Esalen Catalog Fall 2019 by Esalen Institute

Growing Our Circle Over the last six months, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of meeting with many inspiring individuals—some of whom are part of our greater Esalen community and others who share our collective vision for a transformed world where body, mind, heart and spirit are integrated with a nurturing relationship with our environment. Whether it was conversations held in the Esalen Lodge, discussion over a meal at our sister centers or conversations in larger forums in Asia and Europe, what continued to arise was a common desire to expand Esalen’s circle in a world that is increasingly in need of tools from which to activate and access our human potential. As one Esalen community member shared with me: “There is a paradigm shift for humanity on the immediate horizon. One or perhaps all of Esalen’s flags should be waving in the direction of this shift.” At Esalen, we are in the midst of our own shift as we look at how best to live our mission of personal and social transformation and continue to find ways to open and grow our circle. One way we achieve this is through our programming, which I’m pleased to share with you in the following pages. These offerings reflect a thoughtful curation of topics and themes designed to inspire and nourish, to question and challenge, and to connect and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others. More than 50 years ago, Esalen co-founders Michael Murphy and Dick Price imagined a gathering place inspired by Abraham Maslow’s psychology of peak experiences and Aldous Huxley’s belief in “human potentialities”, the unrealized capacities of our mind and body. Today, we carry on that legacy and we look forward to your presence as we embark on new journeys, together. With gratitude,

Terence Gilbey General Manager and CEO

Welcome to Esalen

Our History

Since 1962, Esalen Institute has sought to develop what Aldous Huxley originally envisioned as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;human potentialâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D;all those unrealized capacities of mind and body that point to the further evolution of human nature. Esalen is known for its nuanced blend of Western and Asian cultures, its emphasis on experiential workshops, its gifted teachers, its social activism at home and abroad, and its hot springs. Honoring the native Esselen people who once inhabited the land, Esalen sits on the spectacular Big Sur Coastline with the Santa Lucia Mountains rising sharply behind.

Our Mi!ion

Esalen is a leading nonprofit institute for exploring and realizing human potential through experience, education, and research. We work toward the realization of a more humane and all-embracing world, seeking answers to questions unlikely to be explored by traditional universities and religions. We sponsor pioneering initiatives and offer personal, spiritual, and social transformation programs for workshop participants, residential study students and property residents.

Our Offerings Workshops/ Conferences/ Residential Study Our workshops range in subject matter from the arts and body movement to meditation, psychology, and nature and sustainability. You may choose from a variety of program lengths; most workshops are weekend, five- and seven-days long. Your workshop registration is all-inclusive, providing you with accommodation, meals, and access to additional classes and facilities on property. Please view the Guide to Workshops for a full list of programs by subject. Many educational institutions recognize Esalen programs as eligible for credit in their curricula; check with your university or college. Additional information can be provided if needed. Esalen provides continuing education (CE) credit for MFTs, LCSWs, nurses, bodyworkers, acupuncturists, and more. See page 93 for details. We also offer a Residential Study program for individuals interested in participating in an intensive monthlong course of study.

A Time to Reflect This is a special opportunity to spend time at Esalen without enrolling in a specific workshop. Nourish your body, mind, heart and soul by

enjoying the full range of our daily classes, including movement, dance, yoga, chanting, creative expression and opportunities to volunteer in the Farm & Garden and Esalen Kitchen. Schedule a massage, spend time in the Meditation Hut, enjoy evening programs and hot springs. Visit the Esalen website for updates and pricing.

Healing Arts Esalen has long been known for its unique massage and bodywork modalities. Developed by innovative practitioners at the hot springs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and offered to guests during their stay, Esalen MassageÂŽ incorporates long flowing strokes over the whole body, releasing the stresses of everyday life and leaving the receiver feeling integrated and deeply relaxed. Reservations must be made and paid for in advance. Please call 831-667-3002 for more information.

the baths. Swimsuits are optional, and nudity common, in the hot springs and massage areas. We offer public night bathing from 1:00 am to 3:00 am. Reservations are required and can only be made online at https://nightbaths. esalen.org. Reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable. During the winter months same-day booking applies. Online reservations are available for booking at 9:00 am based on weather. The hot springs may be closed during public holidays and some Esalen events. We do not accept large group reservations.

Additional Classes Esalen offers a daily schedule of free classes open to all guests. Offerings can include yoga, chanting, meditation, free-form dance, and more. We also host visiting scholars and teachers who interface with the Esalen community in many ways, including Wednesday evening discussions.

Hot Springs

Farm & Garden

Esalen is the steward of a natural hot springs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The hot springs is a source of relaxation and healing for those who visit, and you may catch a glimpse into the life of a sea otter, seal, or migratory whale while you enjoy

Esalenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five-acre Farm & Garden produces hundreds of varieties of vegetables, many of which are used to feed Esalen guests and residents. Guests may volunteer with the Farm & Garden crew during their stay.

Contents

Accommodations

Giving Back

Esalen features an all-inclusive rate, which means your reservation includes your workshop tuition, overnight accommodation, meals, and other offerings. There are several types of accommodations to meet a diversity of needs and budgets. Offerings begin with sleeping bag, bunk bed, and shared standard rooms as well as premium rooms that provide for greater privacy and Point Houses which are private suites. For full descriptions, see pages 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7.

As a nonprofit organization, Esalen relies on the generosity of our supporters to help advance our mission of personal and social transformation. By joining Friends of Esalen, you can help contribute to student scholarship, social impact initiatives, and much more while enjoying new member benefits. Learn more at www.esalen.org/give.

Children and Families Esalen offers some family-oriented workshops. Guests attending workshops who have small children and would like to learn more about possible childcare on-site at Esalen should contact Big Sur Park School at info@bigsurparkschool.org. Esalen does not provide childcare services.

Message from the General Manager . IFC Welcome to Esalen................................... 1 Our Offerings ............................................ 2 Inside the Farm & Garden ..................... 4 Visiting Esalen .......................................... 5 Accommodations..................................... 6 Guide to Workshops ............................... 8 Esalen Workshops ..................................10 Faculty Spotlight....................................29 Harmonize: Discover Kirtan and the Yoga of Devotion ....................41 Faculty Spotlight....................................45 The Center for Theory & Research .....50 The Art Barn ............................................ 57 The Wellbeing Project ...........................65 Faculty Spotlight.................................... 74 Conversations on the Edge.................83 Residential Study Program .................88 Continuing Education Programs .......93 Esalen Kitchen Recipe ..........................94 Faculty Index ...........................................95 Join Friends of Esalen ........................ IBC Art and Science of Mindfulness, Compassion and Awe ..........Back Cover

Contact

Stay connected with Esalen: facebook.com/EsalenInstitute instagram.com/Esalen twitter.com/EsalenInstitute

Credits

Front cover photo by: Doug Ellis Essays, drawings and photos submitted by: Alex Adams Bridget Ahern Nadia Ammar Rick Borutta Abby Caplin Stacy Carlson Doug Ellis Wendy Fuchs Kristin Hiensch Lisa Hudson Suzette Keegan Isa Kretschmer Lisa Lefanty

Len Lehmann Vera Lin Melina Meza Stephen Meier Jason Moon Richard Renaldo Angie Smith John Schumacher Sabrina Skiles Melissa Stafford Lauren Wiseman Baron Workman

only at

When you think of the Esalen Farm & Garden, you may conjure visions of marigolds and tender greens growing between sea and sky, and platters of roasted squash or ripe tomatoes in the Lodge. But behind the bountiful harvests, and less visible to the eye, is a living laboratory where experimentation reigns. In alignment with Big Sur’s coastal climate, Esalen farmers continuously evolve their practices as mindful stewards of soil, plant life, human health and ecological integrity. Because Esalen exists in a drought-prone region, water conservation guides many farming practices. One recent experiment utilizes an ancient method largely forgotten by mainstream agriculture. “Dry farming is a technique in which you grow a crop without the use of added irrigation,” explains Farm Supervisor Chris Omer. “It’s a bit of an act of faith, that the plants will have the intelligence to know exactly what to do in order to survive.” With its foggy mornings and mild summer temperatures, Esalen is well-suited to dry farming, and the project paid off with a particularly delicious tomato harvest. Soil health is another foundation of sustainable food production, and in this arena, Esalen has an advantage. “We have amazing soil here because it has been tended for 50 years,” says Garden Supervisor Beth Burzynski. “We literally tread very lightly.” Recent experiments in no-till farming have improved soil integrity even more. “When we clip crops at the base and leave roots in the ground, all of that root matter breaks down in the soil and makes it even healthier,” adds Beth. “We aim to continually grow and evolve as individuals, as a department, and as a community in order to express our innate potential,” says Chris. “Through education, we help all who visit Esalen see the deeper connection with local ecology, and how a strong, vibrant, diversified system that takes into consideration the health of our land benefits everyone and the planet. Farming can be thought of as a creative act — both a science and an art form.”

Visiting Esalen We look forward to welcoming you to Esalen. To help you plan for your visit, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together some helpful information. For additional assistance, please call 1-888-837-2536 or 1-703-342-0500 (for international callers) or email info@esalen.org.

Getting Here Esalen is located 45 miles south of Monterey and 12 miles south of Big Sur on California State Route 1. Allow yourself ample time to travel to this remote, tranquil location due to changing road conditions. We encourage ridesharing to reduce the number of cars on the road or at Esalen. Ask an Esalen reservationist for rideshare or shuttle service options from regional airports. Visit www.esalen.org/page/ getting-here for more information.

What to Bring The coastal weather is unpredictable, so we recommend bringing warm and layered comfortable clothing as well as hiking shoes. Esalen paths have low lighting so you may enjoy the night skies, so we recommend you bring a flashlight. Please bring any medications, toiletries, sunscreen, water bottle, a towel for the hot springs, and earplugs if you share a room.

What to Expect PHONE AND INTERNET: There is no cell phone

service at Esalen. There are two shared internet stations available and the Lodge offers Wi-Fi access except during meal times. Due to our remote location, we cannot guarantee internet connectivity. HEALTH SERVICES: Esalen has no medical services or pharmaceutical supplies on property. Please come prepared to administer to your own needs. Esalen is 45 miles from a medical facility and pharmacy. ACCESSIBILITY: Many Esalen paths, though

paved, are steep and uneven. Access to some parts of the property may be difficult depending on your level of mobility.

Please discuss your needs with an Esalen reservationist at the time of registration (at least 72 hours prior to arrival) and we may be able to assist. CLOTHING OPTIONAL: In the hot springs,

massage area, and pool area, clothing is optional and nudity common. We encourage each individual to choose what is most comfortable for him or her. The environment we strive for at Esalen is one of personal sanctuary and respect for the human body.

General Policies The following policies are in place for the benefit of Esalen workshop participants, workshop leaders, residents, and other visitors. SMOKING: Smoking is permitted in designated

outdoor areas only; it is not permitted in guest rooms or meeting rooms. ILLEGAL DRUGS: In accordance with state and

federal laws, the possession or use of illegal drugs on Esalen property is strictly prohibited. PETS: Other than service animals, pets are not

allowed. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. If you plan to bring a service animal, please contact an Esalen reservationist to register your animal. AGE RESTRICTIONS: Workshop participants

must be 18 years or older unless otherwise noted (such as family workshops). PERSONAL GUESTS: Workshop participants

may not have guests on property. VALUABLES: The Front Office has no facilities

to store guest valuables.

Feel Home at Esalen When you reserve a workshop at Esalen, your tuition includes both the cost of your workshop as well as a variety of amenities including room accommodation, beautifully prepared meals featuring produce grown in the Farm & Garden, and a 24-hour coffee, tea, and bread bar.

Additional offerings include:

• Vegan and vegetarian options for all meals • 24-hour use of the hot springs bath facilities • Access to the Art Barn (except when a workshop is scheduled) • Walks in the Farm & Garden • Meditation in the Meditation Hut • Daily movement classes • Wednesday evening lectures and presentations • Occasional impromptu discussions hosted by visiting scholars and teacher • Subscription to the Esalen catalog

Choose Your Room

We offer a wide array of accommodations to meet different needs. Shared sleeping bag areas and bunk beds offer the most affordable rates. If you choose a sleeping bag option, you will have access to your sleeping area from 11:00 pm to 8:45 am. Standard rooms are shared housing with two to three people per room. Couples are housed privately. You may choose guaranteed single housing based on availability for an additional $150 per night. Premium rooms and Point Houses offer greater privacy, upgraded

amenities, and ocean or garden views. Point Houses also feature a full kitchen and private redwood deck. You may choose to attend a workshop and plan for off-site accommodations, although space is limited for this option. Accommodations pricing begins at $420 for weekend workshops for shared sleeping bag space. Please visit www.esalen.org for current pricing.

Ask About Our Reduced Rates

In some cases, you may be eligible for a reduced rate. Please inquire about this option at the time of registration. Reduced rate options include: WORK EXCHANGE: Limited assistance is available for workshop

participants in exchange for a work commitment in Cabins or the Esalen Kitchen. SCHOLARSHIPS: Limited student aid is available for those in financial need. Visit www.esalen.org/page/scholarships-financial-aid for more information. SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT: A discount is available for workshop

participants over 65: a $25 discount for weekend and $50 for five-day or longer workshops. MONTHLONG RESIDENCY PROGRAM: A 20% discount is available

for anyone registering for four consecutive five-day workshops with three Personal Retreat weekends in between. This program is available January-April only. Please contact an Esalen reservationist for information.

Reserve Your Space Now online: www.esalen.org phone: 888-8-ESALEN (888-837-2536) +1 703-342-0500 (intl. callers)

Arrival and Departure

Guests are welcome to arrive at Esalen anytime after 2:00 pm on the day your stay begins. Rooms become available after 3:00 pm and you may pick up your key at the Esalen Gate or at Guest Services located in the Lodge. We host a guest orientation on Friday and Sunday evenings. Workshop schedules normally begin at 8:30 pm on the day of arrival. On the day of your departure, please check out of your room before attending the closing workshop session or before 10:00 am. Enjoy lunch with us and please depart by 2:00 pm. Accommodations include a Friday and Saturday night stay for weekend workshops and Sunday through Thursday night stay for five-day workshops. Schedules for seven-day workshops vary; please ask at registration.

Payment and Cancellation To reserve your space in a workshop, we require a minimum deposit of 30% of the total reservation balance. The full payment of your total balance is due 10 days before your arrival date and is automatically charged to your credit card. All fees are payable in U.S. currency only. You will receive an email confirming the final payment. If we encounter issues processing your credit card, we will email you a link to make your final payment. If the final payment is not made within seven days of your arrival date, your reservation will be canceled and your entire deposit will be forfeited. All cancellations must be made directly with a Guest Services staff member. Please call 888-837-2536 to make a cancellation. A cancellation fee applies to all workshop reservations. If you change or cancel your reservation more than 14 days before your arrival date, you will be charged a processing fee of half the deposit. Any remaining amount will be refunded. If you change or cancel your reservation more than seven but less than 14 days before your arrival date, you will forfeit your entire deposit (30% of your reservation). Changes or cancellations made less than seven days before your arrival date are subject to forfeit the entire cost of the reservation (deposit and final payment). Esalen reserves the right to cancel any program at any time. If your workshop is canceled, we will notify you of the following options: you may receive a full refund; subject to availability, you may transfer into another workshop taking place at the same time period as the canceled workshop; you may come to Esalen and stay for the duration of the canceled workshop.

Fees for Children

Fees for children 10 and under enrolled in a family workshop are $150 for weekend workshops and $300 for five-day workshops. Fees for children ages 11-15 are $420 for a weekend and $675 for a five-day workshop. Children not attending workshops may be housed with two full-paying adults in premium or standard rooms for a meal charge of $25 a day per child ($10 for children under six). Singleparent accommodations are limited. Please inquire at registration. 7

Guide to Workshops Arts & Creativity

Sep 29-Oct 27 • CranioSacral Therapy 1 Oct 27-Nov 1 • Visceral Manipulation 1

Leadership & Society

Creative Expression/Theater

Oct 27-Nov 3 • CFR and Feldenkrais

Business/Entrepreneurship

Sep 8-13 • Sharing Your Life Story

Nov 1-3 • Sensory Awareness

Oct 18-20 • The Art of Leadership

Sep 13-15 • Sharing Your Life Story

Nov 3-8 • CranioSacral Therapy 2

Dec 15-20 • THE MAX: Self-Expression

Nov 29-Dec 1 • Essential Qi-Gong

Music/Rhythm

Dec 1-6 • Creative Tai Ji Dec 6-8 • Tickets to Paradise: Yoga and Self-care

Sep 15-20 • Singing on the Edge Nov 3-8 • Songwriting from the Heart

Visual Arts

Massage June 30-July 5 • Esalen Massage and Energy Work July 7-12 • Deep Bodywork and Esalen Massage

Leadership July 7-12 • The Radically Alive Leader July 19-21 • A Call for Gay Heroes Aug 4-Sep 1 • Compassion Cultivation Training Aug 4-9 • Leading at the Edge Sep 1-6 • Women’s Leadership Retreat Nov 17-22 • The More Beautiful World

June 30-July 5 • Art as a Spiritual Path: Painting

July 12-14 • Intro. to Esalen Massage

Nov 29-Dec 1 • Social Entrepreneurship

July 7-12 • Art Making Is Transforming

Aug 9-11 • Advanced Esalen Massage

July 19-26 • Mystical Realism in Film

Social/Political Change

Sep 1-6 • Esalen Massage and Essential Oils

Nov 10-15 • Creative Catalyst

Oct 4-6 • Women’s Leadership Summit

Oct 4-6 • Esalen Massage for Couples

Dec 1-6 • Awakening the Creative: Painting

Nov 15-17 • Conversations on the Edge: A Brave

Nov 1-17 • 100-Hour Esalen Massage Cert.

Writing July 7-12 • Engaging the Feminine Heroic Aug 30-Sep 1 • Writing to Awaken: Memoir Dec 8-13 • Plumbing Creative Depths: Memoir

New China

Nov 10-15 • Intro. to Esalen Massage

Nov 22-24 • Climate Change Inside and Out

Dec 1-13 • Esalen Massage Teacher Training

Dec 6-8 • Conversations on the Edge: America,

Dec 15-20 • The Healing Art of Deep Bodywork

Spiritual Not Religious

Dec 22-Jan 19 • Deep Bodywork

Body & Movement

June 30-July 5 • Intermediate Yoga Practice July 12-14 • The United States of Flow

Meditation & Spirituality

Dance

July 14-19 • Yoga Nidra Retreat

Contemplative/Spiritual Studies

July 26-28 • 5Rhythms Moon Lodge

Aug 16-18 • Power Vinyasa Yoga

July 14-19 • Mindfulness as a Wisdom Practice

July 28-Aug 2 • 5Rhythms: Graceful Journey

Aug 18-30 • Insight Yoga Teacher Training

Aug 2-4 • I Am the Word

Aug 4-9 • Empowering Creativity: Movement/Art

Aug 18-23 • Radiant Body: Living from the Heart

Aug 2-4 • Learning to See in the Dark

Sep 6-8 • Rejoice

Aug 30-Sep 1 • Yoga Practice: Body, Mind and Spirit

Aug 4-9 • I Am the Word

Sep 13-15 • The Brazilian Soul

Sep 20-29 • A Yoga Teacher Training

Sep 29-Oct 4 • The Tibetan Yogas of Dream, Sleep

Nov 15-17 • 5Rhythms and Motion Theater

Sep 20-22 • Alchemy of Love: For Couples

Nov 10-15 • How We Change and Why We Don’t

Nov 17-22 • Dancing with the Dharma

Oct 4-6 • NAMASWEAT

Dec 15-20 • I Am the Word

Nov 24-29 • Dance of Oneness: Ecstatic Gratitude

Oct 25-27 • Yoga, Meditation and Recovery

Dec 20-22 • I Am the Word

Dec 20-27 • Soul Motion: Tenderness

Nov 1-3 • Gratitude Retreat

Yoga

Nov 3-8 • Insight Yoga Teacher Training

Meditation/Mindfulness

Nov 10-15 • Jivamukti Yoga Bhakti Immersion

June 30-July 5 • Stress Reduction

Aug 4-9 • Advanced CranioSacral Therapy 1

Nov 22-24 • Sacred Evolution: Yoga and Meditation

July 12-14 • Consciousness Hacking

Aug 18-23 • Full Body Presence

Nov 24-29 • Meditation, Movement and Flow

Aug 2-4 • Awake in the Wild

Aug 23-30 • EMDR Basic Training

Nov 29-Dec 1 • Thanksgiving Yoga Journey

Aug 11-16 • The Art and Science of Mindfulness

Aug 25-Sep 1 • Healing the Pelvic Floor

Dec 13-15 • Winter Solstice Yoga Retreat

Sep 6-13 • Lotus Borne Perception

Sep 1-29 • Leadership and Presence

Dec 27-Jan 3 • Shadow Yoga

Sep 8-15 • Qigong for Health and Happiness

Healing Arts/Somatic Practices

Sep 13-15 • BodyWise: Lifelong Health

Sep 20-22 • Meditation and Feldenkrais

Sep 22-27 • Zero Balancing Part 1

Sep 27-29 • Kirtan and the Yoga of Devotion

Sep 22-27 • Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Cert.

Nov 8-10 • Mindfulness and Trauma

Nov 10-15 • The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach Nov 17-22 • The Ecology Within: Nature and Psyche Nov 24-29 • Grounded in Gratitude Dec 20-22 • Solstice Meditation Retreat

Nature & Sustainability

Dec 22-27 • Winter Solstice Mindfulness Retreat

Wilderness/Hiking

Dec 22-27 • The Self-Care Vow

June 30-July 5 • Walk on the Wild Side

Dec 27-Jan 3 • Awake in the New Year

Aug 18-23 • Big Sur Wilderness Experience

Dec 27-Jan 3 • New Year Meditation Retreat

Sep 1-6 • The Nature of Movement

Myth / Ritual / Shamanism Sep 6-8 • The Mythic Life

Sep 29-Oct 4 • Wild Tao: Hiking and Qi Gong

Nov 8-10 • The Archetypal Journey

Relationship & Self

Personal Reflection

Family

July 5-7 • Esalen Midsummer Festival

July 28-Aug 2 • Music and Nature Family Workshop

Gender

Mind & Psychology Neuropsychology/Neuroscience July 21-26 • Positive Neuroplasticity

Oct 25-27 • Conversations on the Edge: Journeys in Gender, Exploration of Identities

Life Purpose/Visioning July 7-Aug 4 • The Flourishing Lab

Oct 20-25 • Training in Mind-Body Medicine

Aug 9-11 • Transitions in Your 40s and 50s

Nov 8-10 • The Neuroscience of Resilience

Sep 20-22 • Rising Strong Workshop

Philosophical/Scientific Inquiry July 12-14 • Conversations on the Edge:

Personal Genomics

Psychology/Transpersonal Psychology July 14-19 • R.D. Laing in the 21st Century July 19-21 • Conversations. on the Edge:

Crazy or Wise? July 21-26 • The Transformational Enneagram July 26-28 • Igniting Empathy and Intuition Sep 8-13 • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Sep 22-27 • A Retreat for and by Women Physicians Sep 27-29 • Burnout: Unlocking the Stress Cycle Sep 29-Oct 4 • The Art of Empathy Sep 29-Oct 4 • Emancipating the Soul from Trauma Oct 11-13 • Loving What Is Oct 13-18 • From the Fear of Dying to the Joy of Living Oct 18-20 • Well Woman Oct 27-Nov 24 • Sensory Awareness Nov 10-15 • Relational Gestalt Practice Nov 24-Dec 22 • Embodied Relational Gestalt Dec 13-15 • Finding Meaning: Grief Dec 15-20 • Abandonment to Healing

Sep 27-29 • The Inspired Life

Relationship/Communication July 7-12 • Hold Me Tight: For Couples July 19-21 • Getting the Love You Want: For Couples July 28-Aug 2 • Leading with Relational Mindfulness July 28-Aug 2 • Embodying Your Love: For Couples Aug 9-11 • The Art of Fulfilling Relationships Aug 9-11 • The Extraordinary Couples Workshop Aug 23-25 • Couples’ Communication Retreat Sep 13-15 • Evolving Masculinity Oct 18-20 • Getting the Love You Want: For Couples Nov 15-17 • Radical Intimacy and Attraction Nov 17-22 • Imago Relationship Therapy Nov 22-24 • Keeping the Love You Find Dec 6-8 • Couples’ Heart Tantra

Sexuality Sep 1-6 • Sexual Well-being: The Next Revolution Oct 4-6 • Come As You Are: Transform Your Sex Life

Esalen Workshops

online: www.esalen.org by phone: 888-8-ESALEN (888-837-2536)

WEEK OF JUNE 30–JULY 5 Art as a Spiritual Path: Paintings that Awaken the Soul

Intermediate Yoga Practice Intensive: Affirm Your Freedom! Noah Mazé

Recommended reading: Heussenstamm, Divine Forces: Art that Awakens the Soul and Color Yourself Calm. ($50 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.)

Join Noah Mazé for a week of yogic practices, community, nature, contemplation and celebration of our freedom over this July 4th week. Each morning session begins with a mythic yoga story to awaken your imagination and subconscious mind followed by a strong and focused alignment-based yoga class to open and strengthen your body. Each afternoon session nourishes you with restorative yoga, hip-opening poses, pranayama, mantra, meditation and journaling. Throughout the week, we will explore yogic teachings and perspectives of freedom and what those teachings may mean to us today. Expect to work hard, play deeply and be nourished in this week of yogic practices designed to expand your capacity and connect to what lies at the foundation of your relationship to yoga. Each session will include alignment and Vinyasa techniques, applied anatomy, strong work in fundamental poses, progressive sequencing to intermediate poses and lots of fun! We invite those with a regular yoga practice including adho mukha vrkshasana (handstand) and urdhva dhanurasana (full bow pose/ wheel pose) to participate. Please bring a yoga mat and a journal to each session.

Paul Heussenstamm comes from a family immersed in art and spirituality. At 35, he began painting in earnest after a single art class expanded into a consuming passion, a new profession and a new perspective on life. He understands mandalas as psychic maps and symbols of wholeness. www.mandalas.com

Noah Mazé has a fierce and compassionate dedication to yoga that inspires and holds space for students to journey deeper into body, heart, mind and spirit than they ever could have imagined. Noah teaches internationally and online, and lives with his family in Los Angeles. www.noahmazeyoga.com

Paul Heussenstamm

The practice of painting is healing and meditative. No experience is necessary as we transform our everyday consciousness into the inner artist that lives in each of us. The week is designed to introduce the possibility that you are an artist, and that the artist path is one of joy, insight and awareness. It’s amazing that in just a few days, you can finish a colorful painting that reveals many of the deep inner patterns that connect you with your soul. After seeing mandalas made during Paul’s workshop, Eckhart Tolle commented, “These paintings carry a healing presence.” Deepak Chopra said, “These paintings are archetypal manifestations of higher consciousness.” After the workshop, you will have the foundation for painting sacred art and mandalas at home, as you continue on this path of self-discovery and the newfound relationship to art and your soul.

