Our upcoming fall and winter workshop schedules include both familiar and beloved facilitators exploring new territory within their rich bodies of work and experience, as well as new faculty introducing ideas that expand our collective understanding of healing, creativity, relationships, leadership, and human potential through their own expert lens.
Many seekers return to Esalen because of a favorite facilitator whose wisdom, presence, and practices helped change the way they see themselves or the world. If you’ve experienced some of our faculty before (tell us who you especially loved!) this season offers something exciting and unexpected: the opportunity to try out the evolution of their work through brand-new workshop offerings.
Several faculty are experimenting with new, original workshop material designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of their teaching.
This evolution begins October 5–9 with Caverly Morgan’s Self-Compassion as a Lifeboat Home: Remembering the Heart of Who We Are, a retreat that invites participants to move beyond self-criticism and reconnect with the innate compassion, resilience, and wisdom at the heart of who they are. Later that month, October 23–25, Didier Sylvain returns with Breakbeats, Breath, and Becoming, an immersive experience that weaves together music, movement, breathwork, and embodied leadership practices to explore authentic connection, creative expression, and personal transformation.
The momentum continues the week of November 2–6, as Aja Daashuur presents When Spirit Speaks: Personal Evolution Through Spirit Connection, an original offering rooted in healing, identity, and liberation. November 6–8, Hawah Kasat debuts Breath: The Master Key, expanding his exploration of storytelling, belonging, and courageous conversation as pathways toward deeper connection and personal growth.
November 16–20, Jovinna Chan invites guests into The Wild Embrace: A Journey to Vitality, a transformational experience grounded in movement, mindfulness, and embodied awareness that reflects the next chapter of her teaching.
The holidays are a special and cool time to be at Esalen. Thanksgiving, November 23-27, longtime naturalist and contemplative teacher Steven Harper returns with his brand new The Wisdom of Not Knowing, inviting participants to explore mindfulness, curiosity, and the profound practice of embracing uncertainty.
The powerful collaboration that is Brontë Velez and Ayana Young present Sitting at the Feet of the Glacier: Land-Based Practices, Meditation, and Grief Work December 7–11, weaving together ecology, culture, grief, imagination, and collective belonging in a timely exploration of our relationship with the living world.
For Christmas, December 25–27, resident faculty member Sadia Bruce debuts Ground Control: Cultivating Steadiness in Wild Times, bringing new dimensions to her deeply embodied approach to transformation.
Together, these workshops exemplify how Esalen faculty continue to refine and expand their work, offering both returning and first-time guests opportunities to engage with ideas and practices as they evolve. For returning seekers, these workshops are more than new dates on the calendar — they’re an invitation to reconnect with trusted teachers through ideas, practices, and perspectives they haven’t shared at Esalen before.
Alongside these evolving offerings, we’re delighted to welcome a remarkable group of faculty making their Esalen debut, each bringing fresh perspectives that expand the conversations happening across campus.
The season begins September 28–October 2, when Tracee Stanley and Elena Brower lead Being Whole: Ritual, Respect, and Regulation, offering restorative practices for nervous system regulation, ritual, and deep renewal.
October 9–11, psychologist Diana Hill introduces Wise Effort, exploring how psychological flexibility and self-compassion can help us pursue meaningful lives with greater ease. October 12–16, relationship experts Jessica Fern and David Cooley make their Esalen debut with Transforming the Shame Triangle, bringing their groundbreaking work on attachment, intimacy, and relational healing to campus for the first time. Elissa Altman leads Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create from October 12–16, inviting writers to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in their creative practice.
November welcomes several exciting new voices. Aimee Breslow and Sarah Federman join forces for Transformative Negotiation: Reimagining Conflict Through Narration and Dream Work, November 6–8, offering innovative approaches to conflict, storytelling, healing, and reconciliation.
Scholar Raj Balkaran presents The Stories Behind the Poses, November 27–29, drawing from mythology and contemplative traditions to illuminate timeless questions about living well. Then, November 30–December 4, Nitsan Joy Gordon and Nadya Giol lead The Heart Remembers: Healing Across Divides, offering experiential practices for moving through conflict with greater compassion, courage, and connection.
December 4–6, Marianne Murray brings Grof® Breathwork: Homecoming to Esalen, inviting participants into the transformative lineage of Grof® Breathwork and expanded states of awareness.
Esalen is and always has beenalways been a place where ideas continue to evolve, where teachers remain students, and where each workshop reflects new questions emerging from both our faculty and our ever-seeking guests. Whether you’re returning to explore a new offering from a facilitator you already know, or discovering someone whose work is entirely new to you, these workshops are great ways to keep growing. Growth, healing and transformation doesn’t happen by standing still. It unfolds when we are open to what’s possible and next.
“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?
