Curious about Esalen but not ready for the rigor or commitment of a full workshop? Self-Guided Explorations (SGE) are structured as an easy, welcoming first drop into Esalen — especially for first-timers who want to experience it as a place, the vibes, and not only the programming.
So what can you expect? Well, at the heart of SGE is a sacred, spacious container. You arrive alongside a small cohort of fellow seekers, receiving enough structure to feel held, and enough freedom to move at your own rhythm. There’s no pressure to share. Instead, the invitation is simply to be here.
This experience offers room to notice the details and nuance that can be revealed here. Morning light on the cliffs. Conversations that unfold over meals. The quiet intelligence of the land itself. You’ll have time to wander through the garden, soak in the baths, linger in the Lodge, and let your days and nights be shaped by curiosity and instinct over schedule.
You’re not on your own unless you want to be. The open class schedule is a way to drop into classroom experiences and sample different teachers and modalities, while mingling with other other seekers: workshop participants, work scholars, and staff, because so much of Esalen’s community-building and magic happens in the in-between: along various paths, in the baths, during unplanned moments of connection.
SGE can be a powerful bridge, a way to feel the cadence of Esalen life before choosing a workshop. Others discover it’s exactly the experience they were seeking: immersive, relational, and gently transformative in its own way.
“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?
The winter is an especially beautiful time to visit: quieter, reflective, and spacious.
Join us January 26–30 and save 15%, or find other dates that work for you.
Curious about Esalen but not ready for the rigor or commitment of a full workshop? Self-Guided Explorations (SGE) are structured as an easy, welcoming first drop into Esalen — especially for first-timers who want to experience it as a place, the vibes, and not only the programming.
So what can you expect? Well, at the heart of SGE is a sacred, spacious container. You arrive alongside a small cohort of fellow seekers, receiving enough structure to feel held, and enough freedom to move at your own rhythm. There’s no pressure to share. Instead, the invitation is simply to be here.
This experience offers room to notice the details and nuance that can be revealed here. Morning light on the cliffs. Conversations that unfold over meals. The quiet intelligence of the land itself. You’ll have time to wander through the garden, soak in the baths, linger in the Lodge, and let your days and nights be shaped by curiosity and instinct over schedule.
You’re not on your own unless you want to be. The open class schedule is a way to drop into classroom experiences and sample different teachers and modalities, while mingling with other other seekers: workshop participants, work scholars, and staff, because so much of Esalen’s community-building and magic happens in the in-between: along various paths, in the baths, during unplanned moments of connection.
SGE can be a powerful bridge, a way to feel the cadence of Esalen life before choosing a workshop. Others discover it’s exactly the experience they were seeking: immersive, relational, and gently transformative in its own way.
“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?
The winter is an especially beautiful time to visit: quieter, reflective, and spacious.
Join us January 26–30 and save 15%, or find other dates that work for you.
Curious about Esalen but not ready for the rigor or commitment of a full workshop? Self-Guided Explorations (SGE) are structured as an easy, welcoming first drop into Esalen — especially for first-timers who want to experience it as a place, the vibes, and not only the programming.
So what can you expect? Well, at the heart of SGE is a sacred, spacious container. You arrive alongside a small cohort of fellow seekers, receiving enough structure to feel held, and enough freedom to move at your own rhythm. There’s no pressure to share. Instead, the invitation is simply to be here.
This experience offers room to notice the details and nuance that can be revealed here. Morning light on the cliffs. Conversations that unfold over meals. The quiet intelligence of the land itself. You’ll have time to wander through the garden, soak in the baths, linger in the Lodge, and let your days and nights be shaped by curiosity and instinct over schedule.
You’re not on your own unless you want to be. The open class schedule is a way to drop into classroom experiences and sample different teachers and modalities, while mingling with other other seekers: workshop participants, work scholars, and staff, because so much of Esalen’s community-building and magic happens in the in-between: along various paths, in the baths, during unplanned moments of connection.
SGE can be a powerful bridge, a way to feel the cadence of Esalen life before choosing a workshop. Others discover it’s exactly the experience they were seeking: immersive, relational, and gently transformative in its own way.
“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?
The winter is an especially beautiful time to visit: quieter, reflective, and spacious.
Join us January 26–30 and save 15%, or find other dates that work for you.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