Walk on the Wild Side: Hiking the Big Sur Country Steven Harper

“What’s the quickest way out of the city?” John Muir is reported to have asked a stranger on the street of the metropolis in which Muir had just arrived. “Where do you want to go?” the man asked. “Anywhere that is wild,” Muir replied. This week is straightforward. You day-hike the mountainous paths into the wilds of Big Sur, breathe in the fresh mountain air and soak in Esalen’s natural hot springs overlooking the waves of the Pacific — in short, you let yourself touch and be touched by Nature. “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul,” said Muir. Drawing from various wisdom traditions, the group will be introduced to practices that encourage openness to self and nature. As Muir discovered, “I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” Hikes (4–10 miles in length) begin after breakfast and finish in time to enjoy the hot springs and wholesome food of Esalen. You should be prepared for the challenge of invigorating physical activity as well as the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet contemplation. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration. For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven’s workshops, visit www.stevenkharper.com/faqs.html. Muir wrote, “The mountains are calling me and I must go.” ($60 permit and park entrance fee will be added to the workshop cost.) Steven Harper is a wilderness leader, author, consultant and Big Sur resident. He has led both traditional and experimental wilderness expeditions internationally for more than 40 years. He has an MA in psychology and his work focuses on mindfulness, Gestalt and somatic practices, and wild nature as a vehicle for awakening. www. stevenkharper.com

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melissa Stafford

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Tools Christiane Wolf

We can’t control life’s waves but we can learn how to surf them. — Jon Kabat-Zinn Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was founded by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and spread from UMASS Medical School into hospitals, schools, businesses, government organizations and into people’s lives all over the world. MBSR has been rigorously and widely researched and it has inspired countless other mindfulness programs. MBSR can help with anxious, worried and depressed moods, chronic health challenges, work stress, burnout and parenting and caregiving stress. During this workshop, we will go through the core practices of MBSR with guided meditations, gentle guided movement practice, writing reflections, sharing and discussions. The workshop includes one full day of silence, including meal times and breaks, to settle deeper into the practices and experience the power of silence — together. Learning to attend to our experience in an open, curious and friendly manner lets us see our habitual patterns and reactions. This can lead to profound transformation into more ease, joy and calm as well as more deliberate actions with ourselves and with the world around us. This workshop is suited for new and experienced students as well as health care professionals. Esalen’s gorgeous seaside setting is the perfect background for this work of learning to surf life’s waves. Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD, is a physician turned mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher, author and speaker. She has been practicing insight meditation for more than 25 years. She co-authored A Clinician’s Guide to Teaching Mindfulness. www. christianewolf.com

Esalen Massage® and Energy Work Brita Ostrom & Dean Marson

Each of us walks around in our own energetic halo. Our energetic fields incline toward and veer away from each other, as we get closer. When two people touch, an energetic exchange begins to build. This energetic field is the heart and soul of Esalen Massage®. Dean and Brita have taught the basics of massage around the world; this class promises a new dimension, with a heightened focus on energy and the nervous system. Learn how to quietly tune inward, activate your hands, palpate and recognize energetic fields, and to work with energy lines as well as the chakra system. The natural freshness of the Big Sur coast will enhance the work. The five-day workshop will also include the basics of Esalen Massage and an optional session at the Esalen baths. This course is for seasoned practitioners looking for a path to deepen their experience, as well as for those interested in other fields of body-mind studies and personal growth. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. CE credit for massage; see page 93. Brita Ostrom has led massage and somatic workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 40 years. She is a founding member of the Esalen Massage School, practices Gestalt awareness work and participated in Esalen’s two-year somatic education program. She is also a licensed psychotherapist.

will address that dilemma and integrate the most effective techniques from Deep Bodywork and Esalen Massage basic classes. You will be shown how to blend long, integrating strokes on the entire body with effective pain-releasing methods on the areas of specific focus requested from clients. The workshop also addresses the important issue of working deeply without injuring ourselves as we work. Learning to use proper body mechanics and aligning with the universal force of gravity will be important elements of learning. This is an advanced-level class; previous massage experience is necessary. For more information, visit www.deepbodywork.com. ($30 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) CE credit for nurses; see page 93. CE credit for massage; see page 93. Perry Holloman has been a teacher and practitioner of Esalen Massage, Deep Bodywork and body-oriented approaches to Relational Gestalt Process work for more than 30 years. He teaches in the U.S., Asia and Europe, and makes his home in Big Sur. www.deepbodywork.com Johanna Holloman is a German-born clinical psychologist, Diamond Approach® teacher and certified Esalen Massage and Deep Bodywork instructor. She teaches internationally. She is a yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) and created the Esalen in-house yoga training program. www.deepbodywork.com

Dean Marson teaches Esalen Massage and Ocean Yoga. He integrates meditation, movement and bodywork practices to assist people in enlivening their bodies and their lives. He has led workshops at Esalen and internationally for more than 20 years. www.beEnlivened.com

WEEKEND OF JULY 5–7 Esalen Midsummer Festival Time to Reflect Join us for a holiday weekend full of friends, families, fun, music and good food! This time will be relaxed and unstructured, allowing for lots of opportunity to meet others, participate in daily movement classes, take long walks, visit the Farm & Garden or simply relax in the hot springs. On Saturday afternoon, Esalen will throw a celebratory concert and outdoor dance jam with a live musical line up. Visit the Esalen website for more information. Regular workshop prices apply for adults and children.

WEEK OF JULY 7–12 Beyond the Long Stroke: The Integration of Deep Bodywork and Esalen Massage® Perry Holloman & Johanna Holloman

This workshop for advanced-level healing arts practitioners focuses on giving a full-body massage and integrating Deep Bodywork into the session as a whole. Learn how to apply deep work on both sides of the body while maintaining the flowing, integrative quality which is the signature of Esalen Massage. Practitioners working in spas as well as in private practice are quite familiar with requests for “deep work.” How is this done in a manner so that we can both slow down—allowing tissues time to open and change—and have time for a full-body massage? This class 12

Photo by Esalen seminarian Wendy Fuchs

The Radically Alive Leader: A Radical Aliveness Workshop Ann Bradney

This workshop is designed for established or emerging leaders — therapists, businesspeople, community leaders, health care workers, ministers, educators, social activists and other professionals who want to learn the principles and apply the techniques of the Radical Aliveness approach to bring more charge and creativity to their work. The five Radical Aliveness principles are: • Cultivating a non-shaming heart

In leaving my home I leave a house made of mud on land that is sacred to all who have been there

• Knowing we don’t know • Honoring multiple perspectives • Saying yes to everything • Being willing to be changed by your encounters Explore how to work with blocks to leadership, face conflict head-on and be open to the unpredictable energy of life. Everyone will be encouraged to lead, take risks, be emotionally honest, shed personal agendas and help build a dynamic group process where every member is an essential part of the whole. The aim is to become leaders who serve the greater purpose of life. This group process may be unlike any group work you’ve done before. It demands courage, committed engagement with others and a strong desire to discover and develop your leadership potential within an accelerated, intense time frame and setting. Acceptance to this program is contingent upon a pre-screening interview. Please e-mail christina@ radicalaliveness.org to schedule. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. Ann Bradney, CPRA, is the founder and director of the Radical Aliveness Institute. The Radical Aliveness model is a distinct approach to working with groups and individuals that addresses healing on the personal, interpersonal and systemic levels. www.annbradney.com

Nearby I drive past a river It is also sacred further on I pass mountains they too are sacred I am going to esalen a sacred place to both esselen indians and Joseph Campbell It is here I feel the rapture Campbell’s meaningful aliveness here i understand the meaning of sacred –Richard Renaldo

Hold Me Tight Workshop for Couples Michelle Gannon & Sam Jinich

The Hold Me Tight Workshop for Couples is based on practices drawn from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), attachment theory and Sue Johnson’s best-selling book, Hold Me Tight. The work will be designed around seven conversations that have been shown to be essential to successful relationships. Relationships can be a cause of stress and pain or a source of comfort and joy. Couples will learn how to understand and improve their relationships via presentations, private exercises, conversations with relationship partners and video demonstrations. By utilizing exercises drawn from EFT, Sam and Michelle help couples learn how to deal with their feelings together, reach towards each other, be responsive in more loving and positive ways and move from isolation and frustration to security, emotional safety and lasting relationship satisfaction. The Hold Me Tight Workshop welcomes couples of all orientations. Recommended reading: Johnson, Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love and Love Sense: The Revolutionary New Science of Romantic Relationships. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ hold-me-tight. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader.

CE credit for psychologists; see leader. CE credit for nurses; see leader. Michelle Gannon, PhD, is a San Francisco-based clinical psychologist, relationship expert, and Hold Me Tight Workshop and Rising Strong Workshop™ leader. She is a certified supervisor and therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Michelle teaches internationally. www.HoldMeTightWorkshop.com Sam Jinich, PhD, is a San Francisco-based clinical psychologist, relationship expert and Hold Me Tight workshop leader for couples. He is a certified trainer, supervisor and therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and co-founder of the Northern California Community of Emotionally Focused Therapy. www.HoldMeTightWorkshop.com 13

Art Making Is Transforming Rebecca Anders

There is always art to be made! Whether creative work is intended as presentation, meditation or production, art is continually relevant in human life. In this workshop we’ll consider how making can be transformative to the individual as we work to transform our chosen materials. Working mainly with reclaimed materials and sheet metal, Rebecca will support creativity by helping the group change common everyday objects into unrecognizable artistic pieces. Rebecca will bring media such as bicycle tire and wire mesh (window-screen style) to create with, but you are encouraged to bring objects of interest that could be incorporated. Be prepared to get your hands dirty, surprise each other with new ideas, and produce creative work as we tune our skills and abilities. Rebecca Anders is a thing-maker based in Oakland, Calif. Her works are metal and mixed media sculpture, ranging from hand-held to 40 feet tall. Rebecca has contributed large-scale sculpture to Burning Man since 1999. She has created and shown monumental interactive installations in the U.S. and internationally.

Engaging the Feminine Heroic: A Mythic Journey of Creative Discovery for Women Dara Marks & Deb Norton

The Feminine Heroic can be difficult to recognize, much less access, because our culture is so grounded in the masculine heroic ideal. But it’s time to tell her side of the story! Whereas the essential goal of the hero’s journey is to discover, defend and establish our Self in the world, the great achievement of the feminine quest is communion, connection and relatedness to our own inner life and to the Other. Therefore, it isn’t grit or physical prowess that gives the feminine her heroic stature, it is her courage to descend into the dark, forbidding places that lie within and reclaim the creative treasure buried there. Because the story of our humanity is encoded in all epic mythologies, we use mythic storytelling in this workshop as a means of grounding our writing in the archetypal human dramas that we all inescapably reenact. In order to bypass the critical voices that obstruct the creative flow, you are invited to a guided initiation into the feminine realm using timed writing, ritual and play. With nurturing support, you will discover the challenge and the surprising ease with which you can access layers of depth and meaning in your writing and in your own life. This workshop is creativity focused, and is designed for writers and artists of all skill levels and anyone who wants to take their creative work to a deeper level. This workshop is for women only. All self-identifying women are welcome. Dara Marks, PhD, is the author of the best-selling book on writing, Inside Story: The Power of the Transformational Arc, and she has been rated the top script analyst in Hollywood by Creative Screenwriting magazine. Her work helps writers engage more deeply in the creative writing process. www.DaraMarks.com Deb Norton is an author, story consultant and writing coach. Her book, Part Wild: A Writers Guide to Harnessing the Creative Power of Resistance, helps writers and artists overcome obstacles to finish their most important work.

ENGAGING THE FEMININE HEROIC: A MYTHIC JOURNEY OF CREATIVE DISCOVERY FOR WOMEN Myth and archetype are powerful guides on the creative path. For Dara Marks and Deb Norton, they provide endless fascination and inspiration for teaching. “Story is our most powerful tool for communicating the ineffable aspects of the human condition,” says Dara, whose career as a story analyst takes her into major Hollywood studios. “We teach story as an emerging map of the human cosmos in order to gain insight into who we are, where we are and where we’re going.” In their workshop, the feminine heroic takes center stage — think Persephone, Hecate, and even Thelma and Louise. “We use the term ‘feminine’ to represent the internal part of us all — both men and women,” author and teacher Deb Norton explains. “It expresses our inner, emotional challenges. It is the heroic quest for wholeness. There is a growing awareness in the culture at large that we haven’t been giving the feminine side of our nature enough consideration. Without attention to the complementary feminine aspect — the soul-making work of our interior realm — our stories don’t tell the whole truth of the human experience.” Dara and Deb will lead a lively exploration through ancient and modern myth, personal history, creative process and writing technique. “The archetypal pattern of storytelling is hard-wired into us and is reinforced by life experience,” Dara explains. “Learning to recognize and utilize these patterns is one of the most essential skills a writer and artist can master. Our goal is to help women gain access to the interior realms of imagination where some of our best ideas lay dormant or underdeveloped, eagerly waiting to find their voice and be given life.”

WEEKEND OF JULY 12–14 The United States of Flow Schuyler Grant

Step out of the mundane and into an ecstatic experience of inner clarity. Join Schuyler Grant for a weekend of exploring the multi-faceted ways we can access the flow state. Some of the world’s greatest thinkers agree that being “in the zone” — the experience of full immersion in the present moment — is the key to becoming more creative, productive and happier all at the same time. There are many ways to merge our physical and subtle bodies, but a nuanced yoga practice can be one of the most direct and potent. This program is designed for intermediate and advanced yoga practitioners, and will focus primarily on Vinyasa yoga asana (postures), but we will also explore pranayama (breath), kriya (a sequence of postures, breath and sound) and meditation techniques. These are intense times. It is imperative that we bolster our personal and communal strength, and by doing so enlighten the body politic. Let’s come together at Esalen and get out of stress mode and into the flow state. Please bring a yoga mat.

Schuyler Grant co-created the Wanderlust festival and directs Kula Yoga Project in New York City. Developer of a popular style of vinyasa called Kula Flow, known for its emphasis on intelligent alignment and creativity, she was noted by The New York Times as the go-to teacher for advanced practice.

Consciousness Hacking: Meditation + Technology Mikey Siegel & Dustin DiPerna

Participate in the emerging intersection of ancient wisdom and modern technology. Join Mikey Siegel and Dustin DiPerna for a unique and innovative technology-augmented meditation retreat. With Big Sur and the healing waters of Esalen as a powerful backdrop, we combine traditional guided meditative instruction with cutting-edge technology to catalyze a profound shift into deep connection with ourselves and the group. Ancient practices and teachings from the world’s wisdom traditions provide us with direct insight into the inherent oneness of life. This insight, combined with innovative practices for authentic relating using advanced technology, reveal a new world of unity. Unlike our phones and devices, this custom technology is designed to reconnect us to our present moment embodied experience, and facilitate open and vulnerable connection with the group. It works by measuring each person’s breath and heart, and then turning those signals into sound, light and music. Dozens of unique practices have been designed using the tech, which is seamlessly combined with traditional practices and live meditation instructions, creating a totally new approach to personal

and collective transformation. Experience a glimpse into an optimistic vision for technology as a sacred tool fueling the future of human connection. Mikey Siegel is excited by science and technology supporting human flourishing and collective awakening. He teaches at Stanford University, is founder of Consciousness Hacking, BioFluent Technologies, and the Transformative Technology Conference. He received an MS from the MIT Media Lab. www.mikeysiegel.com Dustin DiPerna is a Harvard-trained scholar of world religions. He studies in the Tibetan meditation lineages of Mahamudra and Dzogchen with Daniel P. Brown. Through writing, teaching, coaching and entrepreneurship, Dustin helps people find happier and more fulfilling ways of being in the world. His books include Streams of Wisdom, Evolution’s Ally and Earth is Eden. www.dustindiperna.com

An Introduction to Esalen Massage® Brita Ostrom & Vicki Topp

This workshop introduces the core concepts of Esalen Massage. Through brief lectures and demonstrations, and with plenty of personal supervision of hands-on work, the workshop presents essential tools and information including the long, integrating strokes and gentle stretches that are the foundation of Esalen Massage. The principle elements of bodywork, including breath and sensory awareness practices, grounding, movement and quality of contact, will also be introduced and practiced, creating a firm basis for learning massage. This experience offers foundational skills for the newcomer, a fresh

approach for the experienced practitioner, and is especially useful for those in the helping and healing professions in working with their clients and patients. Come prepared to enjoy the healing waters of the natural hot springs and the magical beauty of the Esalen property. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Brita Ostrom bio on page 12. Vicki Topp is a senior practitioner and instructor of Esalen Massage and somatic bodywork. She teaches workshops and training groups internationally, and is a registered Movement Therapist and practitioner of Body-Mind Centering. www.vickitopp.com

Conversations on the Edge: The Future of Personal Genomics Katharina Sophia Volz & Carrie Northover

Katharina Sophia Volz is a medical researcher and entrepreneur. She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of OccamzRazor, a start-up in San Francisco that looks to identify cures for Parkinson’s Disease using machine learning. Carrie Northover is the director of research services at 23andMe. She leads the Project Management function, a team responsible for executing on strategic cross-functional projects such as research partnerships and product launches. She earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from Stanford University.

WEEK OF JULY 14–19 R.D. Laing in the 21st Century: What is Authenticity? Michael Guy Thompson, Fritjof Capra & Nita Gage

One of R. D. Laing’s most seminal influences was the existential philosophical tradition, especially Sartre, Heidegger and Nietzsche. The core principle that binds these disparate thinkers together is the concept of authenticity. There is no better term to characterize Dr. Laing’s ethical approach to clinical intervention. We will devote our five days together to exploring what it means to be authentic. What is the relationship between authenticity and ethics? The self? Happiness? Can the search for authenticity drive us mad, or make us sane? Is authenticity something we can strive for, or is it innate? Is authenticity inherently narcissistic, or a way of genuinely coming into one’s own? This workshop, designed for those seeking answers to the most existential aspects of human nature, is a continuation of our previous Esalen workshops that focused on Dr. Laing’s relation to the nature of sanity and madness, the therapeutic relationship, altered states and love. Workshop leaders will be joined by co-presenters (most of whom worked intimately with Dr. Laing) to assess the question of authenticity at the most basic level. The workshop will be comprised of theoretical presentations, panel discussions and experiential exercises to demonstrate practical aspects of Dr. Laing’s legacy. Guest speakers include Douglas Kirsner, Edie Irwin, Will Hall, Michael Cornwall, Dina Tyler, Chuck Knapp and others. Note: Participants must first contact Michael Thompson at michaelguythompson@mac. com for pre-screening. Recommended Reading: Capra, The Systems View of Life; Gage and Wolf, Soul Whispering: The Art of Awakening Shamanic Consciousness; Thompson, The Death of Desire. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/rd-laing-what-is-love. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Michael Guy Thompson, PhD, is a psychoanalyst who worked with R.D. Laing for many years. He continues to work with extreme states, and has been training therapists for more than 30 years. His books include The Death of Desire: An Existential Study in Sanity and Madness. www.mguythompson.com Fritjof Capra, PhD, is the author of several international bestsellers, including Uncommon Wisdom, which features his extensive conversations with R. D. Laing. His latest work, co-authored by Pier Luigi Luisi, is The Systems View of Life: A Unifying Vision. www.fritjofcapra.net

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melina Meza

R.D. LAING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: WHAT IS AUTHENTICITY? Questioning conventional treatment of mental illness has a long history at Esalen, going all the way back to co-founder Dick Price. After traumatic experiences of his own, Dick came to the land in Big Sur in part to explore a more humane way of experiencing, understanding and healing from extreme mental states, which conventional medicine calls psychotic episodes. In 1968, Dick invited Scottish-born psychiatrist, philosopher and author R.D. Laing to Esalen for a gathering called The Value of Psychotic Episodes. R.D. had established a radical treatment program at Kingsley Hall in London, where therapists and patients lived together and took a more holistic approach to mental health and well-being. The Esalen gathering helped pollinate new concepts and methods into the psychotherapeutic and mental health fields, and over the years R.D. developed a close relationship with both Dick and Esalen. 2019 marks the fifth annual symposium and workshop to continue the conversation Dick and R.D. started. R.D. Laing in the 21st Century invites participants to gather at Esalen with many of R.D.’s former students and colleagues from around the world. “The purpose of our workshop is to further Laing’s legacy of humanizing our treatment of the severely mentally ill,” explains Michael Guy Thompson, psychoanalyst and co-leader. “Laing showed that dispensing with drug treatment can have far more effective and lasting outcomes when substituting psychotherapy and group therapy in a small and intimate residential setting.” “In previous years we explored the nature of sanity and madness, the therapeutic relationship, altered realities, and love,” says Michael. “This year we will continue our conversation by exploring one of Laing’s favorite themes: the nature of authenticity. There is no better term to characterize Laing’s uncommonly ethical approach to clinical intervention. We want to explore how important it is to be oneself and to find oneself, as a foundation for helping others.”

We will move our bodies, clear our minds and create intentions to live not from your unconscious past programming but from a new perspective — the perspective of knowing your true self. All you have to do is show up, lie down and let go; Yoga Nidra will do the work. We will use two different lineages of Yoga Nidra — iRest and Integrative Amrit Method — for our inner exploration. Join us as we deeply rest, restore and rewrite our life. Please bring blankets, a yoga mat, an eye pillow and anything you need to lie comfortably on the floor for Yoga Nidra. John Vosler is a senior teacher at the Amrit Yoga Institute who leads yoga nidra certification programs, and an iRest teacher certified by the Integrative Restoration Institute. He teaches internationally, leading trainings and retreats on the profound healing benefits of the ancient meditation practice of yoga nidra. www.johnvosler.com

Mindfulness as a Wisdom Practice Brad Lewis & Stephen Mosblech

Mindfulness teachings often isolate the practice from larger cultural, spiritual and expressive contexts. This workshop goes the other direction: it integrates secular mindfulness practices with the wisdom of world philosophies and with the creative arts. The workshop is for those new to mindfulness, those with an established practice and for psychotherapists interested in integrating mindfulness into their clinical work. It is co-taught by a psychiatrist and cultural scholar from New York University, and an experienced meditation teacher. We approach mindfulness in a cosmopolitan fashion as a way of life and a practice of freedom. This approach can foster your ability to cope with the stresses of contemporary times and to access higher levels of consciousness and flourishing. It opens our hearts to the possibility of a more spiritual, compassionate and honest experience of life. Mindfulness practiced this way provides a deeper level of reserves with which to engage in our worldly projects. And, most of all, it gives us the capacity to delight in the process of being here on this world now, as it is, regardless of what happens and what fates befall us. We welcome new and returning seminarians, and as such the content for this workshop shifts a little each time it is given. Recommended reading: Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living; Consiglio, Prayer in the Cave of the Heart; Andre, Mindfulness: 25 Ways to Live in the Moment through Art. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ mindfulness-wisdom-practice. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93.

Yoga Nidra Retreat: Rest, Restore and Rewrite Your Life John Vosler

Experience five days of deep restoration, reflection and intention. Using the profound practice of Yoga Nidra guided meditation, we will begin to restore the body, clear the mind, and shift the habitual patterns that keep you from being calm, clear and balanced. Yoga Nidra uses the biological process of sleep to systematically release stored physical, emotional and mental tensions. Through the process, you can begin to let go of the old beliefs and habits that keep you locked in your past. Allow emotions to be experienced knowing that you have the capacity to feel them from a grounded and calm inner presence. Then, take this felt sense of being back into your personal life, family life, work life and love life.

CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Bradley Lewis, MD, PhD, is an associate professor at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study and a practicing psychiatrist. He has interdisciplinary training in humanities and psychiatry, and his recent books are Narrative Psychiatry: How Stories Can Shape Clinical Practice and Depression: Integrating Science, Culture, and Humanities. Stephen Mosblech is a meditation teacher and multidisciplinary artist with intensive training in vipassana, Zen and Tibetan Buddhist mystical traditions. He has taught mindfulness at Deer Park Institute in India and New Life Foundation in Thailand. His performance work has been staged in New York, Germany, Sweden and Japan.

WEEKEND OF JULY 19–21 Getting the Love You Want: A Workshop for Couples Rick Brown

This workshop is designed to help couples understand at a deeper level why they were attracted to each other, why they get stuck in endless power struggles, and how to safely begin to work through those stuck places toward a safer and more satisfying relationship. Couples share only with their partner and are able to maintain privacy. Couples are shown: • New communication skills to break destructive cycles of relating • How to channel the energy from arguments to create passion and stability • How the unconscious forces that attract partners to each other are also the source of conflict • New tools for re-romanticizing their relationship to reestablish the passion of their early time together • How to use their relationship for emotional healing and spiritual evolution

WEEK OF JULY 19–26 Mystical Realism and Transcendental Style in Film: A Mindful Film-Viewing Seminar Francis Lu

Mythologist Joseph Campbell taught that “the images of myths are reflections of the spiritual and depth potentialities of every one of us...Through contemplating those, we evoke their powers in our own lives to operate through ourselves.” In our time, filmmakers have given us new opportunities to do just this. Michael Murphy, co-founder of Esalen, defined mystical realism in film (in the words of Esalen Chair of the Board of Trustees Jeff Kripal) as “an imaginative elaboration of human experiences that have actually occurred to numerous individuals… something both fundamentally subjective (mystical) but also empirical and objective (realism).” Paul Schrader’s seminal book, Transcendental Style in Film, helpfully describes how master directors Yasujiro Ozu, Robert Bresson and Carl Dreyer evoke the transcendent by means that are “neither ineffable nor magical: every effect has a cause.” Through mindful viewing of 14 feature films exemplifying mystical realism, you will be guided toward using your eyes, minds and hearts to discover what Joseph Campbell called “metaphors transparent to transcendence.” The workshop employs methods developed over 28 film seminars at Esalen (1990–2016) co-led by Francis and Brother David Steindl-Rast: films carefully curated; state-of-the-art equipment including 4K Blu-ray video projection and seven loudspeakers; PDF syllabus on the films; and reflection and group interaction focused on the participant’s unique experience of each film. Movies take on an exquisite cumulative power when shown and processed over seven days in a group setting at Esalen. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. Francis G. Lu, MD, is the Luke & Grace Kim Professor in Cultural Psychiatry, Emeritus, at UC Davis. Since 1987 he has led 34 seminars at Esalen exploring film and the transpersonal, 28 of them with Brother David Steindl-Rast. www.francislumd.com 18

Activities include lectures, written exercises, guided imagery and live demonstrations of communication skills and processes. Rick Brown has been offering this workshop for more than 20 years, and has appeared on Oprah. The methodology is based on Harville Hendrix’s best-selling Getting the Love You Want. For more information, visit www.rickbrown.org. This workshop is designed for couples of all gender and sexual orientations. Recommended reading: Brown, Imago Relationship Therapy; Hendrix, Getting the Love You Want. ($20 materials fee for manuals will be added to the workshop cost.) Rick Brown is executive director for the Institute for Relationship Therapy in Winter Park, Fla. Rick was executive director for Harville Hendrix’s Institute, and he lectures and gives workshops across the country. He has been married since 1976. www.rickbrown.org Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

A Call for Gay Heroes Christian de la Huerta

What does it mean to be a hero — to live heroically — in these times? Have you known or even suspected that you had a role to play as teacher, healer or spiritual activist? We are living in what may be the most critical juncture in the evolution of humanity. The clarion call has gone out: All hands on deck! You are needed now. We are all needed now. People who today we call gay, bi or queer have a long tradition of fulfilling spiritual roles such as teachers, healers, seekers of higher consciousness, mediators and keepers of beauty. How are you giving expression to those roles in your life? Are you ready to step things up a bit? It’s time. Come spend a weekend with an intimate group of like-minded, committed seekers. Identify and release whatever obstacles may have been holding you back from stepping fully into your power. Enjoy inspiring dialogue, soul-nourishing camaraderie, deep healing and life-changing breathwork. Let’s break through past limitations to unleash our true potential. And, let’s have fun! Recommended reading: de la Huerta, Coming Out Spiritually. Christian de la Huerta has been a writer, speaker, and retreat and group facilitator for more than 20 years. Author of the award-winning and critically acclaimed Coming out Spiritually, he is currently working on a new book called The Soul of Power. www.soulfulpower.com

Conversations on the Edge: Crazy or Wise? A Contradiction to Modern Views on the Mental Health Crisis in America If you are looking for another way to grow, in a unique format different from the traditional workshop, please join us for an Esalen original series: Conversations on the Edge. In each of these curated weekend events, we bring together leading experts and visiting teachers to explore a pressing issue of our time in a vibrant, interactive forum of lecture, lightning talks, group discussion and idea sharing. In Crazy or Wise? we will explore what can be learned from people around the world who have turned their psychological crisis into a positive transformative experience. Visiting teachers include Phil Borges, director and executive producer of the CRAZYWISE documentary and storyteller of indigenous cultures. Also joining is Gogo Ekhaya Esima, a certified peer recovery specialist in the mental health field, initiated healer in the South African Sangoma tradition and featured in CRAZYWISE. This weekend is comprised of several short but impactful lecturettes that end in Q&A and conversation among the audience as well as an evening screening of CRAZYWISE. Scheduled program times will be significantly less than traditional workshops to allow for participation in movement and meditation classes, healing arts and hot springs, and time to enjoy the natural beauty of Esalen. Presenters are subject to change. Phil Borges produces films, exhibitions and books designed to raise awareness and inspire support for social and environmental issues facing people in the developing world. www.philborges.com Gogo Ekhaya Esima is a certified peer recovery specialist in the mental health field, a trauma survivor, a spiritual coach and initiated healer in the South African Sangoma tradition. She blends Trauma Informed Practices and shamanic healing for a holistic approach to mental wellness. www.sangomahealing.com

Christian de la Huerta Why is personal purpose and leadership more important than ever? One could say we are living in make-it-or-break-it times. Paraphrasing Einstein, we can’t solve a problem from the same level of consciousness in which it was created. The only way we’re going to dig ourselves out of the hole we have collectively dug ourselves into, is through a leap in consciousness; a spiritual revolution. The times call for each of us who has even the slightest suspicion that we have work to do as teachers, healers, leaders and activists for change, to step things up now and support this spiritual revolution. All hands on deck! What do you hope participants take from your workshop? The skills and understanding that they need to break free, and the support and inspiration to do so. Also a larger context that will serve as inspiration and motivation for them to step into their roles of personal empowerment, spiritual activism and soulful leadership. A different lens through which to see themselves as everyday heroes, and a sense of community. What happens at Esalen that happens nowhere else? Esalen is an incubator for transformation, a laboratory for conscious growth. To think of the history that has happened there, the amount of healing, transformation, inspiration, is humbling. And the setting is breathtaking! It’s at the end of the world, where land meets sea crashingly, powerfully, yet gracefully. To sit in those thermal pools and look down at otters playing in the waves, or whales breaching in the distance, or to look up at night and see falling stars or the Milky Way… is simply magical. I have taught at other retreat centers and at many sacred settings all over the world, and there’s something remarkable, special, about Esalen. How would you describe Esalen in one word? Soul-nourishing.