Our upcoming fall and winter workshop schedules include both familiar and beloved facilitators exploring new territory within their rich bodies of work and experience, as well as new faculty introducing ideas that expand our collective understanding of healing, creativity, relationships, leadership, and human potential through their own expert lens.
Many seekers return to Esalen because of a favorite facilitator whose wisdom, presence, and practices helped change the way they see themselves or the world. If you’ve experienced some of our faculty before (tell us who you especially loved!) this season offers something exciting and unexpected: the opportunity to try out the evolution of their work through brand-new workshop offerings.
Several faculty are experimenting with new, original workshop material designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of their teaching.
This evolution begins October 5–9 with Caverly Morgan’s Self-Compassion as a Lifeboat Home: Remembering the Heart of Who We Are, a retreat that invites participants to move beyond self-criticism and reconnect with the innate compassion, resilience, and wisdom at the heart of who they are. Later that month, October 23–25, Didier Sylvain returns with Breakbeats, Breath, and Becoming, an immersive experience that weaves together music, movement, breathwork, and embodied leadership practices to explore authentic connection, creative expression, and personal transformation.
The momentum continues the week of November 2–6, as Aja Daashuur presents When Spirit Speaks: Personal Evolution Through Spirit Connection, an original offering rooted in healing, identity, and liberation. November 6–8, Hawah Kasat debuts Breath: The Master Key, expanding his exploration of storytelling, belonging, and courageous conversation as pathways toward deeper connection and personal growth.
November 16–20, Jovinna Chan invites guests into The Wild Embrace: A Journey to Vitality, a transformational experience grounded in movement, mindfulness, and embodied awareness that reflects the next chapter of her teaching.
The holidays are a special and cool time to be at Esalen. Thanksgiving, November 23-27, longtime naturalist and contemplative teacher Steven Harper returns with his brand new The Wisdom of Not Knowing, inviting participants to explore mindfulness, curiosity, and the profound practice of embracing uncertainty.
The powerful collaboration that is Brontë Velez and Ayana Young present Sitting at the Feet of the Glacier: Land-Based Practices, Meditation, and Grief Work December 7–11, weaving together ecology, culture, grief, imagination, and collective belonging in a timely exploration of our relationship with the living world.
For Christmas, December 25–27, resident faculty member Sadia Bruce debuts Ground Control: Cultivating Steadiness in Wild Times, bringing new dimensions to her deeply embodied approach to transformation.
Together, these workshops exemplify how Esalen faculty continue to refine and expand their work, offering both returning and first-time guests opportunities to engage with ideas and practices as they evolve. For returning seekers, these workshops are more than new dates on the calendar — they’re an invitation to reconnect with trusted teachers through ideas, practices, and perspectives they haven’t shared at Esalen before.
Alongside these evolving offerings, we’re delighted to welcome a remarkable group of faculty making their Esalen debut, each bringing fresh perspectives that expand the conversations happening across campus.
The season begins September 28–October 2, when Tracee Stanley and Elena Brower lead Being Whole: Ritual, Respect, and Regulation, offering restorative practices for nervous system regulation, ritual, and deep renewal.
October 9–11, psychologist Diana Hill introduces Wise Effort, exploring how psychological flexibility and self-compassion can help us pursue meaningful lives with greater ease. October 12–16, relationship experts Jessica Fern and David Cooley make their Esalen debut with Transforming the Shame Triangle, bringing their groundbreaking work on attachment, intimacy, and relational healing to campus for the first time. Elissa Altman leads Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create from October 12–16, inviting writers to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in their creative practice.
November welcomes several exciting new voices. Aimee Breslow and Sarah Federman join forces for Transformative Negotiation: Reimagining Conflict Through Narration and Dream Work, November 6–8, offering innovative approaches to conflict, storytelling, healing, and reconciliation.
Scholar Raj Balkaran presents The Stories Behind the Poses, November 27–29, drawing from mythology and contemplative traditions to illuminate timeless questions about living well. Then, November 30–December 4, Nitsan Joy Gordon and Nadya Giol lead The Heart Remembers: Healing Across Divides, offering experiential practices for moving through conflict with greater compassion, courage, and connection.
December 4–6, Marianne Murray brings Grof® Breathwork: Homecoming to Esalen, inviting participants into the transformative lineage of Grof® Breathwork and expanded states of awareness.
Esalen is and always has beenalways been a place where ideas continue to evolve, where teachers remain students, and where each workshop reflects new questions emerging from both our faculty and our ever-seeking guests. Whether you’re returning to explore a new offering from a facilitator you already know, or discovering someone whose work is entirely new to you, these workshops are great ways to keep growing. Growth, healing and transformation doesn’t happen by standing still. It unfolds when we are open to what’s possible and next.
“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?
