co-founder of The Center for the Healing Arts and Sciences, musician, and teacher.

Marques ReddA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Marques Redd

Dr. Marques Redd is a traditional African cosmologist, independent scholar, filmmaker, sculptor, and art curator based in Pittsburgh, PA.

Stella ResnickA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Stella Resnick

Stella Resnick, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist in Los Angeles, CA, who specializes in couples and sex therapy.

Heidi Rose RobbinsA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Heidi Rose Robbins

Heidi Rose Robbins is an astrologer, author, and poet, helping thousands of clients all over the globe live with more authenticity and clarity. She hosts two podcasts and leads Radiant Life Retreats.

Brenda RoseA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Brenda Rose

Brenda Rose is renowned for her powerful transmissions and healing presence. An acclaimed psychic medium and coach, she inspires clients to live and love their lives guided by their soul’s purpose.

Day SchildkretA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Day Schildkret

Day Schildkret’s visually stunning, earth-based art reconnects us to our intrinsic healing relationship with nature, impermanence, and everyday ritual.

Lori SchwanbeckA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Lori Schwanbeck

Lori Schwanbeck weaves her passion for nature into her work as a mindfulness teacher, retreat leader, and Hakomi certified psychotherapist who teaches mindfulness-based emotional intelligence programs internationally.

Suzanne ScurlockA small white oval over a larger white oval, meant to represent a person.
Suzanne Scurlock

Suzanne Scurlock is the author of Reclaiming Your Body and Full Body Presence, a CranioSacral therapy instructor for the Upledger Institute since 1987, and creator of the Healing From the Core® curriculum.