WEEK OF JULY 21–26 Positive Neuroplasticity: How to Grow Resilient Self-Worth and Happiness Rick Hanson & Laurel Hanson

In these volatile times, it’s more important than ever to build an unshakable internal core of resilient, confident well-being. By growing the good inside and coming home to our true nature, we can find lasting happiness, self-worth and inner peace. In this experiential workshop, you’ll use recent neuroscience findings to tap into and grow inner strengths like grit, gratitude, self-respect and compassion. Each day in the morning, you’ll learn effective ways to release anxiety, hurt and anger; to heal from past painful experiences; and to rest in an open-hearted happiness. In the afternoons, we’ll apply these methods of positive neuroplasticity to help increase confidence and self-worth. Drawing from self-affirmation theory, you’ll be shown new tools to 19

identify the many good things already inside you; let go of harsh self-criticism and feelings of inadequacy; and understand, accept and appreciate yourself. Throughout, we’ll apply these insights to important relationships in your life. You will learn how to be both appropriate and authentic, and both kind and assertive. As you deepen your sense of the good inside yourself, it’s easier to listen to others — and to grow the good together, in a wonderful upward spiral. Recommended Reading: Hanson, Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Rick Hanson, PhD, is a psychologist, senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times bestselling author. His books include Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, and Buddha’s Brain, among others. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, his work has been featured on the BBC, CBS and NPR. www.RickHanson.net Laurel Hanson, MEd, is an educator specializing in coaching students to top performance in high-stakes, pressure-filled settings. She uses diverse methods including creative exercises, narrative storytelling and self-affirmation to lower anxiety and improve self-acceptance, confidence and self-worth.

The Transformational Enneagram: Mindfulness, Insight and Experience Russ Hudson

A growing number of people are aware of the Enneagram as an accurate and profound map of personality. The nine Enneagram types are based on the three primary centers of intelligence: thinking, emotion and instinct. However, in almost all human beings, distortions or blockages in these centers have led to a loss of connection with our essential nature and to the arising of ego structures to compensate for this loss. Thus, while our Enneagram type usually obscures our true nature with a characteristic web of defenses, it can also serve as an opening to the deeper reality of spirit. This workshop will emphasize recognizing the ways that each of the nine types plays out in our own personalities. It will combine psychological insight into the inner workings of the types with meditation practices and exercises to lead you toward a more direct experience of qualities of essence such as presence, clarity, compassion and joy. Conversational instruction will be combined with group meditations, small-group work, physical movements and music so that you can more fully integrate the richness of the Enneagram material into their daily work and relationships. Recommended reading: Riso and Hudson, The Wisdom of the Enneagram, Personality Types (Revised Edition, 1996), and Understanding the Enneagram (Revised Edition, 2000). CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Russ Hudson is executive director of the Enneagram Institute in New York. He is the co-author, with Don Richard Riso, of several books including The Wisdom of the Enneagram and Personality Types (revised edition). www.enneagraminstitute.com 20

Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

WEEKEND OF JULY 26–28 Igniting the Power of Your Empathy and Intuition Judith Orloff

There is a powerful connection between your emotions, intuition and empathy. The magic comes when you learn how to tap into each of them to fully access your sensitivities without going on overload or becoming drained. Join Judith Orloff to awaken your intuition and empathy to enhance your health, work, relationships, resilience as a parent, and emotional and physical well-being. This workshop offers practical skills to help everyone, including health and healing practitioners, increase their empathy and intuition to improve the quality of their lives and their work with patients and clients in clinical practice. Learn how to: • Access intuition and empathy and recognize blocks; tell the difference between empathy and being an empath; use strategies to prevent sensory overload; avoid emotional hangovers and compassion fatigue • Stop absorbing other people’s stress; combat narcissists and other energy vampires; express your empathic needs in relationships • Heal with intuition and empathy; use oracle cards to receive intuitive guidance; read the body language of others

Required materials: Orloff, The Power of Surrender Oracle Card Deck (available in the Esalen bookstore). We will work with these oracle cards during the workshop; please bring them to class. Recommended reading, Orloff, The Empath’s Survival Guide, Essential Tools for Empaths (audio program) and Emotional Freedom. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Judith Orloff, MD, is a psychiatrist, intuitive healer and New York Times best-selling author. Her latest book is The Ecstasy of Surrender: 12 Surprising Ways Letting Go Can Empower Your Life. Dr. Orloff’s other bestsellers are Emotional Freedom, Second Sight, Positive Energy and Intuitive Healing. www.drjudithorloff.com

5Rhythms® Moon Lodge: Honoring the Sacred Feminine Lucia Horan

Join us as we journey into the Moon Lodge, a weekend of tribal and ritual healing for women. How empowered are you as a woman navigating this world? What is your relationship to the feminine and her wisdom? Even today, many women do not feel the freedom to be fully empowered. The 5Rhythms is a direct path to embodiment and empowerment. By showing up in a practice of presence, one can begin to clear the past and live fully in the present. This workshop celebrates the body of Woman and the sacred feminine within. Through dance, meditation, massage and ritual baths, we will share in the Sisterhood of humanity. We will integrate the stillness of Buddhist mindfulness meditation with the moving meditations of the 5Rhythms. In sitting meditation, we have the opportunity to observe the mind and body at rest through silent introspection. In the practice of the 5Rhythms, we engage in mindfulness while in motion. The two polarities of moving and sitting meditation together mirror the dance of life and open the door to peace, well-being, and balance. No experience is required. All workshop hours contribute to 5Rhythms teacher training prerequisites. This workshop is for women only. All self-identifying women are welcome.

our own well-being while advancing the life-enhancing changes the world is calling for. During this deeply restorative retreat, we will explore regenerative leadership through meditation and mindfulness, deep listening, interactive time in nature, reflective writing, storytelling, experiential practices and embodied learning. Relational mindfulness offers tools, guidance and clarity for bringing deeper presence and compassion to all of our relationships — with our selves, one another and our world. This workshop is for passionate, engaged people of all kinds, and change agents who seek to cultivate compassionate awareness and outer change at the same time. In this way, we can gracefully embody bold and effective leadership while bringing ourselves purposefully, lovingly and wholeheartedly to life. Recommended Reading: Tull, Relational Mindfulness: A Handbook for Deepening Our Connection with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Planet. Deborah Eden Tull, founder of Mindful Living Revolution, is a Zen meditation and mindfulness teacher, author, activist and sustainability consultant who teaches the integration of compassionate awareness into every aspect of our lives. Her latest book is Relational Mindfulness: A Handbook for Deepening Our Connection with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Planet. www.deborahedentull.com Nina Simons, co-founder of Bioneers, is a social entrepreneur, author and activist. Her purposes and passions include regenerative leadership, women’s leadership, indigenous wisdom and social practices, and healing relationships with ourselves, nature and one another other. Nina speaks and teaches internationally, and is a recent winner of the Goi Peace Award. www.ninasimons.com

Lucia Horan has danced with Gabrielle Roth from the time of her birth, and was born and raised in the Esalen community. She has been teaching 5Rhythms® since 1998. She also teaches Buddhist dharma in the lineage of Noah Levine, Jack Kornfield and the forest masters of Thailand. www.luciahoran.com

WEEK OF JULY 28–AUGUST 2 Leading with Relational Mindfulness: Regenerating Ourselves and the World Deborah Eden Tull & Nina Simons

In this time of so much change, we are all called to be leaders. Join us to practice a kinder, more inclusive and aware embodiment of leadership for your life and work. What if attunement, relational awareness and deep listening are a leader’s most essential qualities for today’s world? This is an opportunity to practice leading from our whole selves while honoring a commitment to personal sustainability and accountability, and acknowledging the necessity for cultivating 21

Embodying Your Love: Explorations in Intimacy for Couples Stella Resnick & Alan Kishbaugh

Much emphasis in couples’ enrichment focuses on verbal communication, particularly articulating feelings and mending bridges. Yet subtle nonverbal communications can elicit unresolved past emotions in a nanosecond without either partner recognizing that their facial micro-expressions, vocal tones and gestures are triggers. Being in touch with your bodily sensations and attuned to the other’s reactions involve present-centered body awareness and skills that can help partners heal old wounds and enjoy the pleasures of love. This workshop progresses from partnered exercises and group discussion to face-to-face Gestalt process work for couples that emphasizes bodybased awareness, enhancing communication and resolving unfinished business from the past. During the workshop we’ll also share times of laughter, playfulness and experiences that expand intimate loving. In this full-spectrum approach, we explore three levels of intimacy: • Emotional intimacy includes being fully present with one another; breath, body and emotional awareness; stress-regulation; resolving issues; and embracing joy • Physical intimacy involves presence, body-to-body attunement and empathy; affection and soothing stress and pain; and experiencing resonance • Sexual intimacy and pleasure involves presence, frank sex discussion and ratcheting up arousal through “relaxed-excitement;” broadening the spectrum of erotic pleasures; and spiritual attunement Join us to enhance the depth and scope of your embodied love! This workshop welcomes couples of all gender and sexual orientations.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melina Meza

5Rhythms®: A Graceful Journey Lucia Horan

Energy moves in waves. Waves move in rhythms. Rhythms move in patterns. Patterns move in cycles. A human being is just this. Nothing more. Nothing less. A dance. — Gabrielle Roth The 5Rhythms are a map of how energy moves. It shows us the patterns, rhythms and cycles of life through the rhythms of Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical and Stillness. Through the map of the 5Rhythms, we investigate the art of graceful transitions. How are you at beginning, following through and ending? This practice gives us a clear method of understanding these stages. In doing so, we learn where we are moving and where we get stuck. With this knowledge, we can bring balance and ease into each stage of the creative process: from birth, through life, into death and to all endings. In this workshop, we will integrate the stillness of Buddhist mindfulness meditation with the moving meditations of the 5Rhythms. The Buddha encouraged us to bring wise attention to every aspect of our lives. In sitting meditation, we have the opportunity to observe the mind and body at rest through silent introspection. In the practice of the 5Rhythms, we engage in mindfulness while in motion. The two polarities of moving and sitting meditation together mirror the dance of life and open the door to peace, well-being and balance. Lucia Horan bio on page 21. 22

Recommended reading: Resnick, The Heart of Desire: Keys to the Pleasures of Love. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader. Stella Resnick, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and AASECT-certified sex therapist and supervisor. She practices in Beverly Hills, and trains and supervises therapists in Embodied Relational Sex Therapy™ (ERST). Her latest book is Body-to-Body Intimacy: Transformation through Love, Sex, and Neurobiology. www.drstellaresnick.com Alan Kishbaugh is a writer with many years of experience in book publishing, urban planning, and parkland and open space preservation. He is the author of the memoir Deep Waters: Frank Waters Remembered in Letters and Commentary. He and Stella Resnick have been married for 31 years and have led couples’ seminars together for even longer.

Music and Nature Family Workshop Doug Dirt Greenfield & Banana Slug String Band

Celebrate summer in the land of rejuvenation with the world-renowned Banana Slug String Band. We will use music, theater, puppetry, poetry, arts and games to deepen our connection to this magical earth. The program will culminate in a performance by the budding children stars and the Banana Slug String Band. Together we’ll create a community of families to laugh, connect and renew as we explore dance, harvesting and eating delicious organic food, hiking among the redwoods and stream on the Esalen grounds, a night walk stargazing, parent education workshop and plenty of time to soak

in the baths. (Be sure to check out the movement classes offered at Esalen each morning to start your day). Take the time to drop into your sense of wonder and reestablish your loving bond with each other and the earth. This workshop is open to children of all ages. A parent or guardian must accompany participants under 18 years old. Note: Fee for children 10 and under enrolled in Esalen family workshops is $300 for five-day workshops. Fee for youth 11–15 enrolled in family workshop is $675 for five-day workshops. Doug “Dirt” Greenfield is a co-founding artist of the Banana Slug String Band and plays bass guitar, vocals, harmonica and percussion. He served as program director for Venture West School of Outdoor Living and Exploring New Horizons, and has designed and led outdoors science camps in Northern California. The Banana Slug String Band is a group of lovable musicians and educators from the coastal redwoods of Northern California. Since 1987 the Slugs have dedicated themselves to making great music for kids that teaches science and a love of this green earth. www.bananaslugstringband.com

Banana Slug String Band What is the Banana Slug String Band (BSSB)? With guitars, voices, crazy characters and an extraordinary ability to connect with children and parents, we (Doug Dirt, Airy Larry, Marine Mark, and Solar Steve) use environmental edu-tainment to help our planet one family at a time. We are impassioned songwriters, performers and eco-warriors. How did the BSSB start? The four original Slugs were teaching at environmental education schools deep in the redwoods. We formed the band in 1985 under the common vision of singing for our planet. 34 years later, Solar Steve and Marine Mark tour with the BSSB full ensemble and Doug Dirt and Airy Larry tour nationwide facilitating the “Slug Outreach Program” in schools, libraries, science centers, zoos and festivals. What is unique about Esalen for families? Esalen is an inspiration. People come here, with an open heart, hoping that something special will happen. Our workshop is an opportunity for us to connect and create our unique Banana Slug magic with these families. We are sensitive, soulful men who make ourselves vulnerable. The families see that, and it opens them up even more. We become our own family in five days. A lot of play, laughter, connection and healing can occur! What do you hope participants take from your workshop? We aim to get all the families to take the time to drop into their sense of wonder and reestablish their loving bond with each other and the earth. We are immensely grateful for this opportunity to share our love for the planet and its magic with the families in the place we consider to be one of the most sacred healing earth centers in the world! How would you describe Esalen in one word? Ecotopia.

WEEKEND OF AUGUST 2–4 Awake in the Wild: Meditation in Nature Mark Coleman

Following ancient spiritual traditions that value the transformative power of nature, this experiential workshop will be spent meditating outdoors in the natural beauty and mystery of Esalen. Whether it is during a sunset meditation, listening to the soothing sounds of the ocean or sitting graced in the stillness of cypress trees, we will open to the profound serenity and wisdom of nature. We will learn about the practice of mindfulness — the capacity to be present to ourselves and our environment, and then learn how to apply this receptivity to developing a contemplative relationship with nature. We can discover how meditative time outdoors leads to beautiful states of joy, peace, wonder, love and connection with oneself, one another and the larger web of life. During our time together, there will be nature-based meditations, individual and group exercises, and talks on meditation and nature. There will be time to relish the silence outdoors and ample opportunity to explore and discuss the art of meditation in nature. This workshop is appropriate for beginning and experienced meditators who are curious about meditation, mindfulness and how to deepen our connection with the beauty and mystery of the natural world. Be prepared for unexpected rapture, delight, mystery and stillness. Mark Coleman is a Buddhist meditation teacher and has been teaching Insight meditation for 20 years. He is author of Awake in the Wild and Make Peace with Your Mind and leads nature-based meditation retreats and mindfulness teacher trainings in the U.S. and Europe. www.markcoleman.org

I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness Paul Selig

In his breakthrough works of channeled literature, I Am the Word and The Book of Truth, author and medium Paul Selig recorded a program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Through a series of lectures, attunements and energy activations, workshop participants will be introduced to the frequency of the Word, which can be described as the energy of “God in action.” You will be shown exercises for healing the self and others, along with practical techniques for developing and sustaining higher levels of consciousness. You will also receive individual instruction that will support you in moving through the physical and emotional blocks that may be keeping you from manifesting your own higher nature. You can discover how realizing your own true potential is inexorably linked to the well-being of others and our planet. Paul’s workshops can be deeply transformative. The energy he works with is palpable and loving, and those attending will be supported in moving to the next level of their own spiritual development. Please see August 4–9 for a five-day version. Recommended reading: Selig, I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, The Book of Knowing and Worth, The Book of Mastery, The Book of Truth and The Book of Freedom. Paul Selig is a conscious channel, intuitive and empath. His books include I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, The Book of Knowing and Worth, and The Book of Mastery. www.paulselig.com 23

Learning to See in the Dark: An Embodied Journey of the Unconscious and Superconscious Dustin DiPerna & Bruce Lyon

There is a darkness that is the absence of light or awareness and then there is a darkness that is the source of it. This workshop will explore them both and we will learn how contact with one helps us penetrate into the other. When we bring the torch of awareness into the darkest aspects of our being, whether unconscious or superconscious, we open the door to true liberation. As the psychologist Carl Jung said so succinctly, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light but by making the darkness conscious.” During this workshop, you’ll be shown fundamental tools to bring the light of awareness into your shadow and unexpressed potential. Through group and individual practice, you can discover the power of living an authentic life of wholeness. You’ll be taught simple practices to steady and transcend your mind through meditation; how to access and begin integrating your own shadow; and how to move beyond your relative sense of self to embrace unexpressed parts of yourself from a foundation of non-duality. Join this weekend for a synthesis of head and heart, mind and body, masculine and feminine, soul and spirit, shadow and light. Dustin DiPerna bio on page 15. Bruce Lyon is an author and teacher of cosmology and soul initiation. His path has been the trans-Himalayan wisdom tradition and the esoteric teachings of the world. He has written several books, founded Shamballa School, Highden Temple and is part of the wisdom council for the international School of Temple Arts.

WEEK OF AUGUST 4–9 I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness Paul Selig

In his breakthrough works of channeled literature, I Am the Word and The Book of Truth, author and medium Paul Selig recorded a program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Through a series of lectures, attunements and energy activations, workshop participants will be introduced to the frequency of the Word, which can be described as the energy of “God in action.” You will be shown exercises for healing the self and others, along with practical techniques for developing and sustaining higher levels of consciousness. You will also receive individual instruction that will support you in moving through the physical and emotional blocks that may be keeping you from manifesting your own higher nature. You can discover how realizing your own true potential is inexorably linked to the well-being of others and our planet. Paul’s workshops can be deeply transformative. The energy he works with is palpable and loving, and those attending will be supported in moving to the next level of their own spiritual development. This five-day intensive will offer the opportunity for more individual work and a deeper immersion in the higher energies. Please see August 2–4 for a weekend version. Recommended reading: Selig, I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, The Book of Knowing and Worth, The Book of Mastery, The Book of Truth and The Book of Freedom. Paul Selig bio on page 23.

Photo byEsalen seminarian Jason Moon

Upledger Institute International’s Advanced CranioSacral Therapy 1 Susan Steiner

CranioSacral therapy is a gentle, noninvasive hands-on technique to help detect and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system that may cause sensory, motor or intellectual dysfunction. It is used to treat a myriad of health problems, including headaches, neck and back pain, TMJ dysfunction, chronic fatigue, motor coordination difficulties, eye problems, endogenous depression, hyperactivity and central nervous system disorders. Participants will be taught the detailed anatomy and physiology of the craniosacral system, its functions in health, and its relationship to the disease processes. Half of class time will be hands-on, developing the sensitive palpatory skills needed to detect subtle stimuli in the human body. Class material will concentrate on palpation and its potential as an evaluative and therapeutic process; fascial and soft-tissue release methods; and the pressurestat model, which explains the mechanism of the craniosacral system. You will be taught a 10-step protocol for evaluation and treatment of the entire body. By the end of this intensive program, you will be able to identify and localize significant restrictions and imbalances in the craniosacral system. Note: Registration for this workshop is through the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) only. IAHE is a coalition of curriculum developers united to advance innovative therapies through high-quality continuing education programs. To register, please call 1-800-311-9204. Only after you have registered with IAHE and paid tuition fees will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen. For accommodations pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/ page/partner-program-pricing. Recommended reading: Upledger and Vredevoogd, CranioSacral Therapy (chapters 1–6); Upledger, Your Inner Physician and You. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. CE credit for acupuncturists course category 1; see leader Susan C. Steiner trained as an occupational therapist, has been affiliated with The Upledger Institute since 1989 and has been an instructor for CranioSacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release II since 1994. She maintains a private practice in Providence, R.I. www.Susansteiner.com

Empowering Creativity through Movement/Dance and Life/Art Metaphors Daria Halprin

Throughout time, movement, dance and the expressive arts have provided individuals and communities with a means of soulful expression, healing and connection with spirit. This workshop will generate opportunities for participants to find such meaning connected with the real issues in their lives. The Life/Art Process® developed by Anna and Daria Halprin bridges body awareness, art expression and psychological processes. The Halprins’ approach to Integrative Movement will take you on a unique journey into the sensing, feeling and imagining body. Each day will include somatic awareness practices, individual and group movement/dance, drawing, poetic narrative, improvisation, witnessing and life/art reflections. We will explore deeply and play

wildly. Live music with guest artists Jahan Khalighi and Miles Lassiwill support the daily work and will be featured in an evening dance jam. Jahan Khalighi will lead the community in the Planetary Dance, a community ritual that has been performed in over 40 countries since 1975. Daria Halprin worked with many of the teachers who influenced the early years at Esalen, and her work has been part of the groundbreaking human potential, postmodern dance and healing arts movement. The workshop is designed for everyone, with no previous experience in dance/art needed. Recommended Reading: Halprin, The Expressive Body in Life, Art & Therapy; Halprin with Kaplan, Dances That Matter. Daria Halprin is a dancer, teacher, therapist and author. Co-founder and director of Tamalpa Institute, she leads workshops and training programs internationally. Her books include The Expressive Body in Life, Art and Therapy; Body Ensouled, Enacted and Entranced; and Foundations of Expressive Arts Therapy. www.dariahalprin.org 25

Leading at the Edge: How to Reach Extraordinary Performance George Kohlrieser

Why do some leaders overcome impossible barriers, go beyond unbearable pressure and frustration and persevere in order to achieve outcomes seemingly beyond reach when others would give up? Through their desire for relentless improvement, leaders at the edge can unlock the highest levels of performance in themselves and others, making work a more exciting place to be. Leading at the edge enables people to “play to win” rather than simply “playing not to lose,” a mindset that focuses on survival. People are facing intense pressure like never before. There are so many complex changes and challenges creating the necessity for high levels of engagement to reach high performance. This workshop will draw on the High Performance Leadership Program (HPL), a flagship program at IMD Business School, Switzerland. It includes theory, experiential learning and opportunities to do personal work on obstacles to high performance leadership of self and others. Recommended reading: Kohlrieser, Hostage at the Table: How Leaders Can Overcome Conflict, Influence Others and Raise Performance; Kohlrieser, Goldsworthy and Coombe, Care to Dare: Unleashing Astonishing Potential through Secure Base Leadership. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. George Kohlrieser, clinical psychologist, author and hostage negotiator, is professor of Leadership and Organizational Behavior at the International Institute for Management Development, in Lausanne, Switzerland. He created High Performance Leadership Program (HPL) and the Advanced High Performance Leadership Program (AHPL). www.georgekohlrieser.com 26

WEEKEND OF AUGUST 9–11 Listen, Learn and Love! The Art of Fulfilling Relationships Anne Watts

What if you could create more love and deeper, more connected relationships in your life? This is an experiential workshop with carefully crafted exercises to support you in exploring ways of being with others that are deeply satisfying, intimate and nurturing. In a caring, supportive and confidential environment, you will have full choice as you learn how to be more open, close and safe with others, including family, friends, significant others and co-workers. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to explore the following topics: • Learn powerful heart-based tools of communication • Practice loving ways to have difficult conversations • Responsibly speak your truth in a way that creates connection rather than separation • Increase clarity, honesty and trust in all of your relationships • Practice honoring your and others’ boundaries Regardless of your age, experience, gender identification or sexual orientation — whether you are single or in a committed relationship — come and directly experience your real beauty, your real power, your love for yourself and the love others have for you. Listen, Learn and Love! The Art of Fulfilling Relationships is a powerful workshop created by the Human Awareness Institute (www.hai.org). Anne Watts was deeply influenced by her father, the pioneering philosopher Alan Watts. She leads workshops on four continents, teaching adults to have more loving, fulfilling relationships. Anne has been leading Love, Intimacy and Sexuality workshops since 1985. www.annewatts.com

Changes and Transitions in Your 40s and 50s: Finding Clarity and Well-being in Times of Change Phillip Moffitt

Change is a fact of life, and yet we often find ourselves ill-equipped to manage it skillfully. Major life changes naturally bring up concerns, fears and questions that can lead to confusion, lack of motivation or poor decisions. In this workshop, you can learn skills and strategies to effectively respond to the challenges of change, including the following focus areas: • How to identify the areas of your life that need attention, gain insights about your strengths and challenges in dealing with change and begin to strategize next steps • How to recognize habits of mind that undermine you and learn practices to disengage from their influence • How to identify your values and intentions so you have a basis for making wise decisions Expect a weekend full of dynamic inquiry and the opportunity to learn essential life skills for meeting all your changes and transitions with authenticity, confidence and clarity. Recommended reading: Moffitt, Emotional Chaos to Clarity and Dancing with Life. Phillip Moffitt, former CEO and editor-in-chief of Esquire magazine, is the founder of Life Balance Institute. He has served as co-guiding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center since 2010. Phillip is the author of numerous books including Emotional Chaos to Clarity and Dancing with Life. www.lifebalance.org

EARLY E!LEN MORNING Dawn throws a light shawl over the mountain’s pine-feathered shoulders, warming pockets of fog that rest in her crenelated petticoat of coastline, where white foam leaps at the edge of deep blue water. The earth turns, the sun rises— witness to prowling pink flowers, the winging of swallows and gnats, my body rubbery after the wet heat of the stone baths. –Abby Caplin First published in The Healing Art of Writing, Volume 1, University of California, Medical Humanities Consortium, 2011.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Nadia Ammar

The Extraordinary Couples Workshop Jason Weston & Marci Graham

Do you remember the magic of the beginning of your relationship, when just seeing your partner got your adrenaline running? Perhaps you met only weeks ago, or maybe years ago, and the electricity is still there. Is it possible that the “juice” can feel even more intense? Presented by the Human Awareness Institute, this workshop is designed exclusively for couples and focuses specifically on couples’ issues with the goal of deepening and embodying love — between partners and within the self. You will spend most of your time together, some time alone and time working in small groups and the full group. It is open to adults of any sexual orientation or gender identification. The Couples Workshop creates a safe environment in which to explore your relationship and take a fresh look at parts of it, regardless of what state your relationship is in currently. Participants may be couples who are at the beginning of their relationship or who have been together for many years; couples who are already happy and loving; or couples who are fighting or upset. Couples whose relationships were faltering or stalled (or just needed a boost, or were doing great already) have come away more deeply in love than they had ever been. Jason Weston has been a part of the Human Awareness Institute (HAI) for nearly 40 years. As a facilitator, Jason assists individuals and couples in creating the lives they really want. Jason was trained at the Process Therapy Institute and served for many years as the executive director of HAI Global. Marci Graham is a facilitator for the Human Awareness Institute (HAI). She has a 30-year history of personal transformation through movement, painting, writing, sculpting and bodywork. Her personal journey in Continuum Movement has illuminated the power of inquiry and body knowledge as essential to personal growth.waterwisdom.us 27

WEEK OF AUGUST 11–16 The Art and Science of Mindfulness, Compassion and Awe Shauna Shapiro, Daniel Siegel, Dacher Keltner, Amishi Jha & Mollie McNeil

Advanced Esalen Massage® with Special Focus on the Shoulder Girdle Jessica Fagan & Paméla Espinoza

This advanced massage workshop focuses on the shoulder girdle and the neck. Imbalances and chronic tension around the scapulae, neck and shoulder are frequently caused by misaligned habitual movement patterns. These holding patterns result in kyphosis, elevated/retracted shoulders or a depressed chest, all of which affect one’s ability to breathe fully, supporting habits of fear and anxiety. Through the use of deep tissue/soft tissue techniques combined with trigger point work, you will learn how to address potential injuries and strain. Jessica and Pamèla’s teaching focuses on using a sensitive yet effective approach toward deep work, integrating Esalen bodywork and its artistry of touch, along with fluid lighter strokes, to move lymph, prevent soreness and integrate structural changes. You will be instructed in proper body mechanics and self-care, and through these various somatic practices, you can gain an inner sense of the body/ mind connection and develop ways in which to restore and maintain energetic and structural balance. This workshop is for those with massage experience and is especially useful for those in the helping and healing professions in working with their clients and patients. CE credit for massage; see page 93.

