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.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
Note: SGE seekers have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops.
Grounded in Esalen's ethos of openness and exploration, our teachers are seasoned, credentialed facilitators who offer a unique blend of expertise and encouragement to our Self-Guided guests.
With a diverse array of backgrounds spanning psychology, mindfulness, somatics, creative arts, and holistic healing, they provide a supportive framework for personal exploration, guiding individuals through immersive experiences designed to cultivate introspection, creativity, and inner growth.
Participants are empowered to delve deep into their inner landscapes, fostering profound insights and shifts in consciousness.
Below are sample open class descriptions. Kindly note that actual offerings will vary from day to day and week to week. View a sample schedule.
Join Sam for a deep-dive into Esalen's archives to explore the transformative origins of the Esalen Institute and Human Potential. Discover the roots of a movement that forever changed the landscape of personal growth and self-discovery.
Meditate with the surging energy of the waves and let tension dissolve on the ocean breeze. Adorned with flowers and local healing herbs, this unique experience at the Esalen baths blends personal inquiry, herbal education, and sensory delight. Each ritual is an emergent collaboration of sound, sensation, intention, and floral offering to the sea. Come early, class size is very limited.
A spacious, slow-paced exploration of the body home using therapeutic yoga and other somatic modalities to make space for breath, alleviate tension, and access greater mobility and fluidity — in flesh and bones, and in life. Accessible to all levels.
A transformative breathwork journey rooted in rhythm, designed to reconnect you with the innate cycles of your body and the natural world. This dynamic practice weaves together accessible breathing patterns, sound, and movement to foster deep connection, release stress, and bring you back into balance. By harmonizing your breath with the pulse of life, Breathscapes helps you heal burnout, cultivate self-love, and gain clarity, offering a profound space for transformation and embodied presence. Whether you seek renewal or reprieve, Breathscapes is a powerful gateway to inner alignment and vitality.
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation that brings you to a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. This practice reprograms and repatterns your mind and body to prime your creativity to flow freely through you and onto your page.
Sink below the mind chatter and external layer to tap into your authentic voice and share who you truly are. Meditation, movement, and written reflections.
The Healing Circle is a space where you are invited to step out of ordinary time into a safe, accepting environment in which to explore, witnessing and sharing with an open heart. Experience breath and meditation, facilitated heart sharing, ritual, and group reiki.
An all-level Hatha-inspired physical practice paired with breathwork and mindfulness to rediscover your intuition and cultivate your mind-body connection.
So, you’ve finally arrived at Esalen — welcome home! Join us in exploring Esalen’s historic, culture-shifting origins, the vision for human potential, and our core values, as we embark on another 60 years of transformational education. Prepare to learn, grow, experiment, and evolve as we shepherd you on how best to integrate into this unique community and get the most out of your time on this sacred, ancient land.
MojaFlow is an experience to provoke and elevate you to discover new realms of energy and inspire you to experience the joy of going beyond barriers in your own practice and life. Class will include a somatic warm-up, breath-work, and strengthening exercises to support the body/mind connection.
In class we contemplate spiritual/philosophical teachings, slow down and move mindfully by co-ordinating breath with movement, sustain poses to deepen focus and awareness, practice breathing exercises and meditation to hone skillfulness in listening to the inner subtle experiences.
This is a conscious dance practice for people who love or are curious about movement. Here in the company of non-dancers and dancers, we get supple and strong, we explore expressions, we celebrate creativity, we expand empathy, we move and are moved.
Take a somatic dive into the depths of the self with an enlivening, vigorous moving meditation that borrows from a variety of modalities, incorporates ancestral movement, and culminates in seated stillness. Shake, sound, and dance your way to deepened connection with your miraculous body, and with the body of the world.
This interactive, process-based class explores the playful and generative intersections of art and artificial intelligence. Guided by the philosophy of the human potential movement, participants will become co-creators with AI, engaging in hands-on projects that transform their voices across languages, create music, and engage in philosophical conversations with AI, challenging their perceptions of art, creativity, and technology.
As a registered guest, you are welcome on campus any time after 2:00 pm on your arrival day. Room keys are available at 4:00 pm. On departure day, please remove belongings from your room by 10:00 am or before your final workshop session, then feel free to stay for lunch and enjoy the grounds until 2:00 pm.
All meals are served buffet-style in the Lodge.
Breakfast: 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Lunch: 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm *How to Drop into Esalen*
7:15 pm – 9:30 pm
Saturday
9:30 am – 12:45 pm
3:00 pm – 6:15 pm
Sunday
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Return to a more natural state of balance and facilitate healing for your body, mind, and spirit.
We offer a wide range of healing arts services for workshop guests, Self-Guided participants, and day pass visitors, including Esalen® Massage, craniosacral therapy, coaching and Gestalt sessions, astrology readings, private forest baths, herbal clearing rituals, and much more.
After reserving your stay at Esalen, we recommend booking your appointments at least three weeks in advance, as our sessions tend to sell out.
Explore Healing ArtsPlease 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.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
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Need a scholarship? Apply here.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
January 9–11, 2026
This program is full. Find another.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
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.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
January 9–11, 2026
This program is full. Find another.
Applications are closed.
Applications are closed.
Imagine your relationship expressing the true depths of your love and commitment. If you are in love, this retreat is an opportunity to rise even higher in love. If you are in crisis, it is an opportunity for healing on the deepest level.
We all carry some degree of negative programming from our past, and there are loving and effective ways to transform this programming into a positive and vibrant celebration of our connection.
During this workshop, you and your partner will take part in guided exercises, experience therapeutic coaching from the Vissells, and connect with the support of other couples, with time set aside for sharing after each practice.
This weekend offers a collection of tools for deeper appreciation and communication building. Themes include healthy communication of feelings, seeing one’s partner as a mirror, understanding and respecting each other’s differences, navigating conflict resolution, healing past hurts, exploring sexual wellness, connecting with the inner child and inner parent, taking responsibility and developing a true inner connection. Participants are encouraged to explore how these practices might apply to their lives together, both during the retreat and beyond. For more information, visit www.SharedHeart.org.
This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.
Recommended Reading: To Really Love a Man by Joyce and Barry Vissell & To Really Love a Woman by Joyce and Barry Vissell
Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.
Barry Vissell is a psychiatrist. Joyce Vissell is a master’s level nurse/psychotherapist. Together, they are co-founders of the Shared Heart Foundation. As mental health professionals dedicated to changing the world one heart at a time, they write a syndicated column for 80 periodicals worldwide, have authored numerous books, and have raised three children.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.
The rich text element allows you to create and format headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, images, and video all in one place instead of having to add and format them individually. Just double-click and easily create content.A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!
A rich text element can be used with static or dynamic content. For static content, just drop it into any page and begin editing. For dynamic content, add a rich text field to any collection and then connect a rich text element to that field in the settings panel. Voila!Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.
Headings, paragraphs, blockquotes, figures, images, and figure captions can all be styled after a class is added to the rich text element using the "When inside of" nested selector system.