Our upcoming fall and winter workshop schedules include both familiar and beloved facilitators exploring new territory within their rich bodies of work and experience, as well as new faculty introducing ideas that expand our collective understanding of healing, creativity, relationships, leadership, and human potential through their own expert lens.
Many seekers return to Esalen because of a favorite facilitator whose wisdom, presence, and practices helped change the way they see themselves or the world. If you’ve experienced some of our faculty before (tell us who you especially loved!) this season offers something exciting and unexpected: the opportunity to try out the evolution of their work through brand-new workshop offerings.
Several faculty are experimenting with new, original workshop material designed to reflect the ongoing evolution of their teaching.
This evolution begins October 5–9 with Caverly Morgan’s Self-Compassion as a Lifeboat Home: Remembering the Heart of Who We Are, a retreat that invites participants to move beyond self-criticism and reconnect with the innate compassion, resilience, and wisdom at the heart of who they are. Later that month, October 23–25, Didier Sylvain returns with Breakbeats, Breath, and Becoming, an immersive experience that weaves together music, movement, breathwork, and embodied leadership practices to explore authentic connection, creative expression, and personal transformation.
The momentum continues the week of November 2–6, as Aja Daashuur presents When Spirit Speaks: Personal Evolution Through Spirit Connection, an original offering rooted in healing, identity, and liberation. November 6–8, Hawah Kasat debuts Breath: The Master Key, expanding his exploration of storytelling, belonging, and courageous conversation as pathways toward deeper connection and personal growth.
November 16–20, Jovinna Chan invites guests into The Wild Embrace: A Journey to Vitality, a transformational experience grounded in movement, mindfulness, and embodied awareness that reflects the next chapter of her teaching.
The holidays are a special and cool time to be at Esalen. Thanksgiving, November 23-27, longtime naturalist and contemplative teacher Steven Harper returns with his brand new The Wisdom of Not Knowing, inviting participants to explore mindfulness, curiosity, and the profound practice of embracing uncertainty.
The powerful collaboration that is Brontë Velez and Ayana Young present Sitting at the Feet of the Glacier: Land-Based Practices, Meditation, and Grief Work December 7–11, weaving together ecology, culture, grief, imagination, and collective belonging in a timely exploration of our relationship with the living world.
For Christmas, December 25–27, resident faculty member Sadia Bruce debuts Ground Control: Cultivating Steadiness in Wild Times, bringing new dimensions to her deeply embodied approach to transformation.
Together, these workshops exemplify how Esalen faculty continue to refine and expand their work, offering both returning and first-time guests opportunities to engage with ideas and practices as they evolve. For returning seekers, these workshops are more than new dates on the calendar — they’re an invitation to reconnect with trusted teachers through ideas, practices, and perspectives they haven’t shared at Esalen before.
Alongside these evolving offerings, we’re delighted to welcome a remarkable group of faculty making their Esalen debut, each bringing fresh perspectives that expand the conversations happening across campus.
The season begins September 28–October 2, when Tracee Stanley and Elena Brower lead Being Whole: Ritual, Respect, and Regulation, offering restorative practices for nervous system regulation, ritual, and deep renewal.
October 9–11, psychologist Diana Hill introduces Wise Effort, exploring how psychological flexibility and self-compassion can help us pursue meaningful lives with greater ease. October 12–16, relationship experts Jessica Fern and David Cooley make their Esalen debut with Transforming the Shame Triangle, bringing their groundbreaking work on attachment, intimacy, and relational healing to campus for the first time. Elissa Altman leads Permission: The New Memoirist and the Courage to Create from October 12–16, inviting writers to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in their creative practice.
November welcomes several exciting new voices. Aimee Breslow and Sarah Federman join forces for Transformative Negotiation: Reimagining Conflict Through Narration and Dream Work, November 6–8, offering innovative approaches to conflict, storytelling, healing, and reconciliation.
Scholar Raj Balkaran presents The Stories Behind the Poses, November 27–29, drawing from mythology and contemplative traditions to illuminate timeless questions about living well. Then, November 30–December 4, Nitsan Joy Gordon and Nadya Giol lead The Heart Remembers: Healing Across Divides, offering experiential practices for moving through conflict with greater compassion, courage, and connection.
December 4–6, Marianne Murray brings Grof® Breathwork: Homecoming to Esalen, inviting participants into the transformative lineage of Grof® Breathwork and expanded states of awareness.
Esalen is and always has beenalways been a place where ideas continue to evolve, where teachers remain students, and where each workshop reflects new questions emerging from both our faculty and our ever-seeking guests. Whether you’re returning to explore a new offering from a facilitator you already know, or discovering someone whose work is entirely new to you, these workshops are great ways to keep growing. Growth, healing and transformation doesn’t happen by standing still. It unfolds when we are open to what’s possible and next.
“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