This workshop brings together a team of internationally recognized scientists, meditation teachers and clinicians to deepen our understanding of how to live a meaningful, healthy and joyful life. Weaving together ancient wisdom traditions with modern neuroscience, we’ll explore the transformative effects of meditative practices. We will show you simple yet potent meditation practices, including mindfulness meditation, compassion practices, mindful movement and experiential exercises. We will also learn about revolutionary research in neuroscience that offers the hopeful message: We can change and reshape our brain to live healthier, happier lives. We will immerse ourselves in the practice of being fully present, re-training our minds and hearts toward pathways of greater joy, compassion, forgiveness and gratitude. Esalen’s natural beauty will support us as we engage in sunset meditations, listen to the sounds of the ocean, walk through the vibrant gardens and open ourselves to the serenity and wisdom of nature. This workshop will deepen connections with ourselves, one another and the larger web of life. Be prepared for unexpected delight, mystery and stillness. Special spoken word performance by JusMe. ($80 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Recommended reading: Siegel, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being; Keltner, Born to Be Good; Shapiro, The Art and Science of Mindfulness. Shauna Shapiro, PhD, is a professor and author of The Art and Science of Mindfulness and Mindful Discipline. She is an internationally recognized expert in mindfulness and has been invited to lecture for the King of Thailand, the Danish government, the Prime Minister of Iceland and the World Council of Psychotherapy. www.drshaunashapiro.com Daniel Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he is on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. He also maintains a psychotherapy practice. www.mindsightinstitute.com Dacher Keltner, PhD, is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, a founder and director of the Greater Good Science Center, and author of Born to Be Good and The Compassionate Instinct, among other books. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The London Times, Utne Reader and elsewhere. greatergood.berkeley.edu

Jessica Fagan, a member of the Esalen Massage staff, is a dancer and performer who is deeply immersed in the practice and teaching of Eastern and Western somatic therapies as well as Vinyasa yoga. www.jessicasomatics.com

Amishi Jha, PhD, is a neuroscientist and associate professor in the department of psychology at the University of Miami, and director of contemplative neuroscience for the UMindfulness Initiative. She studies the neural bases of attention and the effects of mindfulness-based training programs on cognition, emotion and resilience. www.amishi. com/lab

Paméla Espinoza is an Esalen Massage practitioner/teacher who weaves the interconnective relationships of the body through spiral patterning and movement. She has been involved with the healing arts since 1972.

Mollie McNeil is a published writer who studied English and American literature in the doctoral program of the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She taught writing there, at Mills College in Oakland, and at De Anza College in Cupertino, Calif.

CE credit for nurses; see page 93.

Faculty

We spoke to Dustin about bringing inner work into community, and the way traditional wisdom practices and emergent technologies come together to support human flourishing. How does inner exploration connect to action in the world?

Dustin DiPerna

plumbs the depths of human potential with a collaborative, visionary approach. As an integral theorist, author, lecturer at Stanford University’s Wellness Education program and expert in world religions, Dustin innovates new ways to bring timeless spiritual wisdom into contemporary life. Dustin’s Esalen programs include The Flourishing Lab, July 7–August 4; Consciousness Hacking: Meditation + Technology, July 12–14; Learning to See in the Dark: An Embodied Journey of the Unconscious and the Superconscious, August 2–4; Evolving Masculinity: The Future of Men’s Work, September 13–15. Dustin was recently featured on the Voices of Esalen podcast. Listen here: www.esalen.org/page/ voices-esalen-podcast.

This is something that has always been a passion of mine, exploring how the inner and outer go together. In the 1960s, there were two major impulses. One group focused on social action and moved outward in the world; this gave us the civil rights and environmental movements. Another group looked inward to examine their consciousness. But exploring consciousness often wasn't coupled with action. And the people doing amazing real-life action tended to burn out. When we integrate inner realization with external action, we tap into an infinite well of impact. Now is such a ripe moment when these two streams can fully come together and flow into a single river.

a Group Flow experience that creates collective synchronization through translating each participant’s heartbeat, and breath, into light and sound. When we combine an experience of someone else’s heart or breath with meditative instruction, it creates a profound sense of connection and empathy. Esalen has served as a home base for much of this work, and what we’re finding is that yes, technology can lead towards an incredible sense of human connection. And the good news is that this is just the beginning.

“When we integrate inner realization with external action, we tap into an infinite well of impact.”

Does our tech-everything culture help or hurt this integration? A key point I learned from one of my mentors, Ken Wilber [philosopher and developer of integral theory], is that technology by its very nature is neutral — it can be used for benefit or harm. What matters more is the level of consciousness that is animating it. So we have to ask ourselves, are we designing tech and using it for benefit or are we designing tech using it in ways that are harmful? There is potential for both. What’s an example of using technology differently? Mikey Siegel [fellow Stanford lecturer and Esalen collaborator] and I are exploring ways technology can help connect human beings to each other in deeper ways. Mikey and his team have designed

What other projects are you working on?

Google’s Adam Leonard [leadership development practitioner] and I are exploring the evolution of men's work. In response to and in support of the Me Too movement and some of the other amazing social corrections that have been emerging, we’re asking what it means to be a man. We want to better understand how to be more aware of the toxic forms of masculinity, and at the same time show up with forms of masculinity that don’t lose their essence as wholesome, direct and positive. What makes Esalen a special place for your work? Esalen is a sacred and fertile ground for experimentation. Exploration seems to be built into its DNA. Esalen has always been a place where people could take new ideas at the forefront of human potential, and they could put them into practice. Esalen is not only a natural fit for my work, but the best fit for experimentation at the frothy edge of the evolution of consciousness.

WEEKEND OF AUGUST 16–18 Power Vinyasa Yoga Susan Hauser

Vinyasa/Power Yoga connects breath with movement using a vigorous, fitness-based approach to vinyasa-style yoga. It emphasizes strength and flexibility, and practitioners can gain many physical, mental and spiritual benefits with this practice. This weekend retreat will consist of a fast-paced sequence that is athletically based. We will rapidly flow from one asana to another while focusing on our breath. This retreat is open to all levels of yoga experience, and Susan Hauser will give different variations for different levels. The Power Yoga practitioner can experience many physical benefits to the bones, muscles and joints. Flexibility and muscle tone can increase and concentration can improve. Power Yoga is intense and utilizes the entire body, working muscles in arms, shoulders, back, legs, feet and abdomen so that the body grows stronger and healthier and the joints, tendons and muscles all become more flexible. Please bring a yoga mat. Susan Hauser founded Now Power Yoga, a diverse multi-modality studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. Susan credits yoga with getting her through raising her two sons after her husband passed away from cancer. She shares her passion for yoga through teaching. www.susanhauseryoga.net

WEEK OF AUGUST 18–30 Insight Yoga Teacher Training Intensive: Primary Level Sarah Powers

This course focuses on Yin yoga, mindfulness and how to sequence Yang poses with Yin sequences. It is designed for Yin/Yang yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners with at least two years of practice. Most students will benefit from having completed a 200–500 hour yoga teacher training prior to attending this course, especially if they intend to teach this material. It is not essential for those interested in cultivating their own practice. This 100-hour intensive will deepen your ability to teach and/or practice a receptive Yin style and an active Yang style of yoga with an interest in promoting an inner environment conducive to meditation. Each day we will spend two hours each on Yin yoga, Yang yoga and mindfulness meditation. With primary focus on asana, pranayama and meditation, we will explore the following topics: • How, why and when to safely and effectively practice Yin Yoga • Organ health and yoga practice • How to balance Yin style with a Yang practice • Subtle body anatomy according to yogic and Chinese philosophy • Meridian Theory / Chinese Medicine • Ujjayi breath and mindfulness in asana • Pranayama

• Skillful verbal communication • Teacher/student relationship This is a 100-hour Yoga Alliance training. To be eligible for the certificate, there is an essay requirement that will be assigned at the end of the training. Those who are unable to attend all of the classes will be awarded the certificate based only on the hours attended. Please plan your time and travel accordingly in order to not miss any of the sessions. Note: Registration for this workshop is through Sarah Powers only. Please visit sarahpowers.com/iyi/insight-yoga-teacher-training-intensive-primary-level-august-2019/ for registration details. Only after you have registered and paid tuition fees will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen. Required reading and viewing to be completed in advance of the course: Powers, Insight Yoga (book and DVD); Grilley, Yin Yoga: Principles and Practice; Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English; Smith, Buddhism: A Concise Introduction. Sarah Powers blends the insights and practices of yoga and Buddhism into an integral practice to enliven body, heart and mind. She leads retreats and classes internationally and is the author of Insight Yoga. www.sarahpowers.com

Sarah Powers What is your passion? I am passionate about continually learning to live in an awake, loving way in the face of this preciously tenuous and mysterious existence. I am curious about seeing and freeing the assumptions that bind the mind to limiting or prescribed perspectives, which feels like an endless but most meaningful endeavor. I am also impassioned about protecting and delighting in this beautiful planet and all its creatures, creative relating (especially parenting), healthy clean living and making time to dream. What is Insight Yoga? It is an integral path for the body, heart and mind. It embraces the energetic insights from Indian yoga and Chinese Taoism, with enhancement methods focused on the body and breath in both active and receptive ways (yin and yang). It also includes the meditative template of Buddhism, mingled with the personal healing potential offered through Western psycho-spiritual therapies, particularly Internal Family Systems. What else can you share about your teacher trainings? I am offering a paradigm that can shape people’s days; with opportunities for increased body/mind health, more conscious personal and interpersonal relating, self-connection, and experiential insight. Each person will also be exposed to tried-andtrue methodologies for holistic living that as they feel ready, they can pass on to others as yoga teachers.

• Assisting those with injuries

What happens at Esalen that happens nowhere else? A rich, natural learning where you can feel the healing intersection of each breath mingling with the land, sea and sky, especially while sitting in the hot mineral baths perched above the crashing Pacific Ocean.

• The use of touch and hands-on adjustments

How would you describe Esalen in one word? Enchanting!

• Buddhist psychology and emotional maturity • Sequencing of postures for various levels • Proper physical alignment in active postures

WEEK OF AUGUST 18–23

Big Sur Wilderness Experience

Radiant Body: Living from the Heart

Steven Harper

Kia Miller

Connect to your inner self and create new possibilities in your life. To truly thrive, one must develop the ability to listen to the quiet voice of the soul. Yoga and meditation give us the tools to access the place where deep listening happens. In this exciting and comprehensive workshop, Kia Miller shares her deep experience and love of yoga by providing keys to thriving in these turbulent times. Explore ancient yogic teachings that have been passed down from teacher to student for thousands of years, as well as practice Vinyasa Flow yoga to open and strengthen the body, and Kundalini yoga and meditation to shift through energetic blockages and build vitality and awareness. Take this “time out of time” to rejuvenate yourself in the healing waters of Esalen, connect with like-minded individuals and establish a practice that can connect you to the infinite wisdom of your heart and the ability to live from your intuitive mind. This workshop is for anyone looking for a toolbox for elevation and ways to excel in life, and who desires to be a “lighthouse” for all those around you. All levels welcome. Please bring a yoga mat. Kia Miller is a Kundalini yoga teacher who has an ability to translate the subtle teachings of Kundalini in a highly accessible way. Kia’s study of yoga began when she was 15. She is also certified in Hatha yoga and teaches workshops, retreats and teacher trainings throughout the world. www.kiamiller.com

Esalen is the trailhead to one of the most spectacular mountainous coastlines in the world. With the Big Sur wilderness as the primary teacher, you will explore the beauty of this alive and wild coast, from ancient redwood-forested canyons to dramatic coastal beaches, from rugged rocky mountains to the soft grassy slopes of the Big Sur hills. Drawing from nature and various experiential awareness practices, you will be encouraged to open both to the natural world and to the landscapes of your inner world. It is said that Big Sur is not just a place but a state of mind. This wilderness experience seeks to merge mind and place, then to embody what is learned. In this week-long workshop, you will venture out into the richness of the late summer season of Big Sur on five day-hikes, 4–10 miles in length. Steven will draw from a wide range of contemporary and age-old wisdom traditions, borrowing from psychology, meditation, aikido and the natural sciences to weave together a holistic experience of self and the natural world. Each hike begins after breakfast and concludes in time to enjoy the hot springs and dinner at Esalen. Evening sessions include informal sharing, basic awareness practices, and useful outdoor skills, with attention given to incorporating what is learned during the week into our daily lives. All levels of experience are welcome. Be prepared for the invigorating challenge of physical activity and the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet reflection. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration. For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven’s workshops, visit www.stevenkharper.com/faqs.html. ($60 permit and park entrance fees will be added to the workshop cost.) Steven Harper bio on page 11. 31

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

Full Body Presence: Grounding and Healthy Boundaries Suzanne Scurlock-Durana

In today’s world we all need full access to our inner and outer resources in order to survive and thrive with the daily demands being presented to us. Do you love feeling grounded and mindfully aware? Would you like to experience more resilience under stress and access your creativity and joy to your deepest potential? Full Body Presence teaches how the deep wisdom of the body can help navigate our living, working, healing and relating. Listening to this body-wisdom enables us to rediscover our innate spirituality and develop our emotional intelligence. This workshop presents a step-by-step process of reclaiming and transforming the tight, numb or painful places within so that we can feel the sense of aliveness that allows us to be in a state of grace with our core. Return to your life with practical skills to: • Understand the dynamics of your own energy patterns • Nourish and rejuvenate in healthy, life-giving ways • Remain fully grounded and present, even under stress • Create healthy boundaries that enhance your connection to the world, while avoiding burnout 32

Learn more about this course and Suzanne Scurlock’s work at www. healingfromthecore.com. Note: Registration for this workshop is through the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) only. IAHE is a coalition of curriculum developers united to advance innovative therapies through high-quality continuing education programs. To register, please call 1-800-311-9204. Only after you have registered with IAHE and paid tuition fees will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen. For accommodations pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/page/partner-program-pricing. Recommended Reading: Scurlock-Durana, Reclaiming Your Body: Healing from Trauma and Awakening to Your Body’s Wisdom and Full Body Presence: Learning to Listen to Your Body’s Wisdom. CE credit (24 units) for massage; see leader. Suzanne Scurlock-Durana, author of Reclaiming Your Body and Full Body Presence, CranioSacral therapy instructor for The Upledger Institute since 1987, and creator of the Healing from the Core curriculum, specializes in conscious awareness and its relationship to the healing process. She has taught at Esalen since 1994 www.healingfromthecore.com

WEEK OF AUGUST 23–30 EMDR Basic Training: Parts 1 & 2 Transforming Trauma with EMDR Laurel Parnell

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful therapeutic method for healing trauma-based problems. Shedding new light on trauma survival — including sexual and physical abuse, accident and surgical trauma and grief — EMDR is opening doors of the heart to genuine spiritual transformation. This workshop is for mental-health professionals who are licensed to provide treatment. Through lecture, hands-on practice and demonstrations, you will be shown: • Protocols and procedures for using EMDR with a wide range of diagnostic categories • Client selection criteria and cautions necessary for safe use of EMDR • Techniques for working with blocked processing and abreactions (catharsis) • How to unblock blocked processing • Methods for working with dissociation • How to use EMDR with adults traumatized as children

Note: Initial registration for this workshop is through Dr. Laurel Parnell only. To register, contact http://drlaurelparnell.com/training/ esalen-emdr-1-2/ or call (415) 496-9471. Only after you have registered with Dr. Parnell will you be able to register with Esalen. Required reading: Parnell, A Therapist’s Guide to EMDR: Tools and Techniques for Successful Treatment; Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Recommended reading: Parnell, Attachment-focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma and Tapping In: A Step-by-step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources through Bilateral Stimulation. For continuing education syllabus, see http://www.esalen.org/CourseInformation-Transforming-Trauma-EMDR-1-and-2. CE credit for psychologists; see leader. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader. CE credit for nurses; see leader. Laurel Parnell is the director of the Parnell Institute and developer of Attachment-focused EMDR™. She is a clinical psychologist and author. Since 1995 she has trained thousands of clinicians in EMDR both nationally and internationally. contact@drlaurelparnell.com

• Methods for developing inner resources used for interweaves, ego strengthening and client closure This workshop has been approved by the EMDR International Association. In accordance with the standards for basic EMDR training, participants must complete this workshop, receive 10 hours of consultation from a recommended EMDRIA-approved consultant from the Parnell Institute faculty, and then take a Parnell Institute Advanced Clinical Workshop and Refresher Course (Part 3) in order to complete the requirements for Basic EMDR training. Participants will be screened and required to submit licensure documentation before attending, and must bring copies of their professional licenses or certification to the training.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melina Meza

Essay written by Stk. Photo by Michael Bruce

WEEK OF AUGUST 25–SEPTEMBER 1 Healing the Pelvic Floor: Reclaiming Your Power, Sexuality and Pleasure Potential Suzanne Scurlock

WEEKEND OF AUGUST 23–25 Couples’ Communication Retreat Warren Farrell

Our inability to handle personal criticism from loved ones is a common Achilles’ heel. The more deeply we love, the more fragile we feel. Soon, couples feel they are walking on eggshells, unable to express themselves honestly, and their love fades. Raising children and money magnify the problems even as they become the reason couples stay together. The result? Couples often remain legally married but psychologically divorced — in a minimum-security-prison marriage. The biggest culprit? Defensiveness. Active listening, a good solution, is rarely used. When Warren Farrell discovered that active listeners often said the right thing, but did not feel safe on the inside, he developed a method of transforming the internal defensiveness into feeling loved. This workshop is for couples — two people with a history who desire a future (e.g., parents, married or divorced; newlyweds; parent-child; siblings). This workshop is especially useful for health professionals in their work with clients and patients.

As women we have a unique power of creativity in our reproductive systems. That power is used not only to create new life, but also to bring personal projects into being. However, that energy can be blocked by physical, emotional or spiritual trauma to the pelvic floor and the female organs. This workshop for women uses guided imagery, movement and hands-on exercises (while clothed) to heal the pelvic floor, including the vagina and uterus, places that often hold our deepest wounds: sexual abuse, rape, abortions, surgeries, childbirth tearing and scars, self-esteem and negative images about our femininity. Because self-knowledge is important, scientific and anatomic information will be presented, as well as ongoing self-care using pelvic floor yoga and abdominal massage. This workshop offers a rare opportunity for deep healing. During these seven days you can experience new possibilities for renewed feminine energy, greater health and a deeper sense of pleasure in being a woman. We will spend time exploring nature and how our connection to the earth can deepen our connection to ourselves. The workshop will culminate with an evening of nurturing at the Esalen natural hot spring baths. This course is valuable for anyone who wants to learn alternative approaches to women’s health. Note: This workshop is for women only. All self-identifying women are welcome. Learn more about this course and Suzanne Scurlock’s work at www.healingfromthecore.com. Required reading and listening: Scurlock-Durana, Reclaiming Your Body and Full Body Presence (books). Please listen to the audio portion (available from www.healingfromthecore.com). Recommended reading: Ogden, The Return of Desire and The Heart and Soul of Sex; Berman and Berman, For Women Only; Williamson, A Woman’s Worth; Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom; Wolf, Vagina: A New Biography. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Suzanne Scurlock-Durana bio on page 32.

Recommended reading: Farrell, Women Can’t Hear What Men Don’t Say and Father and Child Reunion. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/couplescommunication-retreat. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Warren Farrell, PhD, is co-author of The Boy Crisis (with Dr. John Gray) and books published in 19 languages. He has been chosen by The Financial Times of London as one of the world’s top 100 thought leaders. Warren has been a pioneer in both the women’s and men’s movements. www.warrenfarrell.com 34

Painting by Esalen seminarian Heather Lanier

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

WEEKEND OF AUGUST 30–SEPTEMBER 1 Writing to Awaken: Memoir as a Path of Transformation Mark Matousek

When memoir is used as a path of self-discovery, it becomes a spiritual as well as an artistic pursuit. As you learn to tell the whole truth about experience and to discern your own soul’s journey, you come to understand the mythic dimension of personal struggles, triumphs, confusions, longings, digressions and so-called mistakes. Liberated from the myth that your story is you, and aware that every life narrative is a work of fiction, you are freed of the unnecessary limits these fictions impose on your life and imagination. In this transformational workshop for writers of all levels, students will examine their core narratives, using the Writing to Awaken method of targeted self-inquiry and radical truth telling. As Mark teaches, “When you tell the truth, your story changes. When your story changes, your life is transformed.” Whether you’re working on a memoir, or using expressive writing for self-exploration and healing, this workshop will help to deepen your insight, improve your writing skills, reframe obsolete narratives, and open new pathways to creative expression. Please bring a laptop or notebook and pen. Recommended reading: Matousek, Writing to Awaken: A Journey of Truth, Transformation, and Self-Discovery.

Yoga Practice: Refining and Magnifying Body, Mind and Spirit Thomas Michael Fortel

One of the fundamental tenets of yoga philosophy is that every human being is, at the core, an expression of divine light and love. The yogis refer to this as the Supreme Self or Inner Self. Many of us glimpse this from time to time, yet a primary focus of our journey is to honestly address the physical, mental and emotional heaviness which covers up our inner luminosity. This is a necessary paradigm shift as we move into a fuller expression of our true nature. Yoga practice is a double-edged sword that requires both effort and surrender. Effort is necessary as we purify, refine and integrate body, mind, emotion and spirit. Surrender is critical in the face of alchemical transformation; letting go leads us into the restoration and edification of our true nature: divine light. These principles unfold in the yoga room as we place our bodies into postures (asanas), focus our awareness on breath (pranayama) and enter the sanctuary of the heart (meditation or dyana). Everyone is welcome. Please have a minimum of three months of recent yoga experience, and bring a yoga mat. Thomas Michael Fortel is a longtime yoga practitioner/teacher, influenced by the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Anusara styles of Hatha yoga, and drawing from his devotional experience in Bhakti yoga. He travels ort widely, sharing his love for yoga. www.thomasfortel.com

Mark Matousek is a best-selling author, teacher and speaker. His work focuses on personal awakening and creative excellence through transformational writing and self-inquiry. His workshops, classes and mentoring have inspired thousands of people around the world to reach their artistic and personal goals. www.markmatousek.com 35

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1–6 A Women’s Leadership Retreat in Partnership with Wisdom 2.0 Kerena Saltzman, Elizabeth Esalen & Grace Gamboa

There is a groundswell in women’s lives like never before. We are finding our voices, accessing more power, re-defining success on our own terms and cultivating a nurturing web of female leaders to create something powerful yet feminine. The conversation is emergent and unfolding in a networked, global way. There has never been a time like this in our history… ever. The access to resources and channels for our expression is unprecedented and we are jumping in! We are also facing challenges and obstacles both socially and politically like never before. This retreat is an opportunity to come together as women, to be honest about what it takes to lead, acknowledge both personal and collective challenges, and to be inspired and elevated by other women leaders. You will come away with more awareness about yourself as a leader, potential next steps to take in your leadership and a connection to a dynamic community of like-minded women. This workshop welcomes all self-identifying women. Kerena Saltzman, LCSW, is a presenter, trainer, coach and Gestalt therapist. She specializes in authentic leadership. She has clients who work for Google, LinkedIn and NASA Space Center. Kerena has presented at Wisdom 2.0, Emerging Women and Omega Institute. www.kerenasaltzman.com Elizabeth Esalen, PhD, is a psychologist who has a passion for healing, empowerment, bliss and dance. She is the founder and CEO of The Lotus Collaborative, eating disorder treatment centers that celebrate the feminine and offer mind-body-soul transformation in Santa Cruz and San Francisco. www.thelotuscollaborative.com Grace Gamboa is an entrepreneur, thought leader, consultant, advisor and mentor. Her training includes Enneagram personality styles, somatic psychology, movement therapy and relational and body intelligence. As a credentialed coach, Grace empowers people and organizations to fulfill their dreams and desires.

The Nature of Movement: Embodiment and the Wilds Steven Harper

Throughout the ages and across cultural traditions, nature has inspired the human spirit. The wilderness of Big Sur allows us to imprint the collective wisdom of this alive and wild coast in our bodies. The ancient redwood-forested canyons, dramatic meeting of earth and sea, and soft grassy hills remind us of the presence, wisdom and deep sense of belonging that live in each of us. This workshop will present simple yet profound practices designed to access our capacity to innovate and participate with the essential movement processes of life. Through physical practices, work in pairs, group discussions, and direct experience of nature, we draw on ancient movement traditions of tai chi and aikido and contemporary somatic practices that offer ways of centering, grounding, and knowing our belonging to the greater community of being. We will venture out on hikes 4–8 miles in length. During this time in the wild, we can literally come to our senses. We can experience increasingly refined awareness and perceptual practices to enhance our sensitivity to all that wilderness can offer, and reawaken the 36

elements of wilderness within. With awakened senses we can receive nature’s richness and beauty, inspiring our deepening relationship with ground, center and embodiment. All evenings and most meals will be at Esalen. All levels of experience are welcome, although participants should be prepared for some vigorous physical activity. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration. For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven’s workshops, visit www.stevenkharper.com/faqs.html. ($60 permit and park entrance fee will be added to the workshop cost.) Steven Harper bio on page 11.

Esalen Massage® and the Use of Essential Oils Ellen Watson & Daniela Urbassek

The artistry of a skilled Esalen Massage practitioner is recognized among connoisseurs of bodywork all over the world. This “quality of touch” is one of the fundamental elements of Esalen Massage style and philosophy. When we add the use of essential oils, we actively

engage another powerful sense. Our sense of smell has a more powerful capacity to take us deeply into our memories than any other sense. When combined with massage, a powerful alchemy occurs: deep relaxation, an opening of the heart and freeing of breath. During this workshop for professional bodyworkers, Daniela and Ellen will review the fundamentals of Esalen Massage. The use of essential oils is especially helpful in enhancing breath awareness and in deepening inhalation. Choosing from a selection of 11 essential oils, you will be shown how to create blends that support your own vitality, and the specific needs of others. Daniela and Ellen will share their experience in moving from therapeutics to the artistry of blending, to connecting the essence of these oils to one’s spirit and soul. Note: Participants may either bring their own essential oils, or order a set through the workshop leaders. We work with wild-crafted and therapeutic-grade essential oils, body lotions and massage oils. To order, please contact Ellen (ellen@MovingVentures.org) at least two weeks before the program begins. Ellen Watson travels extensively, sharing the essence of her 26 years at Esalen. Ellen founded MovingVentures, whose mission is vocational education in the fields of breathwork, and somatic and movement arts. Since 1998, she has focused on supporting the people of Bali, Indonesia. www.movingventures.org Daniela Urbassek is a longtime member of the Esalen massage staff. Her work is strongly influenced by her studies in craniosacral work, movement, yoga and dance.

Sexual Well-being: The Next Revolution Jessica Graham

Our culture is sexually unwell. We can see it almost everywhere we look: in politics, entertainment, the educational system and even in our spiritual communities. The time has come for us to wake up, start a new conversation, and move into a new paradigm of truly conscious and evolved sexuality. A sexually well culture requires being able to skillfully communicate and connect with purpose about sex without checking out or repressing our authentic sexual selves. This workshop offers tools to start your own personal sexual revolution, while also supporting you in becoming an activist for sexual well-being for all. Meditation, writing, partner exercises and group discussion help you let go of what is no longer serving you, open to new possibilities and up-level your own sex life so you can be part of the sexual solution our world needs. Within a safe, secular, consent-based and trauma-informed container, create a new relationship with your sexuality, deepen your capacity for intimacy and connection and begin forging the path to a culture of sexual intelligence and wellness. This workshop is fully clothed and all touch exercises are non-sexual and optional. Suitable for all gender expression, sexual orientations and relationship styles.

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 6–13 Lotus Borne Perception: Awareness Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and Continuum Susan Harper & Lama Drimed

In this retreat, Lama Drimed and Susan Harper open a multi-dimensional inquiry into our spiritual, somatic and creative human capacity. Recognizing our natural state of awareness as a foundation, we will explore a dynamic range that includes meditative stillness, fresh perceiving, and movement and sounding, which opens a vital flow of creativity. Lama Drimed offers awareness teachings from the Dzogchen tradition. Our natural state is recognized to be all-inclusive awareness. We awaken to the fresh perception of this moment — the natural aliveness that is our birthright. This is the essence of the ancient tantric ways that celebrate the unfolding of our life as sacred. Susan Harper offers explorations from Continuum, a unique sound and movement practice, in which we inquire into our capacity to innovate and participate with the essential movement processes of life. The dynamics of how we perceive and relate are simultaneously physical and psycho-emotional. They offer perceptual practices to open ways that we pay attention, listen and speak about our experience. Lama Drimed and Susan share an innovative teaching style, and are open and attentive to each participant’s process of discovery, and to the group process. Many of our explorations will take place outside in nature, where we explore the elemental affinity between our bodies and the living lineage of our breathing planetary body. Susan Harper has been teaching and contributing to Continuum since 1975. She is the developer of Body of Relating Training, inspired by the teachings of Chris Price’s Gestalt Awareness Practice, and she codeveloped Portals of Perception with Hubert Godard. Lama Drimed offers awareness teachings from Great Perfection/ Dzogchen and Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. His Tibetan teacher, Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, recognized Lama Drimed as his lineage holder in 1995. His vision is to open dialogues that include current discoveries and the ancient tantric arts.

Jessica Graham is a spiritual and sexual activist, meditation teacher and author. She is contributing editor for the blog Deconstructing Yourself, she co-founded The Eastside Mindfulness Collective, founded Wild Awakening, and authored Good Sex: Getting Off without Checking Out. www.yourwildawakening.com Painting by Esalen seminarian Suzette Keegan

Photo by Esalen seminarian Nadi Ammar

WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 6–8 The Mythic Life

Rejoice Andrea Juhan

The old, forgotten pre-Christian mythologies and philosophies of the West — from the magical stories of Celtic Ireland to the soul-centered mythtellings of Plato in ancient Greece — are rich, complex and beautiful. They offer up a world in which everything is not only alive, but has purpose and intentionality of its own. A world to which each incarnated soul chooses to come, for a reason: to fulfill its own unique calling, and to offer up a gift which can only be expressed through relationship with and participation in that animate world. Carrying the fire, carrying with us the image that we were born with, that we brought with us when we chose to come into this world. In this workshop we’ll explore this ancient idea of the soul’s calling, working with a variety of mythic imagination techniques to uncover our own mythopoetic identities, and the unique gift — the hidden treasure — which each one of us brings to this world. Through personal myth, fairy-tale narratives and archetypal imagery from old European traditions, journeying and dreamwork, we’ll find our own unique bridge to the imaginal world: the mundus imaginalis of ancient tradition.

There are shortcuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. — Vicki Baum Joy is our birthright. We are designed to experience pleasure. However, have you ever noticed how easy it is to drift to the one negative comment in a sea of positive responses? To dwell on one doubt in the face of overwhelming support? Yes, we are designed to experience pleasure but our brains have what neuropsychologist call a negativity bias. Therefore, we need to practice embodying the full spectrum of human joy, teaching ourselves happiness to counterbalance evolution’s survival directive. In Open Floor movement practice, we investigate embodied joy — the kind of joy that transcends one’s own personal gain, like generosity, compassion, peace and benevolence. Dancing is the perfect medium for developing our capacity to tolerate the “big hits” of rapture or ecstasy, and noticing the quieter forms of joy such as presence, health, connection, belonging, kindness, ease and well-being. All of these particular qualities of joy have had imprints within our being. We can strengthen these neural pathways — we can dance ourselves into being happier people — at least more of the time.

Sharon Blackie is an award-winning writer and international teacher. Her work focuses on the development of the mythic imagination, and on the relevance of our native myths, fairy tales and folk traditions to the personal, social and environmental problems we face today. www.sharonblackie.net

Andrea Juhan, PhD, MFT, is a therapist and dancer, and was a student/ teacher of Gabrielle Roth’s 5Rhythms®, Gestalt Awareness Practice and Integrative Body Psychotherapy. She has created her own form of movement practice called Open Floor, and together with other gifted teachers she co-founded Open Floor International. www.openfloor.org

Sharon Blackie

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8–15 Qigong for Health and Happiness Mingtong Gu

Join Master Mingtong Gu for a week dedicated to healing and balancing body, mind, heart and spirit through the powerful movement, sound and visualization practices of qigong. This retreat is a great way to journey inward with deep nourishment and recharge with renewed energy, clarity and vitality. Qigong supports you in releasing limitations and expanding into new possibilities for balance, wellness, deep fulfillment and lasting joy. Whether you are addressing specific conditions such as cancer, Parkinson’s, diabetes, Lyme’s disease, immune deficiencies, addiction, chronic pain or trauma, or are working with patients with these conditions; whether you need to relax and rejuvenate from excessive stress; whether you want to support others in their healing journey or deepen your own understanding and practice of qigong, the retreat environment is a one-ofa-kind opportunity to tap your deepest potential for healing and joy. By participating in this healing retreat, you can: • Learn to clear and balance the emotions so that deeper healing can occur on all levels • Develop a quiet and creative mind to most effectively realize healing • Learn the ultimate methods to build and transmit chi (energy) for healing of self and others (called FaChi) • Organize a chi field with others to accelerate healing

for both therapists and clients because it calls on each to stand in difficult places and open up to that difficulty, both personally and professionally. Therapists are encouraged to engage with the material at a personal level, as it applies to their own lives, and also in the context of their mental health work. Mental health professionals, including graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, are invited to attend. Familiarity with ACT is not required. ($75 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Recommended reading: Forsyth and Eifert, The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety, 2nd Edition; Harris, ACT Made Simple. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ acceptance-commitment-therapy-0418. CE credit (24.5 units) for psychologists; see leader. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. John P. Forsyth, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, professor and director of the Anxiety Disorders Research Program at SUNY Albany. He is an author, speaker and trainer, and leads workshops worldwide. www. drjohnforsyth.com Jamie R. Forsyth, PhD, is a clinician, clinical supervisor and trainer with expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings. Her clinical work offers unique insights into the subtle nuances of ACT as it unfolds in clinical practice.

• Learn about profound theories and practices of energy healing to better understand and activate our healing capacity CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. CE credit pending from CAB for acupuncturists (Course Category 1); see page 93. Mingtong Gu is an internationally recognized teacher and healer who received his training from a variety of Grandmasters in China and at the world’s largest qigong hospital. www.chicenter.com

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8–13 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Cultivating Psychological Wellness John Forsyth & Jamie Forsyth

Acceptance and mindfulness-based practices are rapidly making their way into mental health care, medicine and society — to alleviate human suffering and also to nurture psychological health and wellness. This body of work offers a fresh perspective on psychological suffering and powerful clinical strategies that support meaningful life changes. In this workshop for mental health professionals, you will learn about one particular approach and set of evidence-based practices called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT balances mindfulness and acceptance processes with commitment and behavior change in the service of living a more vital life. Through lectures, live and video demonstrations, and practical experiential exercises, learn new ways to help your clients grow and live meaningfully without first having to defeat or eliminate sources of emotional and psychological pain. This work can be challenging 39

Sharing Your Life Story from the Page to the Stage Ann Randolph

This is an invitation for you to discover your own unique and powerful story and the profound transformation that occurs when you speak it out loud. You’ll learn how to trust your creative impulses, thus embracing all of who you are. By becoming the author of your own life and learning how to tell your own story, you will not only learn to craft your experience into a compelling narrative, but you will also unleash a sense of purpose in your own life that you never thought possible. Through improvisation, writing exercises and group discussion, you can cultivate a fearlessness in speaking your truth. Ann creates a supportive, fun and dynamic space in which to create. All levels are welcome. This is a workshop for those seeking to explore personal essay, memoir, solo performance or the sacred practice of journaling. Topics include: • Writing exercises to stimulate memory • Learning to structure the narrative in a compelling way • Discovering ways to create spontaneously • Overcoming performance anxiety • Utilizing tools to release yourself from the inner critic • Transforming your ideas/stories into performance Recommended reading: Pressfield, War of Art. Ann Randolph is an award-winning writer, performer, and educator. Her off-Broadway hit, Squeezebox, was produced by Mel Brooks. Her current show is Inappropriate in All the Right Ways. Her personal essays have aired on NPR, BBC and The Moth. www.annrandolph.com

WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 13–15 BodyWise: Discovering Your Body Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing

Rachel Carlton Abrams Why is the wisdom of the body important today? Modern culture makes it possible to exist while paying almost no attention to the body whatsoever, and this has been disastrous! We have ignored our finely tuned gut instincts and our body’s unique preferences for food, sleep, play and love. We are addicted to media, sugar, alcohol and drugs because we don’t know how to handle our body’s physical and emotional pain — the important messages that our body sends us so that we can change our thoughts and behaviors. When each of us practices right relationship — with our body, loved ones, community and this amazing planet — we can do what we are each uniquely called to do in our lifetime. And when we do that, we heal our world. What do you hope participants take from your workshop? I hope they are able to listen more closely to the innate wisdom within themselves and make personal choices about how they eat, move and sleep that bring them more joy and freedom. I also hope that the work we will do together on love, relationship, community and purpose inspires them to connect to the people they care about and the causes that matter most to them. How has Esalen impacted you? Esalen has literally changed my life. I came here for the first time 17 years ago and reconnected with my inner self, my playful self, my priestess self, my healer self, my dancing self. I spent the next decade bringing more and more of my “Esalen self” into my regular life, and now my professional work is a reflection of what I discovered at Esalen! I have travelled extensively, but Esalen remains my spiritual home and my favorite place on the planet. How would you describe Esalen in one word? Magical.

Rachel Abrams

What might it feel like to live a life your body loves? We are born to be bodywise — able to listen to the messages of our body, both simple and deeply intuitive, to navigate our health and our life. Are you tired? In pain? Sometimes anxious or depressed? Struggling with low libido? Or just curious how you can live the vital, deeply connected life that you deserve? During this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to gain new tools to help you be bodywise, to sense what your unique needs are for food, sleep, movement, love and purpose. The group will use active exercises, interactive group support and self-exploration in support of discovering what your individual health and wellness challenges are, and how you can access body wisdom to navigate life in the direction of vitality, joy and contribution. This workshop is open to people of all ages and life stages. Don’t you deserve a life that your body loves? Recommended reading: Abrams, BodyWise: Discovering Your Body’s Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing. Rachel Carlton Abrams is an award-winning integrative medicine physician, treating men, women and children since 1997. She authored four books, most recently BodyWise, and teaches dynamic workshops throughout the world. www.doctorrachel.com 40

The Brazilian Soul: Dance and Drumming Cida Vieira & Mestre Beiçola

Drumming inspires people to connect. Nationalities and individual agendas disappear; what remains is the grounding presence of our transformed selves — our spirits lightened and empowered. Join Cida Vieira and Mestre Beicola on this journey of joy straight into the heart of Brazilian dance and music. This hands-on (and “feet-on”) workshop explores the instruments, rhythms, music and the samba dance jeitinho brasieliro (“of the Brazilian way”) in an inclusive and safe environment. Cida’s teaching focuses more on movement than on technical aspects, so that we can achieve a lively workout and, most importantly, have fun. This workshop is for everyone who enjoys and wants to learn more about Brazilian dance and music and its impact in their soul. Please bring drums and/or any instruments (if you have them), along with a significant item to place on a communal altar as a way of sharing your essence. Expect nothing and be ready for everything! No previous dance or drumming experience is necessary.

Cida Vieira offers a safe space where her Brazilian Soul ignites everyone to express their joy and freedom. Born at the heart of the dance circles of Brazil, Cida has choreographed and performed in the U.S. and abroad with musicians including Xuxa, Ray Charles, Daniela Mercury and Airto Moreira. Mestre Beiçola is a native of Brazil and 30-year master of capoeira, an African-Brazilian martial art and dance form. Now based in East Palo Alto, Calif., Mestre has taught capoeira, Brazilian dance, percussion and stringed instruments at Stanford, UC Berkeley and elsewhere. www.brazivedas.com

Evolving Masculinity: The Future of Men’s Work Adam Leonard & Dustin DiPerna

For millennia, men have come together to support and challenge each other to reach their higher potentials. In recent decades, these conversations and practices have included topics like sex, money, power, purpose, work, death, family, shadow and spirituality. During this time, culture has changed in both beautiful and terrifying ways. And, as society continues to unfold, so must men’s work. So what’s next? This turbulent historical moment calls for men to wake up, grow up, clean up and show up in unprecedented ways. The masculine and feminine must continue to co-evolve together. Come explore and create this future with a community of conscious men. Together we will stretch over the edge and experience what’s emerging through relational practices, meditation and

integrative dialogue. Deepen your connection to presence, power and your own masculine potential in service of bringing your most potent gifts to a world in desperate need. Recommended Reading: Wilber and Patten, Integral Life Practice; Kuntzelman and Wilber, Purpose Rising: A Global Movement of Transformation and Meaning. Adam Leonard works with Google executive leaders and teams to navigate complexity and develop their full human potentials through organizational development consulting, executive coaching, leadership team facilitation and meditation. He co-authored Integral Life Practice and co-edited The Simple Feeling of Being. Dustin DiPerna bio on page 15.

Sharing Your Life Story from the Page to the Stage Ann Randolph

Let Your Voice, Heart and Spirit Soar

Harmonize: Discover Kirtan and the Yoga of Devotion SEPTEMBER 27–29, 2019 Join social innovator and yoga teacher Gopi Kallayil for a weekend of celebratory connection through kirtan, India’s ancient call-and-response form of devotional music. Known as the language of the divine, kirtan is a joyful collective journey to deep attunement.

Live music by the Kirtaniyas, Prajna Vieira and David Estes will take you to new heights, and when you’re not singing, move your body and stretch your mind with yoga and meditation sessions throughout the weekend.

Ann creates a supportive, fun and dynamic space in which to create. All levels are welcome. This is a workshop for those seeking to explore personal essay, memoir, solo performance or the sacred practice of journaling. Topics include: • Writing exercises to stimulate memory • Learning to structure the narrative in a compelling way • Discovering ways to create spontaneously • Overcoming performance anxiety • Utilizing tools to release yourself from the inner critic • Transforming your ideas/stories into performance Recommended reading: Pressfield, War of Art. Ann Randolph bio on page 40.

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15–20 Singing on the Edge: A Community Singing Festival Lisa Littlebird, Laurence Cole, MaMuse & Melanie DeMore

We are at our best when we stand together and sing. — Ronnie Gilbert Community singing is an art of stepping to the edge together — to the edge of our own unfolding and to the edge of the conversations most needed in our collective communities. A world-class lineup of community song leaders from around the country is coming together for this celebratory property-wide singing event, including Aimee Ringle, Barbara Mcafee, Maggie Wheeler, Marion VanNamen, Heather Houston, Glen Phillips, Kate Munger and Emile Dyer. We will use the power of singing together in the oral tradition to craft a recipe for our world using harmony, empowerment, connection and joy. This will be a highly collaborative weekend among the faculty, who will offer a mix of breakout sessions as well as daily gatherings with the whole group. This event is accessible and welcoming to all voices with every level of experience. Come ready to offer your voice in a potent exchange designed to sow deep seeds of inspiration, community and action on the path of justice. ($50 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Lisa G. Littlebird facilitates group singing opportunities as a transformational personal practice, healing art and to foster community building in groups. She leads workshops internationally and has been on the faculty at Esalen since 2007. www.thebirdsings.com Laurence Cole has led song circles at gatherings and festivals across North America. He is an advocate for reclaiming our natural right to sing together as a most basic and primal technology of belonging and connection. Through singing, we regain the enlivening power of group singing using our hearts, souls, voices and love. MaMuse is a decade-long musical collaboration between Sarah Nutting and Karisha Longaker that stirs an ancient remembering of kinship within the family of all beings. With five albums and total commitment to kindness, MaMuse is magical, whimsical and sublime. www.mamuse.org Melanie DeMore is a preeminent vocal artist helping to preserve the African American folk tradition through song and Gullah stick pounding. She is a singer/songwriter, composer, conductor and vocal activist who believes in the power of voices raised together. www.melaniedemore.com 42

This September marks the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Big Sur Folk Festival, when hundreds of people flocked to Esalen to hear Joan Baez, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell and others perform. Immortalized in the film Celebration at Big Sur, the concert is a freewheeling glimpse of vintage Esalen during an iconic time in its history. Photo by Baron Workman

WEEKS OF SEPTEMBER 20–29 Path of Devotion: A Yoga Teacher Training Janet Stone

Whether you’re an established yoga teacher, an aspiring teacher or a dedicated long-time student of yoga, the alchemy of a yogic path promises deep transformation. This unique 10-day training begins by establishing your svadharma, your own personal path through the many forms and expressions of the yogic life. To identify your svadharma, you’ll proceed from inquiry to action through a series of carefully guided steps: • Sankalpa: Clarify your intention so you know where you want to go on the path of yoga. Why do I practice? • Adhikara: Closely look at your own practice so you can honestly assess your strengths and your greatest opportunities for growth. What is the state of my practice now? • Sadhana: Manifest the path you’ve mapped for yourself through detailed instruction, practice teaching and study. Where do I want my path of practice to lead me? With this deeper understanding of your personal path of yoga, you can proceed to the training’s core curriculum, with experienced guidance from Janet Stone and top-of-their-field guest teachers.

(This training also includes required unit hours in the Esalen baths, at Dance Church and watching the sun set over the Pacific). Other course activities and components include meditation; mantra and bhakti to open your heart and voice in a practice of devotion; asana, alignment, anatomy and assisting; pranayama; philosophy; ethics; and livelihood. This immersion is designed for teachers, aspiring teachers and long-term practitioners of yoga. Those who complete the training will be eligible for 100 hours of Yoga Alliance Credit. All hours are applicable to the Janet Stone Yoga 200- and 300/500-hour training programs. Please bring a yoga mat. ($560 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Janet Stone traveled to India in 1996, where she dedicated herself to a conscious evolution through yoga. Janet creates a unique, vigorous-yet-sumptuous approach to Vinyasa yoga. She teaches in San Francisco and leads retreats internationally. www.janetstoneyoga.com

WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 20–22 The Embodied Life: Meditation, Guided Inquiry and the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais Russell Delman & Linda Delman

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you—don’t go back to sleep. — Rumi All methods devoted to human potential emphasize the importance of awakening to the present moment. All that we long for — love, joy, peace, harmony, truth — requires the fundamental capacity for presence. This workshop uses ancient and modern methods for

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

directly and simply uncovering this natural capacity. Put simply, we need the capacity to: 1. Sit quietly with our own thoughts. 2. Mindfully welcome our feelings/emotions. 3. Find comfort in our own bodies. The meditation we will practice is a bare-bones approach to experiencing the present moment “As It Is.” This is the basis for being at home in ourselves. Chairs are available and help is given to those who find sitting challenging. Guided Inquiry includes a variety of awareness experiments based in the Focusing method of Eugene Gendlin. Learning to bring a warm, caring, curious presence to our feelings/emotions/“negative” thoughts is truly transformative. The movement lessons of Moshe Feldenkrais are perhaps the most neurologically sophisticated and effective ways of transforming our motor patterns and self-image; these lessons are also interesting and fun. Through meditations, awareness practices, movement lessons and conversation, we anticipate a meaningful and joyful time of learning together. This retreat is open to all people who are interested in living an awakening life. Russell Delman has dedicated his life to the study of human transformation. Deeply indebted to his more than 40 years of both Zen meditation and marriage, he has helped train more than 2500 Feldenkrais® practitioners and founded The Embodied Life School. www.russelldelman.com Linda Evans Delman has been teaching the Feldenkrais Method and conducting programs internationally for 20 years. Her deep passion is in connecting work through the body with the spiritual depths of the human being.

Alchemy of Love: Celebrating Intimacy with Your Partner Sianna Sherman & Masood Khan

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melina Meza

Rising Strong™ Workshop Michelle Gannon & Beth Jaeger-Skigen

Rising Strong Workshop is based on the latest groundbreaking research of Brené Brown and led by San Francisco therapists and certified Daring Way™ and Rising Strong facilitators Michelle Gannon and Beth Jaeger-Skigen. The Rising Strong Workshop is ideal for anyone interested in personal growth and development, and wholehearted living. When we take personal and professional risks in our lives, we will inevitably fall and experience disappointment, hurt, failures and heartbreaks. Rising Strong Workshop helps anyone dealing with a life transition, personal or professional setback, or disappointment get back up with more courage, creativity and connection. The experience is about learning positive practical tools and strategies to live a more authentic, empowered, self-compassionate and brave life. This is a safe, supportive, nurturing, positive, fun and empowering experience. It includes exploration, experiential exercise, videos, guided journal writing, creativity through arts and crafts, music, movement, stories and play.

This weekend is designed for committed couples to cultivate emotional intimacy, deepen their connection and celebrate their love. With lots of laughs and transformational depth, couples will enter sacred space together to compassionately explore the scars and shadows that hold each person back from full freedom and authenticity. Learn to lovingly identify the wounds of relationship without blame, shame or guilt. Lean into each other with true openness and explore new territories in your togetherness. Sianna and Masood will guide you with yoga, healing movement, live music, shadow work for couples and keys for daily transformation in relationship. This is a perfect alchemical elixir for a main ailment in modern relationships: disconnection. In relationship, quality time together is essential. Take the time to unwind with your beloved, relax and soak in the rejuvenating waters of Esalen as you reconnect with Source in yourself and with each other. You and your beloved will leave with a renewed sense of shared vitality in your relationship, a deepening bond and a greater capacity to show up together for the Alchemy of Love. This workshop is designed for couples of all gender and sexual orientations. Recommended Reading: Masters, Emotional Intimacy, Transformation Through Intimacy and Bringing Your Shadow Out of the Dark. Sianna Sherman is an internationally celebrated yoga teacher, evocative storyteller and passionate speaker at conferences and festivals throughout the world. She is the founder of Rasa Yoga, Mythic Yoga Flow®, RITUAL and the creator of the Goddess Yoga Project with Yoga Journal. www.siannasherman.com Masood Ali Khan, PhD, has taught energy wellness techniques for 20 years. He is an eclectic musician, performing for 10 years at Esalen, and with three acclaimed Hand Pan yoga music albums. Masood’s shadow work training is with shadow master Robert Augustus Masters. www.MasoodAliKhan.com

Recommended reading: Brown, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly and Gifts of Imperfection. ($15 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.) Michelle Gannon, PhD, is a San Francisco-based clinical psychologist, relationship expert, and Hold Me Tight Workshop and Rising Strong Workshop™ leader. She is a certified supervisor and therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Michelle teaches internationally. www.HoldMeTightWorkshop.com Beth Jaeger-Skigen, LCSW, is a San Francisco-based therapist, relationship expert and Rising Strong Workshop leader. She is a certified supervisor and therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). She has led hundreds of groups on relationships, parenting, life transitions, grief and fertility-related issues. www.RisingStrongWorkshop.com 44

Photo by Esalen seminarian John Shumacher

Faculty

We spoke to Lisa about reconnecting people with song at Esalen and beyond.

Lisa G. Littlebird is here to show you that community singing — gathering informally to sing together — can change the world. After founding the Wholehearted Chorus, now 135 members strong, she launched a song-leader training program whose alumni have started community singing circles in 32 states and nine countries. Only half-jokingly, she now calls for both houses of Congress to sing before each legislative session! Sing with Lisa and an ensemble of renowned musician song-leaders during Singing on the Edge: A Community Singing Festival, September 15–20.

Why does the world need community singing more than ever?

Tell us about the musicians joining you at Esalen.

I see this work as a unique vehicle of empathy that the world is in dire need of. There’s a certain way that a song is inarguable. Without discussion, without debate or arguing and blame, we can share messages through song in a concise and clear way, direct from a connected place — from the heart. Every person from time immemorial in every culture has used music as a vehicle of human expression. Singing and dancing are the two most primal technologies that exist on the planet. I see my work as reconnecting people with an ancient birthright that’s always been there.

What’s unique — and especially potent and inspiring — about the culture of the larger community singing movement is the profound mutual generosity among the leadership. It’s entirely noncompetitive and everyone has such a different, unique flavor. From the really heavyhitting powerhouse Melanie DeMore, who’s holding songs and real activism on behalf of particularly marginalized communities, to Laurence Cole, who does grief work and takes people in a matter of hours into their deepest places, it’s just powerfully transformative. There’s a lot of value in going into deep silence and internal practice, but there’s equal value into going into expressive practice that uplifts together. There’s a bondedness and liveliness that is just unmatched.

“Every person from time immemorial in every culture has used music as a vehicle of human expression.”

What makes the oral tradition so powerful? A major barrier to singing for many people is feeling like they don’t identify as musicians. You hand somebody sheet music and it’s like handing them something in a different language. Song in the oral tradition is immediately accessible. When there’s no paper, nothing to pronounce, we get to just remember that this is a language that we all already speak and can be learned through doing. And though certainly there are songs that seem to live through time and survive through generations, the vast majority of my repertoire is quite contemporary — within the last five to 10 years. So it really appeals to the modern heart.

Where do you envision your work taking you in the next 10 years? I am holding a torch in my lifetime for community singing to be restored in our daily life as ubiquitously as yoga, and for it to be accessible through multiple avenues in every community. It started as a crazy assumption that made people laugh, and now we’re starting to believe it. Song leaders are emerging all over the place and the amount of passion and interest is a real movement. The number one thing I hear is, “This is the medicine I didn’t know I needed.”

Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Certification Training Roger Jahnke

Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 22–27 Zero Balancing – Part 1 Fritz Smith

Zero Balancing (ZB) is a non-diagnostic system of healing which clarifies and coordinates energy fields in the body, balances body energy with body structure, and focuses on bone energy and the skeletal system. Science has shown that energy and matter are fundamentally coupled; psychology has shown that the mind and body are interconnected. ZB embodies both perspectives. It is based on the experience that balancing the body’s energy with its structure has a direct positive effect on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Imbalances often lead to loss of vitality, chronic pain and decreased potential for vibrant health. The body’s structural/energetic interface is beneath conscious awareness. When imbalances occur at this level, the body tends to compensate around them rather than resolve them. Rooted in both Eastern healing and energy and Western medicine and science, ZB brings unique touch and relevant design to overcome imbalanced patterns. This workshop, part one of a two-part Core Zero Balancing series, is the entry-level program. Didactic and experiential, it is open to all health-care professionals. The workshop will teach newcomers how to perform a complete hands-on session, and for the experienced, it will deepen understanding and enhance skills. It also includes theory and practice of the ZB protocol, methods for evaluating and balancing the body’s structural/energetic interface, and how to use energy as a tool. This workshop qualifies for credit toward Zero Balancing certification. Recommended reading: Smith, Inner Bridges: A Guide to Energy Movement and Body Structure; Hamwee, Zero Balancing: Touching the Energy of Bone; Quarry and Kink, eds., Experience the Power of Zero Balancing.

Tai Chi Easy is a practice that combines gentle exercises, breath practices, self-massage and meditation to help you experience a refreshing, healing boost to body, mind and spirit. Developed by master teacher Roger Jahnke, Tai Chi Easy enhances energy (qi) to strengthen and cleanse the body and mind. According to Chinese medicine and philosophy, qi is the vital essence that creates health, well-being and harmony. During this workshop, you will learn how to teach tai chi principles including breathing, relaxation and mindfulness in an easy format to share in your classes. The Tai Chi Easy Practice Leader Certification Training is a step-bystep program to support you in creating powerful practice sessions. It is appropriate for all ages and ability levels, and provides a gentle yet powerful practice for you to share in your local community including schools, hospitals, social service agencies and elsewhere. Throughout the training, you will explore the reasons why the slow, flowing movements of tai chi have so many health-enhancing effects, including increased blood flow, improved cardiovascular fitness, endorphin production in the brain, brain plasticity, better sleep and improved mood. ($65 fee for digital access to video and manual will be added to the workshop cost.) Roger Jahnke, OMD, has dedicated his professional life to sharing the healing traditions of China. He is the director of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, in Santa Barbara and author of The Healer Within and The Healing Promise of Qi. www.feeltheqi.com

Sitting with my lunch And a hungry jay Among hearts Unknown but opened Between expanse of sky And sea I finally relent

CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. CE credit for acupuncturists; see leader. Fritz Smith is a physician, osteopath, cranial osteopath, certified acupuncturist and founder of Zero Balancing. He is the author of Inner Bridges: A Guide to Energy Movement and Body Structure and Alchemy of Touch. www.zerobalancing.com 46

By Sabrina Skiles

THROUGH OUR OWN EYES: A RETREAT FOR AND BY WOMEN PHYSICIANS

Through Our Own Eyes: A Retreat for and by Women Physicians Ligia Giese & Anjali Gupta

This is our 13th meeting of women physicians since 1997. In a community of peers and colleagues, we will reflect deeply on our personal and professional lives, encourage a better balance of work and play, and support each other in our evolution as healers. This year’s theme is Telling Our Stories and Speaking our Truths. Each day participants will experience these activities: • Facilitated small-group seminars to explore the creativity and joy, as well as the grief and traumas, of medical training and practice

In 1996, while sitting in the Esalen garden overlooking the ocean, Santa Cruz physician Charlea Massion came up with a solution to a far-reaching problem in her field. In her experience, all physicians face challenges when it comes to managing the difficult emotions and stressors that arise in the course of a work day, and women often experience additional pressures. The perpetual struggle to balance it all can erode well-being and create a fast track to burnout. So how to change the system and help the people helping others? “In the spirit of ‘healer, heal thyself’ I resolved that my sister physicians also needed to benefit from Esalen. I wrote postcards to 10 colleagues, asking their help to bring women physicians to Esalen’s nurturing, liberating environment.” A year later, Charlea and company held the first Through Our Own Eyes Retreat (TOOER), and it has been a biennial tradition ever since. “TOOER has given Esalen’s healing experience to over 400 women physicians who carry these gifts to their homes, their healing work and far beyond,” says Charlea. “Many participants have been coming repeatedly because every retreat offers the chance to discover something new about ourselves and our place in the world as women and healers,” says retreat co-leader Ligia Giese. During the 13th TOOER, women physicians in all stages of their careers will gather to share experiences, attend lectures, participate in experiential movement and storytelling sessions, and reflect, recharge and build connections. It is a way for the three streams of personal healing, professional growth and collective, systemic change to come together.

• Exploration of self-care strategies, work-life balance and effective personal and career transitions • Open time to pursue activities that renew your vitality and creativity Bring your journal, your watercolors, sunglasses and a great book! We encourage you to attend with a colleague or friend from medical school, residency or your community. Note: This workshop will offer Category I Continuing Medical Education credit. All participants must be physicians (MDs or DOs). Initial registration for this program is through the Hektoen Institute of Medicine. To begin the registration process, visit www.tooer.org for more information. Only after you have been accepted by the Hektoen Institute will you be able to register with Esalen. ($575 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Recommended reading: Mohr, Playing Big: Finding Your Voice Your Message, Your Mission. CE credit for American Academy of Family Practice; see leader. Ligia Giese is an obstetrician/gynecologist with Kaiser in Northern California. She lives with her husband and two sons in Berkeley. She practices yoga and meditation, is a serious student of flamenco dance, and is committed to helping her fellow health care professionals explore new paths for personal and career growth. Anjali Gupta, MD, is an emergency medicine and sports medicine physician working in the California Bay Area. She served as the wellness chair for her emergency department for several years and enjoys fostering a community of spiritually healthy physicians.

WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 27–29 Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski

This is a workshop for women who have felt overwhelmed and exhausted by everything they had to do, yet still worried they were not doing “enough.” We’ll explore not only the daily practices that expand our capacity to cope, but also the larger-scale social pressures that make those daily practices feel “selfish” or “indulgent,” when in fact they are basic human needs. The biggest social culprit is something we call “Human Giver Syndrome,” which says we owe it to our loved ones and even to ourselves to be pretty, happy, calm, generous and attentive to the needs of others, no matter the cost to our well-being. Is there a way to be deeply invested in our loved ones’ happiness without divesting from our own health? Can we help keep others warm without setting ourselves on fire? Yes. With the support of each other and four decades of science, participants will leave the workshop with a plan and a new vocabulary for sustaining their own well-being. This workshop is for women only. All self-identifying women are welcome. Recommended Reading: Nagoski and Nagoski, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. 47

Emily Nagoski, PhD, is the author of Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that will Transform Your Sex Life. Her degrees are in Health Behavior and Counseling, with concentrations in human sexuality and women’s well-being. www.emilynagoski.com Amelia Nagoski is a conservatory-trained choral conductor, specializing in the embodiment of music, emotion and connection. She is co-author, with Emily Nagoski (her twin sister), of Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle.

Harmonize: Discover Kirtan and the Yoga of Devotion Gopi Kallayil, Kirtaniyas, David Estes & Prajna Vieira

In the midst of our busy lives, we need opportunities for open-hearted joy and connection. From breath to voice to chant, there is an undeniably restorative power in lifting our voices together. During this celebratory weekend of kirtan — India’s ancient call-and-response form of devotional music — we invite you to deeply unwind and let your voice, heart and spirit soar. Bhakti yoga, known as the yoga of devotion, expresses divine love, self-realization and joy through an experience of oneness with all things. Through kirtan, yoga asana and meditation sessions each day, we’ll tap into three dimensions of bhakti yoga, align our inner and outer selves, and connect with one another with mindfulness, laughter and gratitude. Gopi will be joined by an ensemble of kirtan musicians, including the Kirtaniyas, who push the boundaries of genre by combining the traditional calland-response singing of ancient Sanskrit mantras with melodious electronic dance music, subsonic bass and live acoustic instruments. Prajna Vieira (of Mukti Kirtan) and David Estes (of Ananda Rasa

Kirtan) are a dynamic duo who share a traditional and ecstatic Bhakti kirtan experience. Join us for three days of live music and connection. Sing, stretch, connect with others and bring home new practices to enhance your daily life. ($50 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Gopi Kallayil is chief brand evangelist, brand marketing, at Google, the founder of the yoga program for Googlers called Yoglers, and the self-proclaimed “Happy Human.” Having become a yoga teacher by studying at the Sivananda Ashram Neyyar Dam, Kerala, India, Gopi is an avid yoga practitioner. Kirtaniyas is a global collective of musicians, producers and dancers. They tour internationally, infusing the ancient tradition of kirtan with youthful spirit and energy. Kirtaniyas combines melodious electronic dance music and subsonic bass with the call and response singing of ancient Sanskrit mantras, accompanied by live acoustic instruments. David Estes is the lead singer of the Ananda Rasa Kirtan band. His kirtan is rooted in traditional sanskrit chants sung to original Indian raga melodies and explores the ecstatic and mystical moods of Bhakti. Prajna Vieira is the lead singer of the Mukti Kirtan Ensemble and is also known for her work with Jai Uttal and other artists. She has dedicated her life to studying, practicing and sharing traditional yoga practices and Bhakti arts.

The Inspired Life: Cultivating Peace, Meaning and Joy in Everyday Life Kelly Boys & Rich Fernandez

This retreat is based on the simple principle that sources of inspiration, meaning and joy reside deeply within each one of us, and that the work of our lifetime is to become fully conscious of what is most alive within ourselves — and then act on it. Drawing from a wide range of disciplines including neuroscience, psychology, business, education, contemplative and movement traditions, we will make time for stillness and reflection and also dynamic envisioning and integration of insights as we explore the theme of fulfillment and thriving in everyday life. This workshop is for anyone who would like to: • Create space and reflect deeply on critical aspects of living, including their relationships, work and life transitions and other significant areas that need more attention in life • Clarify their life intentions and aspirations for their life • Align their values with their actions and behaviors in the world • Crystalize the conditions for inspiration and thriving in work and life • Define personal commitments to thriving across a lifetime Kelly Boys is a certified iRest® Yoga Nidra and Search Inside Yourself teacher. She has taught meditation to veterans with PTSD and at Google. She has worked with the Search Inside Yourself Institute and Integrative Restoration Institute, training meditation teachers. www.kellyboys.org

Be sure to visit our bookstore during your visit to browse books from Esalen faculty or pick up a journal to write your own story.

Rich Fernandez, PhD, teaches mindfulness, wisdom and science for everyday life and work. Rich is CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute, co-founder of Wisdom Labs and was the head of global executive education at Google. He is a trained psychologist, author and long-time mindfulness practitioner and teacher.

The Art of Empathy: Balancing Connection, Self-Care and Healthy Intimacy Karla McLaren & Amanda Ball

Empathy is possibly your most essential skill. It helps you understand yourself and others, and it is the core skill in your ability to communicate and relate to the world around you. However, many of us trip over empathy because we were never taught how it works. In this workshop, you’ll be taught new ways to work with your empathy and your emotions in order to create more successful connections. You’ll explore: • The Six Essential Aspects of Empathy model, which makes empathy clearly understandable • A unique empathic approach to emotions as carriers of vital messages, skills and intelligence • Five empathic mindfulness practices to help you live more comfortably and authentically in each moment • Specific empathic communication skills to nurture healthy empathy in all of your relationships • Numerous self-soothing skills to help you access your empathy in challenging situations • Ideas and practices to help you create healthy empathic environments in your relationships at home and at work Explore how to manage intense empathy more comfortably, and develop tools to understand empathy’s deeper layers and work with them more skillfully. No matter where you start, you can learn how to develop intentional, sustainable and healthy empathy.

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 4 The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche

We sleep one-third of our lifetime, an average of 20 to 25 years. Dream yoga is a practice that spans every moment, waking and sleeping. It is a powerful tool of awakening used for hundreds of years by the great masters of the Tibetan traditions. Foundational practices in dream yoga change the practitioner’s relationship to all experiences, develop conscious awareness and often lead to lucidity in dreams. Unlike in the Western psychological approach to dreams, the ultimate goal of Tibetan dream yoga is the recognition of the nature of mind or enlightenment itself. Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche will discuss the relationships between dream and waking, and dream and death. He will show how the causes of dreams are related to the six chakras, and how we can heal blocks in the chakras. He will teach the “four preparations” for sleep and the uses and methods of lucid dreaming. He will also guide the group in the clear-light sleep practices of the Mother Tantra, one of the most important cycles of teachings in the Tibetan Bön Buddhist tradition. Sleep yoga is more than a practice of the night. It helps us to integrate all moments — waking, sleeping, meditation and even death — with the clear light of awareness.

Recommended reading: McLaren, The Art of Empathy and The Language of Emotions. CE credit available for nurses, LCSWs, MFTs, psychologists, chemical dependency counselors and educators; see leader. Karla McLaren, MEd, is an award-winning author, researcher and pioneering educator whose empathic approach to emotions revalues even the most “negative” emotions and opens new pathways into self-awareness and healthy empathy. She is the author of The Art of Empathy. www.KarlaMcLaren.com Amanda Ball, MS, based her postgraduate studies in counseling on Karla McLaren’s work. She is a co-creator and lead instructor of the Dynamic Emotional Integration® (DEI) licensing program, and she is double licensed as a DEI trainer and consultant. www.brilliantemotions.com

Recommended reading: Rinpoche, The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep. Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche is one of very few masters of the Tibetan Bön Dzogchen tradition living in the West. He founded Ligmincha International, and is known for his ability to make Tibetan practices easily accessible to all students. Rinpoche is the author of nine books, including Wonders of the Natural Mind. Photo by Esalen seminarian John Schumacher

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What more can we discover about what it means to be human? Working in parallel with Esalen’s publicly offered programs, the Center for Theory & Research (CTR) sponsors a wide range of invitational conferences to address this question. From evolutionary biology and supernormal phenomena to citizen diplomacy and the rise of the attention economy, CTR invites boundary-pushing dialogue in service of a new vision of individual and collective potential. Among CTR’s 2019 projects is the Super Story symposium, a multi-year initiative to tackle big questions about the nature of reality and humankind’s evolving consciousness. “The Super Story is a poetic device designed to capture all of those emergent mythologies and mystical currents that have been developing over the last two centuries in conversation with the sciences,” explains Jeffrey Kripal, symposium facilitator, chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University and chairman of the Esalen Board of Trustees. By discussing a variety of mystical experiences and phenomena not easily explained by Western science, Super Story aims to develop a new framework of shared understanding and language in order to integrate new realms of human capacity into cultural consciousness. “The conviction behind CTR is that the limits of the human have not yet been imagined, much less reached,” adds Esalen and CTR co-founder Michael Murphy. “The Super Story symposium is part of what we might call the ‘master lineage’ reaching back to the earliest inspirations of Esalen, and seeks to bring together the empiricism and discoveries of the sciences and the global history of mystical thought to envision a new worldview.”

Photo by Bridget Ahern

Wild Tao: Hiking and Qi Gong in Big Sur Wilderness Fletcher Tucker, Noël Vietor & Jim Gallas

In search of balance, the ancient sages of China walked into the woods to attune themselves with nature in its sublime integrity. The timeless wisdom uncovered in their wild wanderings was called simply Tao, “The Way.” Qi gong — the practice at the heart of Taoism — is dedicated to harmonizing body, mind and spirit with the elements of nature. In this age when so many of us feel disconnected and overwhelmed, wilderness remains a powerful healer and teacher, and qi gong can bring us back to center. Join us to learn an accessible qi gong form called Wai Dan Gong (“Easy Tao”), while immersing in the majestic landscape of Big Sur. We rise each morning to practice, harmonizing breath and movements with the flow of waves greeting Esalen’s cliffs. After breakfast, we set out on a wilderness hike to mindfully explore Big Sur’s enchanted redwoods, sun-steeped meadows and mountains that rise from the sea. All along the trail, we explore qi gong as a pathway for returning to a grounded, spacious, revitalized state of being — in harmony with nature, embodying Wild Tao. Note: Hikes are 3–6 miles in length, including picnic lunch and returning to Esalen in late afternoon. Various hiking abilities are accommodated. ($75 parks permit and parking fee will be added to workshop cost.) Fletcher Tucker is co-founder of Wildtender. A devoted student and teacher of California natural history, awareness traditions, ancestral skills and wisdom, and trail-craft/backpacking practice, Fletcher is committed to re-connecting human beings in body, mind and spirit with wild nature and our non-human relations. Noël Vietor is co-founder of Wildtender. Noël is dedicated to helping people build meaningful relationship with self, earth and community. Having found healing and belonging while hiking the Big Sur wild, Noël is honored to create this opportunity for others through Wildtender’s immersive wilderness programs. www.wildtender.com Jim Gallas, a Shiatsu teacher for more than 15 years, has led workshops in California and internationally. Creator of the DVD Zen Thai Table Shiatsu: Deep and Effective Body Work with Ease, he also teaches reiki, anatomy, yoga and chi kung. www.relaxedfocus.net

Emancipating the Soul from Trauma’s Grasp: An Embodied Mystical Approach Renee Jennings & Sarah Weiss

Deep within the heart lies the living energy of transformation. This energy radiates our true essence: a whole and multidimensional self. Individually and collectively, trauma and shame can thwart our best efforts toward wholeness and can have profound effects on the body and relationships. Modalities derived from epigenetics, neurobiology, and attachment and field theory can offer relief; however, emancipating the soul from trauma’s grasp also requires spiritual medicine. Most of us think of trauma as a one-time devastating experience. However, trauma is also the result of repeated controlling, invasive and manipulative behavior by parents, partners, friends, employers or others. It often goes unrecognized because it is not acute, but the impact is devastating. Transformative modalities including Gestalt/somatic practices, Energy Psychology, EMDR and subtle energy practices from qigong, shamanism and Sufism will aide in the transformation of trauma energy

Each year, Esalen offers an exciting array of opportunities for learning massage and healing arts. Our programs range from weekend and week-long workshops to multi-week 100 and 250 hour massage practitioner certification programs. For a complete listing of workshops please visit www.esalen.org.

into healing energy. Journaling, group processing, practicum and lectures will be integrated throughout the week. This integrative and immersive workshop is for all who are willing to live a courageous and whole life based upon love, understanding and intuitive clarity. Recommended reading: Goleman, et al, Measuring the Immeasurable: The Scientific Case for Spirituality; Vaughan-Lee, The Return of the Feminine World Soul; Perls, Living at the Boundary; Laskow, Healing with Love. Renee Jennings, MA MSW LCSW, is a somatic and Gestalt therapist/ trainer, energy practitioner, meditation teacher, mentor/consultant and writer with more than 25 years in the healing arts. She is especially interested in the integration of mysticism and embodiment in daily life and professional practice. Renee is Gestalt Cleveland faculty. www.reneejennings.com Sarah Weiss, MA LMT, is a medical intuitive, spiritual teacher, and founder of SpiritHeal Institute. She is adjunct professor at Baldwin Wallace University and contributes regularly to the Sedona Journal. www.spirithealonline.com

WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 4–6

NAMASWEAT: Active Recovery and Self-Care

Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life

Lauren McHale

Emily Nagoski

During this workshop, which is designed for participants of all gender and sexual orientations, we’ll begin with the science of sexual response like you’ve never heard it before, and then blow away five myths about women’s sexuality. When does a woman’s desire for sex start? (Way sooner than you think.) What happens to her body when she’s turned on? (Nothing in particular.) What kinds of sensations are erotic? (In the right context, ALL OF THEM.) What’s the single best predictor of a woman’s sexual satisfaction? And how can you have great orgasms reliably? As a bonus, I’ll teach you Emily’s Top 5 Sex Tips for Having Better Sex Than Anyone You Know. Recommended reading: Nagoski, Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that will Transform Your Sex Life. Emily Nagoski, bio on page 48

How many times have you thought about improving your self-care routine but found yourself unsure of where to start or intimidated by the process altogether? Psychologists define self-care as any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional and physical health. Although this may seem like a simple concept in theory, it is often overlooked due to increasing demands on our time and energy. Self-care is the key to improving our mood, reducing anxiety and improving our relationships with others and ourselves. NAMASWEAT is both a class and an ideology: finding a way to strike a balance between hard work and self-care that feels authentic and enjoyable. The workshop itself is a combination of yoga and functional strength training exercises set to high-energy music that will help alleviate insecurities and increase interpersonal connection. Lauren’s success as a fitness professional is rooted in vulnerability and openness. Her coaching style is focused on taking the intimidation factor out of self-care and creates an environment for collective consciousness and connection. Please bring a journal and pen. Recommended reading: Neff, Self-Compassion. Lauren McHale is a yoga instructor, certified personal trainer and founding SoulCycle instructor in San Francisco. Her signature class, NAMASWEAT, is a blend of yoga and strength training designed to help people strike a balance between hard work and self-care. www.laurenmchale.com

Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

Esalen Massage® for Couples Deborah Anne Medow & Peggy Horan

Give your significant other or good friend a wonderful gift of touch. Enjoy the serene beauty of Big Sur as you and your partner learn how to give one another an effective Esalen Massage. A tender touch can do wonders for any relationship by easing stress, releasing tension and deepening nonverbal communication skills. The workshop focuses on how to pay attention with heart and hands, ask for what you need, and take the time to truly nurture yourself and your partner. Sessions will include basic quieting exercises, movement, brief demonstrations, hands-on guidance and plenty of time for practice. At each session, following a demonstration and warm-up exercise, couples will exchange massages. Join us for a pleasurable time of relaxation, renewal and re-connection with your partner. There will also be time to enjoy the magic of the Esalen grounds, the healing waters of the hot springs and the natural beauty of the Big Sur coast. Please bring an open heart, your favorite music for massage and/or dancing and a good sense of humor. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Len Lehmann

Women’s Leadership Visionary Summit Lucy Caldwell

We are living in a watershed moment in human history marked by an unprecedented opportunity for women to rise into leadership with refreshing, authentic, collaborative and impassioned feminine power. In this gathering of visionary female leaders, we will facilitate the next wave of women’s empowerment, for ourselves and for our world. Participants including leaders in the fields of medicine, film, science, psychology, consciousness, technology, impact investing and cultural arts will gather to empower the divine feminine, unite our energy, create a culture of mentorship and support to share our visions, catalyze change and amplify our impact. Drawing upon the lands and sacred traditions of Esalen, we will bring forward ancient wisdom with the latest insights from the medical, scientific and technical fields to consciously shape the society we wish to build. We will learn from each other’s wisdom across disciplines, backgrounds and generations, and share our visions and align vectors of influence to collectively impact individual, systems level and societal transformation. This workshop is for women only. All self-identifying women are welcome. A limited number of spaces to participate in this summit are being offered to the general public, alongside a beautifully curated lineup of established leaders. We would love to learn more about your interest in this gathering and what you might like to contribute.

Deborah Anne Medow, longtime Esalen workshop leader, yoga instructor and bodywork practitioner, teaches yoga, massage, creative movement, awareness practices and related healing disciplines throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan. She is also a certified nutrition educator and manager of the Esalen Healing Arts Department. Peggy Horan gives Esalen Massage in a field of comfort and support, using stretches and deep muscle work to bring healing and relaxation to her clients. She has been practicing and teaching Esalen Massage for four decades and is the author of Connecting Through Touch, A Couples Massage Book.

WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 11–13 Loving What Is Byron Katie

Note: Registration for this workshop begins with an application. To apply, visit https://goo.gl/forms/sOZ8c1j7n91IwrQJ3. Only after you have been accepted will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen.

Byron Katie has one job: to teach people how to end their own suffering. As she guides people through her simple yet powerful process of inquiry, called The Work, they find again and again that their stressful beliefs — about the world, other people, or themselves — radically shift. This shift allows the mind to return to its awakened, peaceful and creative nature. Join Katie in a workshop designed to take you on a journey of self-discovery. With her humor and lovingly incisive clarity, Katie will show you how to identify and question the stressful thoughts that cause all the suffering and violence in the world. Anyone with an open mind can do The Work. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to do The Work with Katie. Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now, says, “The Work is like a razor-sharp sword that cuts through illusion and enables you to know for yourself the timeless essence of your being.” Always accessible through her books, at worldwide events and workshops, and on the web at www. thework.com, Katie’s wisdom and unconditional love are tangible.

Lucy Caldwell is a social psychologist, venture philanthropist and creator of the Life Revealed podcast. She has devoted herself to the science and practice of how people change, and inspiring them to live with greater authenticity, purpose and fulfillment.

Byron Katie created The Work, which has been bringing freedom to millions of people for more than 20 years. Her books include the best-selling Loving What Is, I Need Your Love—Is That True? and A Thousand Names for Joy. www.thework.com 53

FROM THE FEAR OF DYING TO THE JOY OF LIVING: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF LONGEVITY, VITALITY, HAPPINESS AND HEALTH

Photo by Esalen seminarian Lisa Lefanty

WEEK OF OCTOBER 13–18 From the Fear of Dying to the Joy of Living: The Art and Science of Longevity, Vitality, Happiness and Health Shauna Shapiro, Daniel Siegel, Dean Ornish & Anne Ornish

This week brings together a team of internationally recognized doctors, scientists, and meditation and yoga teachers to deepen our understanding of how to live a healthy, meaningful, joyful life. Weaving together ancient wisdom traditions with modern neuroscience, we’ll explore the transformative effects of lifestyle practices including meditation, yoga and diet on your longevity, vitality, happiness and relationships. We will explore simple yet potent practices and lifestyle choices, including nutrition, mindfulness, compassion practices, yoga and powerful experiential exercises. We will also hear the latest research on reversing Alzheimer’s disease and improving chronic conditions through lifestyle medicine. You will have the opportunity to master the Wheel of Awareness, a potentially life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence and peace in day-to-day life, and explore how to apply the interpersonal neurobiology approach to develop a healthy mind, integrated brain and empathic relationship. Additionally, there will be a special session dedicated to hearing the faculty’s thoughts on the complications and possible options for moving the U.S. healthcare system in a positive direction. ($60 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost.) Shauna Shapiro bio on page 28. Daniel Siegel bio on page 28. Dean Ornish is founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif. He is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He is an author and leading expert on fighting illness with dietary and lifestyle changes. Anne Ornish created and directs Ornish Lifestyle Medicine’s digital platform, Empower. Anne has more than 20 years of advanced training in yoga, meditation and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, and is a certified Integrative Health & Spirituality practitioner through the California Pacific Medical Center. 54

The simplest choices — to eat a healthy diet, get enough exercise, handle stressors with grace, even give and receive love — affect every level of being, and can dramatically improve health and vitality. But in the midst of everyday distractions, making even small habit changes can be daunting. Led by pioneers in the fields of lifestyle medicine, neurobiology, mindfulness and compassion, From the Fear of Dying to the Joy of Living is an opportunity to gain practical new tools to improve health and well-being from the ground up. “Change is hard, and knowing we need to change is different than being able to do it,” says mindfulness expert and workshop co-leader Shauna Shapiro. “What we’ve found in the newest evolution of health and wellness research is the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, so we’re bringing a multidisciplinary team to Esalen to explore not only the latest science of wellness, but also real, actionable take-home practices to implement going forward.” Shauna will be joined by physician and lifestyle medicine innovator Dean Ornish, whose research since the 1970s helped correlate healthy eating, exercise and other wellness habits with preventing and even reversing chronic illnesses. Other faculty include Mindsight founder Daniel Siegel, and integrative health and wellness facilitator Anne Ornish. “We’ll be learning by experiencing this week,” says Shauna. “We’ll eat wholesome meals straight from the Esalen Farm and practice mindful eating, build community, engage in yoga and exercise, be in nature, and experience meditation practices. It’s not only making the choice to begin the journey, but actually doing it.”

WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 18–20 Getting the Love You Want: A Workshop for Couples Rick Brown

The Art of Leadership: Communication, Creativity and Vision Ronald Alexander

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. — Albert Einstein This workshop is for individuals interested in exploring an intensive experiential process to become more effective as mindful leaders both in personal and professional life settings. Designed for entrepreneurs, executives, managers, medical and mental health professionals, and others committed to improving their communication and leadership skills, it is especially intended for those open to doing deep personal work to transform the self as well as their organizations. The major areas of focus will be leading from the inside out, resolving conflict, developing trust with those who feel threatened, learning the distinctions in speaking and listening, healing blocks in creativity and building support for transforming vision into reality. The workshop includes sharing feedback on leadership and communication styles, mini lectures on leadership and the mindful brain power points, Gestalt open-seat work, improving coaching skills, developing the unconscious to creatively solve problems, mindfulness meditation practice and role-playing exercises for real-life work situations. As John Quincy Adams said: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Well Woman: A Restorative Retreat for Women Touched by Breast Cancer Alejandra Campoverdi & Kristi Funk

Whether you are considered high risk for developing breast cancer, carry a genetic mutation, have breast cancer or are a survivor, this immersive wellness retreat is for you. Co-taught by renowned breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk, and by notable women’s health advocate and founder of the Well Woman Coalition Alejandra Campoverdi, this workshop for women provides a loving and supportive group setting to focus on collective healing for body, mind and spirit. Equal parts educational and experiential, you will explore how to cultivate a body that is physically, emotionally and spiritually incompatible with cancer. In addition to learning about the various dietary, lifestyle and treatment practices that can significantly reduce breast cancer risk, the retreat will use small group work and journaling to support participants on their holistic healing journey. Enveloped by Big Sur’s magical ocean, earth and sky, this empowering retreat is a chance to foster greater health and renewal, all while being nourished by fresh, organic meals including plant-based foods from Esalen’s farm and pampered in the healing hot springs. This workshop welcomes all self-identifying women. Recommended Reading: Funk, Breasts: The Owner’s Manual. Alejandra Campoverdi is a women’s health advocate, founder of the Well Woman Coalition and LATINX & BRCA at Penn Medicine’s Basser Center for BRCA, certified holistic cancer specialist and former White House aide to President Obama. www.alejandracampoverdi.com Kristi Funk, MD, is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon, best-selling author, co-founder of the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Beverly Hills, and has helped thousands of women through breast treatment, including well-known celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow.

Required reading: Alexander, Wise Mind Open Mind; Heider, The Tao of Leadership; Maxwell, Developing the Leader within You; Dickmann, Mindful Leadership: A Brain-based Framework. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. Ronald Alexander, PhD, is the director of the Open Mind Training Institute and leads trainings internationally in mindfulness, mind-body therapies and transformational leadership. He is the author of Wise Mind Open Mind. www.ronaldalexander.com

Photo by Esalen seminarian Len Lehmann

WEEK OF OCTOBER 20–25 Professional Training Program in Mind-Body Medicine James Gordon, Amy Shinal & Lynda Richtmeier Cyr

This evidence-based, transformational training gives health professionals the science and tools to make mind-body medicine a foundational part of their practices and lives. It is the first step in becoming certified by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), one of the world’s premier programs in comprehensive self-care and group support. For more than 25 years, CMBM has taught this program to more than 6,000 professionals including clinicians, educators, community leaders and peer counselors. Attend lectures on the latest research in mind-body medicine and experience CMBM’s pioneering Mind-Body Skills Groups, where you will practice a variety of techniques to reduce stress and enhance self-awareness, mobilizing your imagination and intuition and developing your capacity for self-care. Learn how to: • Make evidence-based, mind-body techniques including meditation, guided imagery, biofeedback, written dialogues and genograms an integral part of your practice • Experience self-expression in words, drawings and movement, and learn to use these creative approaches with others • Learn the latest scientific evidence for these techniques and how they bring positive change to our physiology and psychology 56

• Experience CMBM’s Mind-Body Skills Group model and learn to lead these groups • Bring new vision, more effective practice and greater joy to your life and work • Become part of a worldwide community of healers Note: Initial registration for this workshop is through CMBM. To begin registration, please visit www.cmbm.org/mbm. Only after you have registered with CMBM will you be able to register with Esalen. For Esalen pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/page/workshoppricing-partner-programs. James S. Gordon, MD, founder and executive director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), is a psychiatrist and recognized expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety and psychological trauma. www.cmbm.org Amy Shinal, MSW, LCSW, is an integrative psychotherapist, clinical director at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and part-time faculty at Saybrook University’s College of Mind-Body Medicine. Lynda Richtmeier Cyr, PhD, is an integrative clinical psychologist, consultant, clinical instructor of pediatrics at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, associate clinical director at the Center for Mind-Body Medicine and part-time faculty at Saybrook University’s College of Mind-Body Medicine.

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Overlooking the ocean on the north side of Esalen property is a turquoise art studio adorned with sculpture, mosaic and stained glass. Known as the Art Barn, this funky outpost is a refuge for personal expression. On any given day, curious seekers gather here to experiment, play, take risks and travel one of the most ancient human paths of transformation: the creative process. Esalen offers art and creativity workshops from painting to photography, and each one is a unique invitation. “Be it drawing a landscape or writing a poem by hand, the physical act of creating takes you immediately to your core self,” says Esalen art faculty Erin Lee Gafill. “You are invited to contemplate your place and time in the moment with a rigor that focuses the mind, engages the body and centers you in the now.” From that place of present-moment awareness, art making taps into many modalities woven into the fabric of Esalen. “Creative practice is deeply connected to the human potential movement,” says visual artist Marina Kurikhina, who teaches weekly art classes open to everyone as part of Esalen’s Experiential Program. “We use art to inquire into the psyche, art as a spiritual process, and art as a movement practice.” Through these creative explorations, people discover new capacities not only for expression, but also for empowerment, joy and inner growth. Esalen’s wondrous natural beauty is an endless source of creative inspiration. Participants in Adam Wolpert’s workshops take it one step further by painting outdoors. “Initially the painters look outside at the glorious vistas and radiant gardens of Esalen and try to paint what they see,” Adam shares. “But after settling into the practice, they realize they are studying their inner selves as much as they are studying their surroundings, maybe even more so.”

Photo by Wendy Fuchs

WEEKEND OF OCTOBER 25–27 Yoga, Meditation and Addiction Recovery Retreat: A Celebration of Healing Rolf Gates & Nikki Myers

Addictive behaviors separate us from ourselves, one another, our environment and the divine. Yoga offers a set of practices that directly address the range of issues caused by the family disease of addiction. Connected to our wholeness, we more readily recognize our addictive behaviors and find the inner strength to move beyond them. Join us as we bring together the ancient tools and practices of yoga and meditation as ways to deepen the exploration of recovery from addictions. Mornings will begin with an asana and meditation practice that embraces such concepts as surrender, letting go, acceptance and gratitude. Each day, we’ll offer different mini-workshops, which allow participants to explore more fully the convergence of the path of yoga and recovery. We will also have time to reflect, soak in the hot springs, rest, rejuvenate and connect. Rolf Gates conducts Vinyasa teacher trainings and programs internationally. His work has been widely featured in television and in print. As a former U.S. Army Ranger and social worker, Rolf brings his eclectic background to his teaching and his life. He is the author of Meditations from the Mat. Roxanne “Nikki” Myers is a yoga therapist, Somatic Experiencing practitioner, certified recovery specialist and founder of CITYOGA School of Yoga and Health. Nikki is the co-founder of Y12SR, the Yoga of 12-Step Recovery.

Conversations on the Edge: Journeys in Gender, Exploration of Identities Ben Geilhufe & Jennifer Hastings

If you are looking for another way to grow, in a unique format different from the traditional workshop, please join us for an Esalen original series: Conversations on the Edge. In each of these curated weekend events, we bring together leading experts and visiting teachers to explore a pressing issue of our time in a vibrant, interactive forum of lecture, lightning talks, group discussion and idea sharing. In Journeys in Gender: Exploration of Identities, we will engage in short lightning talks by visiting teachers and skilled experts who will explore the dimensions of gender and how gender impacts, influences and informs our day-to-day experiences. The teachers will share their own personal and professional gender journeys and invite participants to explore their own. Visiting teachers include Ben Geilhufe, director of outreach at UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center, and Dr. Jen Hastings, a physician with the medical advisory board at The Center of Excellence for Transgender Health. This weekend is comprised of several short but impactful lecturettes that end in Q&A and conversation among the audience. Scheduled gathering time will be significantly less than traditional workshops to allow for participation in movement and meditation classes, healing arts and hot springs, and time to enjoy the natural beauty of Esalen. Presenters are subject to change. Ben Geilhufe is the director of outreach for the UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center. He co-facilitates the Gender Specialist Clinical Team of the Central Coast, and is an active contributor to Mind the Gap, the Bay Area gender specialist team. In his private practice, Ben supports individuals of all ages with gender exploration. Jennifer Hastings is a family practice physician who started the Transgender Health Care Program at Planned Parenthood, Mar Monte, Santa Cruz. Jennifer is assistant clinical professor, UCSF, Department of Family and Community Medicine.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 27–NOVEMBER 3 Your Life Cannot Be Any Easier Than Your Movements: Healing with Cortical Field Reeducation®, Feldenkrais® and Brain Plasticity Harriet Goslins, Laura Kunysz & Judy Greenman

Photo by Esalen seminarian Wendy Fuchs

How we sit, stand, move or respond to contact with others reflects patterns wired into our nervous systems in infancy. By early childhood, conflicting intentions distort these patterns. Feeling powerless, we attempt to survive and to win love by figuring out “the rules.” The resulting strategies may protect us as children but, deeply ingrained in our muscular postures and movements, they limit our choices as adults. These engrams remain outside of awareness, causing discomfort and dysfunction. By reeducating the brain-muscle-emotion connection, restrictions can be released, freeing lifelong behaviors that have organized around that movement, restoring freedom of choice. The protective postures are altered, deeply affecting the body’s habitual defense system and allowing a higher level of energy. This workshop begins the process of relearning the ease, fluidity

and openness taken for granted as a child and lost somewhere along the way. It is for the sedentary; for the active who want to increase physical skills and reduce risk of injury; for those dealing with after effects of injury or emotional trauma, and the professionals who work with them; for the chronically tired and stressed who want to take better care of their necks, shoulders and backs; and for those who want to improve their posture, flexibility and breathing while deepening their sense of connection and belonging. This workshop is also useful for those in the helping and healing professions in working with their clients and patients. CE credit for physical therapists for an additional $300 fee; see leader. Harriet Goslins developed Cortical Field Reeducation®. A Feldenkrais practitioner since 1985 and Integrated Awareness teacher, her background is in psychosynthesis, applied kinesiology, muscle energy, craniosacral work and social anthropology. She has been teaching at Esalen for 32 consecutive years. www.cfrhealing.com Laura Kunysz is a senior CFR instructor and cranio-sacral therapist. She has a background in Esalen Massage, Somato-Emotional Release work, the Chickly Brain Curriculum, energy healing and lymph drainage. She is in private practice in California. Judy Greenman teaches Cortical Field Reeducation®, Integrated Awareness® and conscious parenting at Esalen, in the Florida Keys and internationally. She introduced Challenge Days to the Keys and founded Monroe Youth Challenge Program.

WEEK OF OCTOBER 27–NOVEMBER 1 The Upledger Institute’s Visceral Manipulation 1 Dee Dettmann Ahern

Learn the models and concepts of functional biomechanics as viewed from Jean-Pierre Barral’s Visceral Manipulation approach. This method of evaluation and treatment is based on the concept that each of our internal organs rotates on a physiological axis. Focus is on the abdominal cavity and includes the organs, their membranes, ligaments, innervation and their spatial functional interrelationships. You will be taught basic manipulations for correcting abnormal motions and stress patterns within this cavity. The manual techniques are not advised for pregnant participants. Note: Initial registration for this workshop is through the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) only. IAHE is a coalition of curriculum developers united to advance innovative therapies through high-quality continuing education programs. To begin the registration process, please call 1-800-311-9204. Only after you have registered with IAHE will you be able to register with Esalen. For Esalen pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/page/workshoppricing-partner-programs. CE credit for physical therapists in CA (24 units); see leader. CE credit for acupuncturists (24 units); see leader. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Dee Dettman Ahern, RPT, has been a manual physical therapist since 1978 and has studied with The Upledger Institute since 1984. A practitioner of Visceral Manipulation since 1987 and a teacher since 1994, she teaches and speaks internationally for the Barral Institute. 59

Photo by Esalen seminarian Wendy Fuchs

WEEKS OF NOVEMBER 1–17 100-Hour Esalen Massage® Certification Program Nora Matten & Silvia Guersenzvaig

The 100-Hour Professional Certificate in Esalen Massage program offers a comprehensive training for certified bodyworkers who wish to add the Esalen approach to their professional repertoire. Esalen Institute pioneered many approaches that integrate body, mind and spirit, and Esalen Massage builds on this rich history in the depth of its curriculum. It also offers an experience of the “bigger picture” of how to use simple human touch to support healing within the whole person. The workshop begins with training in centering, grounding, awakening the senses and developing the art of being present. The initial focus is on quality of touch, Esalen’s holistic approach to massage and the signature long strokes. By means of lectures, demonstrations and supervised practice, you’ll move into detail work and assisted movement, with attention to body mechanics and somatic considerations. Relevant anatomy and physiology concepts are also highlighted. Learn communication skills for interacting with clients in a clear, compassionate manner. This certificate in Esalen Massage is open only to massage practitioners with 150 hours of massage training at a state-approved school, and some massage practice. Upon satisfactory course completion, successful evaluation sessions and documentation of 30 additional massages at your home site, an Esalen Institute-recognized Certificate in Esalen Massage 60

for 100 hours will be issued. The certification fee is $115. Esalen is an approved School by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (school code 2700571) and the California Massage Therapy Council (school code SCH0010). This course is especially useful for those in the healing professions in working with their patients and clients. This is a professional training with limited admission. Tuition is $5,110 for standard shared accommodations and $3,690 for a limited number of bunk-bed accommodations. Bunk bed and other scholarship are awarded based on financial need and social impact. Please request an application form by contacting massagecer t@esalen.org. Esalen offers numerous levels of basic massage certification. For an overview of these offerings, please visit www.esalen.org/page/esalen-massage-certification-programsoverview. ($20 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.) CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Nora Matten is a member of the Esalen massage crew and an Esalen Massage teacher. As part of the Esalen movement staff, she teaches dance and yoga. Her work draws on Forrest yoga, Soul Motion, vipassana meditation, Gestalt Awareness Practice and the Diamond Approach, among others modalities. www.noramatten.com Silvia Guersenzvaig is a certified international Esalen Massage® teacher and astrologer since 1977. She is a bilingual practitioner and international teacher of Transformational Kinesiology® and creator of AstroSoma, a healing method that combines energy muscle testing and astrology. www.tk-usa.com

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 1–3 Gratitude Retreat Janet Stone

We gather at Esalen for a weekend to remember — with our bodies, minds and spirits — all that we have to be grateful for. This experience includes yoga, reflection, renewal, soaking in the healing baths, walking on Esalen property and detoxifying the body, mind and spirit. Before you step into the swirl of the holidays this year, give yourself the gift of looking within. Immerse yourself in a dynamic ritual of asana, pranayama, chanting, meditation and yoga nidra. Let’s recognize each breath as a gift, as we’re nourished by delicious organic meals, the natural hot springs, walks among the majestic redwoods or simply curling up in an ocean-view chair. Whether you come alone or with loved ones, you are sure to return to your daily rhythm with a newfound sense of ease, inspiration and deep gratitude for the life you’re living. Please bring a yoga mat. Janet Stone bio on page 43.

Thriving in Uncertainty: A Workshop in Sensory Awareness Lee Lesser

Life is uncertain. As much as we try to create stability and predictability, each moment brings its own surprise and its own unique offering. The more we can show up for each moment of our life just as it is, the more we can thrive in the midst of uncertainty. Our sensations are wonderful allies in this process. As we pay attention to our sensory experience, the more connected we become to what is actually happening. Charlotte Selver, the founder of Sensory Awareness in the U.S., used to say, “Every moment is a moment. Every moment makes a certain request of us. The question is how we answer it.” This workshop focuses on tools that help us to be present, that are antidotes to the busyness in our heads. So much energy

is dispersed and lost as we fight against what scares us, or what is uncomfortable. By simplifying our activities, we can connect with our sensations. This experiencing reveals our habits and the possibility that can unfold when we get out of our own way and find freedom in the midst of any experience. For more information about Sensory Awareness, visit www.returntooursenses.com. Recommended reading: Littlewood and Roche, Waking Up: The Work of Charlotte Selver; Chodron, Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change; Lusseyran, And Then There Was Light. CE credit for massage; see leader. Lee Klinger Lesser has led Sensory Awareness workshops for more than 40 years. She studied and taught with Charlotte Selver, the founder of Sensory Awareness in the United States, and an original Esalen pioneer. She is the co-founder of the nonprofit Veteran’s PATH, which shares mindfulness and meditation practice with returning veterans. www.returntooursenses.com

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3–8 Insight Yoga Teacher Training Intensive Secondary Level Sarah Powers

This workshop is intended for Yin Yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners with a minimum two years of practice, who are interested in using the Yin yoga class as a doorway for developing the subtle body, mindfulness practice and psychological inquiry. Prerequisite: We require that you have taken Insight Yoga Teacher Training Primary Level with Sarah Powers: Essential Teachings on Yin Yoga and Mindfulness, and that you know how to sequence yang poses with yin sequences. This is a 30-hour Yoga Alliance training. To be eligible for the certificate, there is an essay requirement that will be assigned at the end of the training. Those who are unable to attend all of the classes will be awarded the certificate based only on the hours attended. Please plan your time and travel accordingly in order to not miss any of the sessions. In this workshop, we will not focus on how and why to practice Yin Yoga — this material is covered in the primary level training. Instead, we will explore the inner methods (pranic and mind training) through various breath patterns and retentions, visualizations for the health of the organs, contemplations in the poses and the foundation methods of Buddhist mindfulness. Each day will include a lecture, yin yoga session, seated meditation practices focusing on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and interactive discussion time. You will be provided a reading list before the training begins and are required to read the books assigned for this training before they arrive. Note: Registration for this workshop is through Sarah Powers only. Please visit https://sarahpowers.com/iyi/insight-yoga-teacher-training-intensive-secondary-level-august-2019/ for registration details. Only after you have registered and paid tuition fees will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen. Sarah Powers bio on page 30. 61

Upledger Institute International’s CranioSacral Therapy 2 LuviaJane Swanson

CranioSacral Therapy 2 studies cranial-base dysfunctions as diagnosed and treated by Dr. William Sutherland, the “father” of cranial osteopathy. Workshop material and hands-on sessions will focus on cranial-base dysfunctions, the masticatory system-hard palate, mandible and temporomandibular joint; whole body evaluation; and the energy cyst with regional unwinding. An introduction to SomatoEmotional Release will also be presented. The prerequisite for this course is Upledger’s Institute CranioSacral Therapy 1 (CS1) and thorough working knowledge of the 10-Step Protocol. Note: Registration for this workshop is through the International Alliance of Healthcare Educators (IAHE) only. IAHE is a coalition of curriculum developers united to advance innovative therapies through high-quality continuing education programs. To register, please call 1-800-311-9204. Only after you have registered with IAHE and paid tuition fees will you be able to reserve accommodations at Esalen. For accommodations pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/ page/partner-program-pricing. Recommended reading: Upledger & Vredevoogd, CranioSacral Therapy (chapters 7–15); Upledger, CranioSacral Therapy II: Beyond the Dura (chapter 3). CE credit for physical therapists in CA; see leader. Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

Songwriting from the Heart Progressing on the Journey Johnsmith with Julie Baker

CE credit for acupuncturists; see leader. LuviaJane Swanson D.C., CST-D, is a certified CranioSacral Therapy 1 and 2 instructor and mentor for the Upledger Institute International. Her background in massage and chiropractic has shaped her approach to manual therapy, which is deeply rooted in body mechanics and structure.

Come take your seat among other songwriters as we work to refine our songwriting tools. We will go beyond the basic nuts and bolts of the craft, working to take our skills to the next level. Get ready to develop the ability to translate your own life stories into well-crafted, heartfelt songs. Through writing exercises, song assignments, performances, co-writing and demonstrations, the inner muse will be coaxed and cultivated. In a safe, supportive, fun workshop climate, we’ll share and receive constructive feedback on our works in progress. Join us to discover and expand our boundaries and edges around the songwriting process, and to bridge inspiration and craft. At week’s end the group will share its songs, new and old, with the Esalen community. This workshop is for individuals who have experience in songwriting and are working on refining their musical voice. You should have written some songs and be able to perform them from memory prior to attending this workshop. Bring your musical instrument and dress casually — we will do some dancing and moving. There will also be evening jams. Simple recording devices are strongly encouraged. Bring an open heart and a curious mind. Johnsmith has been writing heartfelt songs for more than 30 years. He’s won national awards and contests, was a staff songwriter in Nashville, and has recorded eight CDs. He’s taught songwriting workshops nationwide, and has been featured on NPR’s New Dimensions. 62

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 8–10 Bouncing Back: The Neuroscience of Resilience and Well-Being

Being Present in the Body: Using Mindfulness to Work with Trauma Pawan Bareja

Required reading: Graham, Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being.

Our desire to be happy is our most basic urge, but physical or emotional trauma can get in the way. Traumatic responses, especially from old painful unresolved experiences, are embedded in our body and in our behavior, and have the ability to blindside us and sabotage our happiness. These responses often produce stress that no longer serves us in our present day-to-day life. Is it possible to recognize the traumatic responses in your body? How can you recognize the non-verbal traumatic responses in your reptilian brain? How do you work with old emotional and physical wounds to free up your frozen, survival-based energy, so that you may feel more settled, grounded, and calm in your everyday life? Expect a weekend of teachings that facilitate an exploration of your traumatic responses in your animal body, experiential exercises to free up energy, and ways to recognize the felt-sense of being grounded and settled. The workshop will emphasize movement and mindfulness meditation practice.

Recommended reading: Hanson, Buddha’s Brain; Goleman, Social Intelligence.

Recommended reading: Moffitt, Emotional Chaos to Clarity; Levine, Waking the Tiger.

Linda Graham

Welcome to an experiential weekend of strengthening your inner resources and the natural resilience that supports your well-being and flourishing. You’ll be taught more than a dozen tools and techniques drawn from the intersection of brain science, relational psychology and mindfulness practices. These can help you reduce the impact of stress and trauma; deepen your self-compassion and self-awareness; and broaden perspectives, possibilities and sense of purpose. The practical experiential exercises, guided meditations and visualizations; inquiry in dyads and small groups; and stimulating dialogue and discussion in large groups will help you harness your own self-directed neuroplasticity to rewire your brain for maximum resilience and well-being. You can learn new and creative ways to navigate the twists and turns of life with more calm, courage and flexibility.

CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Linda Graham, MFT, integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices and relational psychology in her international trainings. She is the author of the award-winning Bouncing Back and posts weekly resources for recovering resilience on her website. www.lindagraham-mft.net

Pawan Bareja, PhD, teaches mindfulness and trauma classes in the San Francisco Bay Area and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. She has trained professional care providers in India. In her private practice as a trauma resolution practitioner, she works with a diverse population of clients.

The Archetypal Journey: Awakening the Creative Forces Within Kim Krans

What are archetypes? How do we awaken and embody them in everyday life? In conjunction with the release of The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck & Guidebook, Kim Krans leads an exploration into the many faces and forces of our archetypal journey. Through a creative and experiential lens, you will study the recurrent symbols, motifs and stories that animate our outer world and our inner lives. We will use creative practices, movement, collage, meditation and of course interaction with the cards. We will journal, try new things and meet others on a similar mystical path. We will rely on poets, painters, writers and sages to lead the way with their teachings on archetypes and how archetypes live through us. We will also experience the pristine Big Sur landscape as a guide into the self. This workshop is particularly useful for those on the healing path, creatives or card readers (as the archetypes animate nearly all oracle and tarot decks). The only prerequisite is an open mind and a willingness to jump into the vast world of archetypes. No background on the subject is required. Bring a journal, a curious heart and a longing to explore your life. Kim Krans is an artist, author and the creator of the New York Times bestseller, The Wild Unknown Tarot. She teaches events and workshops that activate the forces of creativity and radical transformation through creative practices, meditation, and movement.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 10–15 Creative Catalyst Dana Albany & Michael Hopkins

When people talk about Black Rock City, the stunning, large-scale visual art is an inevitable part of the conversation. Unlike most galleries or museums, where art is “on display” and attendees admire it at arm’s length, the art of Burning Man is interactive and made to be engaged with. Collaboration, adaptability and collective vision are at the center of all successful Black Rock City art pieces and the groups that make them. The process by which art is made is as important as the final result. In this immersive art-making experience, you have the opportunity to learn new skills from and get your hands dirty with Dana Albany, an experienced Burning Man artist, with the end goal of making an art piece with your fellow participants. Dana will employ her unique gifts, talents and expertise with your group, allowing for you to fully express your creativity. The piece you and your group make will develop organically, and by the end of the session you’ll understand how the 10 Principles of Burning Man work together not just in creating art but also in helping human engagement on the scale that continues to cause transformative change at Burning Man and in the world. ($100 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.) Dana Albany is an artist who has exhibited for the San Francisco Arts Commission, SOMAR Gallery, the de Young Museum of Art, San Francisco Airport, Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences. Dana has been awarded many grants and produced several large-scale sculptures for the Burning Man event. Michael Hopkins, aka Flash, is a legendary Burning Man figure. He is an artist, actor, instigator and storyteller. He has worked with Dana Albany on many projects. A unique character with his own creative flair, he both inspires and entertains in an unforgettable way.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

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For five days this fall, a group of international social entrepreneurs will come to Esalen to explore how their relationship with themselves deeply influences their work in the world. The retreat is part of the Wellbeing Project, a global initiative dedicated to shifting the social change field to encourage and support whole-person thriving. As a co-creating partner, Esalen has helped develop and guide Wellbeing Project programs since 2015. “Esalen has been fundamentally important to our core curricula,” says Nancy Mortifee, dean of the Project’s Inner Development Program (IDP). Most IDP facilitators have a long history with Esalen, including Christine Price, Steven Harper, Judith Hemming, David Feinstein and Richard Schwartz. Gestalt practice, which originated at Esalen, became an integral part of IDP, and Esalen input also led to the inclusion of emotional embodiment, movement practices, process work and regular check-ins between retreats. While here this fall, the cohort’s focus area will be Internal Family Systems work led by Richard Schwartz and Sarah Stewart. Hailing from Africa, India and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America, Europe and the U.S., members of the cohort bring a wide range of experience. “Many have lived through a social problem that they’ve felt compelled to address. They may have been raised in a war-torn country or in poverty, or been in a place where there weren’t opportunities for women,” Nancy shares. “They’re all people who have taken on these issues in remarkable ways.” Through the IDP curriculum and Esalen’s unique transformative practices, the cohort will not only look within, but also take the space to consider a new way to work for social change. “The retreat offers an invitation to go into those deeper places of inner conflict and make peace,” adds Nancy. “Then from that place, participants ask themselves, where do I want to go? How can I integrate this new awareness with my life in the world? They can go back to the workplace with more acceptance and compassion and with the tools to live a new way.” The Wellbeing Project’s time at Esalen is made possible in part by the generosity of Esalen donors.

The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach Barbara Bogatin, Nikki Mirghafori & Clifford Saron

Join us for an exploration of the benefits of practice from three distinct, intertwined perspectives. Mornings will begin with intensive mindfulness and loving kindness meditation led by dharma teacher, lay contemplative and scientist Nikki Mirghafori. She will facilitate sitting and walking meditations and help participants refine and integrate their practice and insights. UC Davis neuroscientist Clifford Saron will lead a voyage of scientific discovery into brain function. He will share findings from “The Shamatha Project,” which investigates the effects of meditation on attention, emotion and human flourishing. San Francisco Symphony cellist Barbara Bogatin will play musical interludes and give behind-the-scenes narratives illustrating how musicians turn their daily instrument practice into contemplative practice. She will provide a rare glimpse from within the discipline of maintaining a high level of craft, performing music by Bach and exploring the composer’s creative process to better understand the depths of human expression in his music. Days will consist of meditation, didactic presentations, informal talks and extensive discussion interwoven with guided listening and exulting in the joy of music. This workshop, well suited to practicing clinicians, is open to all. No previous experience in meditation, music or brain research necessary! For a glimpse into music and meditation, watch this three-minute video by Barbara Bogatin: http://www.sfsymphony.org/barbarabogatin. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/buddha-brainbach-0818. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Barbara Bogatin has been a cellist with the San Francisco Symphony since 1994. She studied at the Juilliard School and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, New York Chamber Soloists, Connecticut Early Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest and Tahoe Summerfest. www.barbarabogatin.com Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, left academia as an artificial intelligence scientist, and now regularly teaches meditation retreats and classes at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and other internationally recognized Buddhist centers. She is also a Stanford-trained Compassion Cultivation instructor and UCLA-certified mindfulness facilitator. www.NikkiMirghafori.com Clifford Saron, PhD, a research neuroscientist at the Center for Mind and Brain and MIND Institute at UC Davis, investigates meditation, well-being and cognition from multidisciplinary perspectives. He also studies sensory and multisensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder.

experiences, a-ha! and extraordinary moments and awe can stimulate change; investigate the transformative potential of pain, struggle, hitting bottom and post-traumatic growth; delve into stories, symbols and metaphors of transformation; and map your own lifelong journey of change. The group will also examine how people can get stuck or lost, and how to shake free from periods of inertia or patterns that prevent them from moving forward. Recommended reading: Schlitz, Vieten and Amorok, Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader.

How We Change and Why We Don’t: The Art and Science of Transformation Cassandra Vieten & Michael Sapiro

Have you ever worked hard to make a change, only to find yourself slipping back into old habits and patterns? Are you in the midst of riding massive waves of change and need a few surfing lessons? This workshop is for people who are in the process of change, or who work as change agents with individuals, groups or the collective. Through dialogue, experiential practice and creative process, the group will learn about the emerging science of transformation and explore indigenous, religious, spiritual and secular models of transformation. Examine how peak 66

CE credit for nurses; see leader. Cassandra Vieten, PhD, is president and CEO of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a scientist at California Pacific Medical Center and a licensed clinical psychologist. She is an international speaker and workshop leader, and co-wrote Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life. www.noetic.org Michael Sapiro, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, meditation teacher and former Buddhist monk. He is the founder of Maitri House Yoga and a Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. His work integrates psychology, noetic sciences, nondual and Buddhist meditation, and social justice in the service of awakening. www.maitrihouseyoga.com

An Introduction to Esalen Massage® Char Pias & Robin Fann-Costanzo

This workshop is a wonderful opportunity for you to enjoy the beauty of Big Sur and the healing waters of the Esalen hot springs, while gaining a foundation in the art and practice of Esalen Massage. During the week, participants will be taught massage methods that address the whole body: Esalen’s signature long flowing strokes that support feelings of wholeness, connection and integration; passive joint movement; and a variety of techniques to work with the major muscle groups of the body. Each day will include a brief massage demonstration and instruction in various self-care methods, with plenty of time to practice giving and receiving a massage. Char and Robin will work at the tables with each participant to accommodate the group’s different skill levels. Beginners will be taught the basic tools and techniques that will allow them to more skillfully massage their partners, friends and family. More experienced practitioners will be taught techniques that can easily be integrated into their massage sessions, inspiring and infusing their work with a deep sense of presence and flow. This workshop is especially useful for those in the helping and healing professions in working with their clients and patients. Join us for a week of learning, healing, nurturing and play! CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Char Pias, a member of the Esalen massage staff since 1980, teaches internationally, focusing on bodywork’s energetic, emotional and spiritual aspect. She is a Reiki teacher, a Circle of Life facilitator/ coach and a licensed graduate of The Center for Spiritual Healing. www.piasoma.com Robin Fann-Costanzo has a lifelong background in dance and movement. An Esalen Massage practitioner, CranioSacral practitioner and certified yoga instructor, she has taught and assisted Esalen Massage trainings, yoga retreats and Upledger Institute trainings. www.esaleninstructor.com

Relational Gestalt Practice: The Transformative Power of Emotion Dorothy Charles

Each of us finds our true selves through our emotions. In order to become whole, we must discover how our experience is organized in limiting, unconscious patterns and through that process, learn how to organize our experience in new ways. When we begin to expand and integrate a broader range of emotions, we move toward wholeness because the ability to experience and to express emotions is integral to the experience of aliveness. Learning to fully experience feelings and to be able to articulate them in healthy, meaningful ways enables us to have more pleasurable and fulfilling relationships. This experiential and didactic workshop will blend individual and group Relational Gestalt work. The intention of Relational Gestalt Process is to expand emotional range by feeling, expressing and building emotional tolerance in order to strengthen our relationships. We will experiment with tracking our emotions, learning to recognize them as signals that call for awareness and attention, rather than as something to be avoided. Recommended reading: Yontef, Awareness Process and Dialogue; Korb, et al., Gestalt Therapy: Practice and Theory, Gestalt Legacy Project, and Manual of Gestalt Practice in the Tradition of Dick Price. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/relational-gestalt-practice. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Dorothy Charles has been a student and teacher at Esalen since 1982. A student of Esalen co-founder Richard Price, she combines Esalen body-centered Gestalt with relational Gestalt theory, and leads workshops in Asia, Europe and the U.S. www.dorothycharles.com

Painting by Esalaen seminarian Kristin Hiensch

Jivamukti Yoga Bhakti Immersion Gabriela Bozic

During this workshop, expect the full Jivamukti package of tradition, music, meditation, bhakti and creative asana sequences. This is a yoga workshop with a great passion for life, nature and love, designed to get you out of your “stuff” and back into the groove. We will look at yoga as a means to make a sustainable change in your life on all levels, not just as far as your asana practice is concerned. The workshop includes an empowering blend of asana, pranayama, meditation, yoga philosophy (primarily Yogasutra and Bhagavad Gita), group exercises, chanting and contemplation to support you in creating a joyous life with purpose and passion. The course is designed to help you: • Re-invigorate and re-energize an asana/meditation practice • Deepen understanding of yoga philosophy and how to incorporate it into everyday life • Enhance teaching skills if you are already a yoga teacher • Learn how to become a spiritual activist • Develop an energetic understanding of alignment and yoga assists • Learn how to become a more effective communicator Please bring a yoga mat. Note to certified Jivamukti Teachers: This immersion will count as credit hours toward the 800-hour certificate in Jivamukti Yoga. Sessions in the immersion will go toward the 800hour certification requirements of Jivamukti Yoga class attendance, Jivamukti Yoga workshops/retreats attendance, satsang attendance, Sanskrit and scriptural study and meditation. Recommended reading: Gannon and Life, Jivamukti Yoga. Gabriela Bozic, MA, is a yoga teacher and co-founder of the Jivamukti Yoga Centers in Munich, Germany. She holds a master’s degree in linguistics and advanced certification in Jivamukti Yoga. Gabriela leads workshops internationally and is an established presenter at yoga conferences worldwide.

Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 15–17 The Rhythms and Stories of Our Lives: 5Rhythms® and Motion Theater® Lucia Horan & Davida Taurek

Movement is medicine. — Gabrielle Roth Experience the freedom and transformative power of self-expression through the catalytic practices of the 5Rhythms and Motion Theater. Motion Theater, a form of improvised autobiographical storytelling grounded in a lively physicality, simultaneously functions as performance art, healing method and spiritual practice. The 5Rhythms is a dynamic moving meditation practice that invites us to embody our psyche and awaken our soul. Together we will dance, vocalize, share our stories and play simple theater games that ignite the creative collective spirit. The skills and tools you will learn will inform your daily life, bringing acceptance, grace and play wherever you need it. This workshop will provide techniques to translate our inner life stories into art, while offering the opportunity to express ourselves freely in a safe and supportive environment. Expect to surprise yourself and perhaps even leave with a greater sense of vitality, ease and joy. Lucia Horan bio on page 21. Davida Taurek, MS, has a diverse academic background in counseling psychology, the creative arts and body-centered therapies. She is a certified instructor of Watsu, WaterDance, Motion Theater and the 5Rhythms®. She leads classes, trainings and workshops worldwide. www.davidataurek.com

Photo by Esalen seminarian Melina Meza

Radical Intimacy and Heart-full Attraction Michaela Boehm

Whether you are starting an intimate relationship or want to deepen passion with your partner, the principles of Intimacy and Polarity — the spark that keeps passion alive — are always available to deepen your experience. The process of cultivating masculine purpose and feminine love-light is the basis of passionate relating and deeper intimacy. In this experiential course, you will be shown the building blocks, practices and disciplines of creating deeper connections in your life. During this weekend together you can: • Learn about the principles of creating and deepening passion and intimacy • Understand the difference in offerings of the feminine and masculine, and the distinct gifts they bring to intimacy • Discover how to bring your partner into his or her essence and induce the play of polarity even after a day at work • Explore new ways of bringing depth and excitement into your loving • Bring home skills and tools for intimate connection Note: This weekend workshop is open to singles and couples of any sexual and gender orientation. Participants should be prepared for extensive experiential practice. Sex and nudity are not involved. Michaela Boehm teaches and counsels internationally in intimacy and sexuality. Born and raised in Austria, Michaela combines her background in psychology with in-depth training in the yogic arts as a classical Kashmiri Tantric lineage holder. Michaela teaches internationally and traveled and co-taught with David Deida for 13 years. www.michaelaboehm.com

Conversations on the Edge: A Brave New China: Power, Competition, a Race for AI and the U.S.-China Relations Xiao Qiang, Sophie Beach & Zak Dychtwald

Xiao Qiang is director and research scientist of the Counter-Power Lab, a research group focusing on technology and free flow of information in cyberspace, based at UC Berkeley. Xiao also is the founder and editor-in-chief of China Digital Times, a bilingual China news website, and received the MacArthur Fellowship in 2001. Sophie Beach is the executive editor of China Digital Times, a bilingual China news website. She previously served as senior research associate for Asia at the Committee to Protect Journalists. Her writing appears in the Los Angeles Times, the Asian Wall Street Journal, the South China Morning Post, The Nation magazine and elsewhere. Zak Dychtwald is the author of Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World. He is also the founder of Young China Group, a think tank and consultancy. At 28, Zak has spoken at forums and summits across four continents. He grew up coming to Esalen with his dad. 69

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17–22 Dancing with the Dharma: 5Rhythms® and Insight Meditation Lucia Horan

In order to truly understand the dance, one must be still. And in order to truly understand stillness, one must dance. — Rumi If you can liberate the body, then the heart-mind can follow. In this retreat of meditation and movement, will we integrate the stillness of Buddhist mindfulness meditation with the moving meditations of the 5Rhythms. The Buddha encouraged us to bring wise attention to every aspect of our lives. In sitting meditation, we have the opportunity to observe the mind and body at rest through silent introspection. In the practice of the 5Rhythms, we engage in mindfulness while in motion. The 5Rhythms is a map that teaches how energy moves. The two polarities of moving and sitting meditation together mirror the dance of life. In this journey we are always moving between these two spectrums. If one learns to not cling or avoid, one can then hold the place of the silent witness and be at ease with all that life offers. We encourage meditation students to practice mindful dancing in order to bring balance and insight into their lives. We invite dancers to engage in sitting meditation in order to embody integration, balance and insight. Join us for the groundbreaking union of these two deep and wise practices. Lucia Horan bio on page 21.

A Clinical Introduction to Imago Relationship Therapy: Bringing Couples from Rupture to Connection Carol Kramer

Therapists, this workshop is for you if you already work with couples but want to do it better, or even if you dread your next appointment with a couple or avoid doing couples therapy altogether but would like to. Join Carol Kramer for this hands-on learning experience. This training for therapists will introduce the basic theory and therapeutic processes of Imago Relationship Therapy and will help you understand the core issues all couples face.Together we will cover how to:

THE ECOLOGY WITHIN: THE HEALING SYNTHESIS OF NATURE AND PSYCHE How do we integrate all of who we are into what we do in the world? For co-leaders Daniel Rechtschaffen and Rene Henery, it’s a question that ignites a natural synergy. “Rene and I were on a long hike together, continuing our perpetual conversation at the intersection of ecological science, indigenous wisdom, mindfulness and systems thinking,” Daniel shares. “We hiked for 10 hours without pausing the conversation. By the end of it, we’d formed the idea for this workshop.” As a mindful education facilitator, Daniel works from the inside out, teaching mindfulness and emotional intelligence in schools. Rene’s work as California science director for Trout Unlimited comes from the other side, addressing large-scale ecological challenges but from a relational perspective. In both contexts, Daniel and Rene see a great need to re-envision how people relate to each other, themselves and the planet. “One example I see all the time is the pressure of climate change,” says Rene. “People recognize they need to work together to find common solutions, but there isn’t a willingness to look at the emotional body in the room. A lot of people have histories of contention and systemic inequity; they never get past the oppositional politics to collaboration and co-creation because they can’t actually look at what’s going on within themselves. In this dialogue between nature and humans, if we don’t look at ourselves, we can’t move forward on how to live together on this planet at this time.” Grounded in nature connection, ecological principles, community building and creative expression, their workshop shows the myriad ways that nature’s systems can illuminate our inner worlds in service of a new, integrated vision for self and society. “In a very real way, this is a collaborative, emergent conversation coming out of that long hike we took,” says Daniel. “We’ll bring modalities together and enter a place of deep and vulnerable inquiry. How do we understand living a meaningful life in a beautiful and fruitful way?”

• Transform destructive conflict into creative tension • Move couples from “communicating” ineffectively to deep dialogue that restores connection and evokes joy

The Ecology Within: The Healing Synthesis of Nature and Psyche

• Enhance couples’ mutual curiosity, appreciation and sense of humor

Daniel Rechtschaffen & Rene Henery

• Emphasize the potential beneath the negative fallout of childhood wounds

We are expressions of Nature. The dynamics and connections that shape the natural world and guide its evolution are mirrored in our physical, emotional and psychological bodies. For this reason, attunement to external systems can reveal a map for our own healing and growth. This intimate, immersive journey interweaves the deep ecology of Big Sur and the depth psychology of our hearts and minds to reveal our interconnected place in the world. From this understanding we will blend story, art and inquiry to unearth archetypes and relationships from our internal ecosystems, and identify trailheads of expression for our authentic life offerings. Our five days in community will include: • Ecological exploration: Connect with nature’s patterns and movements by exploring ecological science and the dynamics that shape our world including diversity, connectivity, disturbance, recovery and succession

Through Imago Relationship Therapy you can learn a way of offering couples the option to create a conscious partnership that restores original connection and joy, and heals the wounds of the past. Methods will include lectures, demonstrations, practice and videos. The training is credited towards certification as an Imago Relationship Therapist. Recommended Reading: Hendrix and Hunt, Getting the Love You Want; Hendrix, Receiving Love and Keeping the Love You Find. Carol Kramer, LICSW, is an advanced Imago therapist, faculty trainer and workshop presenter. Carol was trained by Dr. Harville Hendrix. She brings enthusiasm, warmth and clarity to the process of learning Imago theory. Carol has taught at Omega Institute, Kripalu and the Cape Cod Institute. 70

• Internal inquiry: Align internal psychology with meditation and inquiry as a way to harmonize divergent parts within a vast, compassionate awareness • Community connection: Build a culture of belonging with the group through Gestalt dialogue practices, inner systems psychology and mindful communication • Creative expression: Uncover and express the landscapes of your internal nature through visual art, music and movement Reconnect with nature, your heart and the vibrant beauty of community. Leave with a greater intimacy with yourselves and others, a deeper understanding of ecology within and without, and practices for attuning your inner ecosystem as it evolves through time. Daniel Rechtschaffen, MFT, is a marriage and family therapist and author of The Way of Mindful Education and The Mindful Education Workbook. He is the founding director of Mindful Education, a mindfulness and social emotional learning platform for educators. He organizes the annual Mindfulness in Education Conference and Teacher Training at the Omega Institute. www.mindfuleducation.com Rene Henery, PhD, is an ecologist and artist who holds a joint position with the University of Nevada, Reno, Global Water Center and the nonprofit Trout Unlimited. Rene’s work embraces water, diversity, connectivity and equity as pathways to resilient ecosystems and communities.

Photo by Esalane seminarian Wendy Fuchs

The More Beautiful World our Hearts Know Is Possible Charles Eisenstein

Our hearts know it, because we have seen it, experienced glimpses of what life and the world could be. Yet as individuals and a society, we carry habits and programs of the old and dying Story of Separation. We cannot easily know how to get from here to there; often, we doubt what we have seen. This retreat is a deprogramming from the old story and an immersion in a new (and ancient) story. It crystallizes a next step toward the world we know is possible. It engages a great power within you, and it will inspire a hope that comprehends the full situation on this planet. Note: For this workshop, participants will pay Esalen for accommodations only. The course fee is self-determined. At the end of the workshop, participants will choose a tuition amount that reflects their feeling of value, gratitude and desire to support Charles Eisenstein and his ongoing work. For accommodations pricing chart, see www.esalen.org/page/partner-program-pricing. Recommended Reading: Eisenstein, The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible. Charles Eisenstein is a speaker and writer focusing on themes of human culture and identity. He is the author of several books, most recently Sacred Economics and The More Beautiful World our Hearts Know Is Possible. He lives in Asheville, NC, with his wife and four children. www.charleseisenstein.net

Carol Kramer

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 22–24 Keeping the Love You Find Carol Kramer

Creating more satisfying relationships is a lot easier when you understand how and why the ruptures with your current or past partner happen. The Imago framework can help you understand the mystery of your romantic challenges, as well as your trigger points and defensive coping styles in relationships. This experiential workshop is for anyone interested in using relationship challenges as opportunities for personal growth — and as a way of learning to be in relationship more happily and successfully. It is based on the work of Dr. Harville Hendrix and his best-selling book, Keeping the Love You Find: A Guide for Singles. Through guided imagery, written exercises, role playing and group process, this workshop will help you: • Explore a method for letting go of past hurts and ineffective ways of being in relationships • Learn practical tools you can use immediately • Grow beyond the old behaviors, beliefs and attitudes that interfere with the loving intimate relationships you desire • Practice new skills that will help you work through conflict and find and keep the love you desire Professionals who attend this workshop will also benefit from learning new ways of working with clients. Recommended Reading: Hendrix, Keeping the Love You Find; Hendrix and Hunt, Getting the Love You Want. Carol Kramer bio on page 70.

Sacred Evolution: Yoga and Meditation Charu Rachlis

We are living in one of the most accelerated times of change in history. The challenge each of us faces is how to navigate these changes with wisdom, creativity and joy. Yoga as an ancient art and science oriented toward reducing suffering is the path that will guide us in our time together. We will weave together asanas (postures), meditation, pranayama (conscious breath) and restorative poses. In times like now, there are huge opportunities for growth, which we can see as evolutionary gifts. Regardless of where we live, our station in life, or the circumstances we face, if we embrace what is unfolding before us as an evolutionary gift, we will rise up in consciousness to a new pattern of life. The daily practices during this workshop will support us in opening to the new alignments that are available as long as we surrender and invite ourselves to wholeness and deep connection with the earth and the cosmos. We will embark on a beautiful inner/outer journey that can prepare us to take on the joy and responsibility to embrace sacred evolution. Everyone is welcome. Please bring a yoga mat and a journal. Charu Rachlis was born and raised in Brazil, and has been teaching yoga in San Francisco since 1997. She teaches in a Bhakti lineage. She has a 20-year history of Tibetan Buddhist meditation, and is strongly influenced by Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga. www.yoginicharu.com

Why is the wisdom of the body important today? Modern culture makes it possible to exist while paying almost no attention to the body whatsoever, and this has been disastrous! We have ignored our finely tuned gut instincts and our body’s unique preferences for food, sleep, play and love. We are addicted to media, sugar, alcohol and drugs because we don’t know how to handle our body’s physical and emotional pain — the important messages that our body sends us so that we can change our thoughts and behaviors. When each of us practices right relationship — with our body, loved ones, community and this amazing planet — we can do what we are each uniquely called to do in our lifetime. And when we do that, we heal our world. What do you hope participants take from your workshop? I hope they are able to listen more closely to the innate wisdom within themselves and make personal choices about how they eat, move and sleep that bring them more joy and freedom. I also hope that the work we will do together on love, relationship, community and purpose inspires them to connect to the people they care about and the causes that matter most to them. How has Esalen impacted you? Esalen has literally changed my life. I came here for the first time 17 years ago and reconnected with my inner self, my playful self, my priestess self, my healer self, my dancing self. I spent the next decade bringing more and more of my “Esalen self” into my regular life, and now my professional work is a reflection of what I discovered at Esalen! I have travelled extensively, but Esalen remains my spiritual home and my favorite place on the planet. How would you describe Esalen in one word? Magical.

Climate Change Inside and Out Charles Eisenstein

A deep part of us knows that the earth climate is intimately connected to the political climate, social climate and spiritual climate. This weekend offers a radical take on earth healing that totally rewrites the climate narrative. This is not just an ideas workshop — be prepared to do inner work, to release the despair narrative and to embrace an activated, empowered hope for planetary healing. Note: For this workshop, participants will pay Esalen for accommodations only. The course fee is self-determined. At the end of the workshop, participants will choose a tuition amount that reflects their feeling of value, gratitude and desire to support Charles Eisenstein and his ongoing work. For accommodations pricing chart, see www. esalen.org/page/partner-program-pricing. Recommended Reading: Eisenstein, Climate: A New Story and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible. Charles Eisenstein bio on page 71.

WEEK OF NOVEMBER 24–29

Dance of Oneness®: Ecstatic Gratitude

Heart Refuge and Revival: Meditation, Movement and Flow

Banafsheh Sayyad & Tony Khalife

Shiva Rea

May I be a place of refuge, a sanctuary, shelter in the storm. — Shanti Deva’s daily prayer Join Shiva Rea for five days of mindfulness, movement and flow guided by the spirit of gratitude. Journey home to the radiance of your heart fire as we savor every moment and movement in this feast of life. Each day will include three spacious, experiential sessions with Shiva, your compassionate guide in learning how to fully enjoy a daily heart-mind-opening meditation practice both on and off the cushion. Sample an “energetic menu” of meditation formats including seated meditation, breath flow, movement, yoga, Prana Danda, ritual and wisdom prayers from Buddhist and Tantric traditions. In our daily morning session, we’ll enjoy relaxing awareness and “nine round breathing” meditation, which balances the energy channels and clears the mind. For the afternoon sessions, experience Prana Flow yoga and Shaiva Tantric moving meditation. For the evening sessions, experience regeneration sessions including relaxation arts, intimate soul council, fire-offering meditation or hot springs sound bath. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced teacher, together we will create five days of heart-centered mindful practice. There will be a celebratory Thanksgiving dinner in the Esalen Lodge. Shiva Rea, MA, is a movement alchemist, global prana vinyasa teacher, yogadventurer, wave rider and founder of Samudra Global School for Living Yoga, Yoga Alchemy Online and Yoga Energy Activism for a green energy future for all. www.pranavinyasaflow.com www.shivarea.com

The whole universe is love’s endless dance. — Kabir Please read slowly and as you read, come in touch with something you are grateful for…allow the feeling of gratitude to expand into every cell inside of you until you feel your wings. The energy of gratitude is both enlivening and soothing. Let this energy open you to the grace that can live in you and channel through you for the benefit of all. Gratitude and grace stem from the Latin gratus. To be graceful, you need to be grateful. Like attracts like so the more grateful you are, the more graceful you become. Whirling is the practice of ecstatic gratitude: when you feel genuine thankfulness with such resplendent intensity that you generate a surge of endorphins in your body and slip into full-scale euphoria. In the state of ecstatic gratitude, you are able to navigate negativity with grace. Guided by the Sufi mystics Rumi, Rabia and Kabir, ground your soul in your body with luscious awareness, and rediscover your heart as the seat of the infinite. Banafsheh and Tony will lead a nurturing weave of structured and free-style dance, whirling, chanting, live music, meditation, wisdom teachings and laughter. Banafsheh Sayyad, MFA, LAc, is a Persian sacred dance artist, transformational teacher and licensed acupuncturist. She is the founder of the pioneering synthesis of embodied spirituality known as Dance of Oneness® which beckons ALL to exalt. She teaches and performs worldwide. www.banafsheh.org

Grounded in Gratitude: A Week of Stillness, Presence and Inner Listening Kelly Boys

In this retreat we will slow down, pause and listen deeply to what is most real and alive in our lives. When we are busy and overwhelmed, we miss the transformative power that listening with presence offers us. Through sitting meditation, yoga nidra (lying-down guided relaxation and inquiry practice), journaling, simple dyad exercises and group dialogues, we will reconnect with an inner stillness, ground in a felt sense of gratitude and discover what may benefit from kind, loving attention in our lives. When we stop resisting what is in our experience, we get closer to our own creative presence and we learn to listen. It’s often the case that just beneath our conscious awareness there is a storehouse of messages just waiting to be delivered, and read with care. It’s this layer of the psyche and heart that we will explore in the meditative context of stillness, gratitude and community. Whether it’s a pivotal moment in your life and you’re looking for clear direction, or you want to take a break and reconnect with yourself, or you are simply looking for a week of rejuvenation, this workshop is for you. Kelly Boys bio on page 48.

Faculty

We spoke with Al about his Esalen collaborations and what makes Tai Ji a timeless integrative practice. What first drew you to Esalen? Alan Watts was the key figure who

With more than 50 consecutive years leading Esalen workshops, Chungliang “Al” Huang holds a remarkable lineage. By offering creative Tai Ji

outdoors?

brought me into the fold. In the mid-

The outdoor Esalen deck facing the

1960s I was invited to Alan’s ranch in

Pacific Ocean is a natural place for Tai Ji

Santa Barbara, and the minute we met

practice from the Chinese perspectives

he asked me to teach with him. My first

of how to begin the day by waking up

trip to Esalen was a couple of weeks

the body-mind-spirit, especially through

later; I guest-taught in his class on Zen

the body in Nature. We are all inspired by

Buddhism and comparative philosophy.

the open sky, the earth beneath the deck,

At that time there was no class meeting

the expansive Pacific Ocean in front,

room at Esalen. After dinner we just

mountain in back, and the hot spring to

moved all the tables away and taught in

the south, and the gardens to the north.

the Lodge. [Esalen co-founders] Michael

It is the perfect location to tune in to the

Murphy and Richard

Chungliang Al Huang

Why do you lead Tai Ji sessions

Price were both there, and they invited me back. That was the beginning.

“Tai Ji is the essential awareness, and a wake-up call for the world at large.”

power of Nature. What makes Tai Ji and the Living Tao important today? As the world becomes

and the Living Tao in those early years, Al helped

Can you share other

join body and mind at a time when East was first

highlights of those

meeting West in California.

early years?

Join Al for Creative Tai Ji Experience in Daily

Richard Price became

Living, December 1–6 and The Essential Qi-Gong

my soul brother. In my

are losing our humanity and

Exercises of China, November 29–December 1.

view, Richard was a true

trust in our intrinsic gifts as

more digital and technically oriented, human activities are becoming robotic and dependent on gadgets. We

student of Taoism and Zen Buddhism

creative individuals. We need to re-visit

in his own way. He was the one who

Esalen elders’ pioneering teachings,

persistently enticed me to come, first

especially acknowledging the human

to teach Tai Ji to the Esalen staff and

potentiality of Aldous Huxley, the Tao

get to know the community, and then

and Zen teachings of Alan Watts and

he ensured my sense of belonging as I

Richard Price, and Joseph Campbell’s

taught my own seminars. Later, Joseph

Hero’s Journey to “follow your bliss”

Campbell and I created the MythBody to

to the essential human experience of

Live By workshop. We decided to come

being alive! Living Tao Tai Ji learning has

together at Esalen every year for his

become more and more important to

birthday, March 26th.

balance the one-track progression of the high-tech environment we are in. Tai Ji is the essential awareness, and a wake-up call for the world at large.

The Essential Qi-Gong Exercises of China Chungliang Al Huang

This weekend, Chungliang Al Huang will teach the most essential qi-gong exercises of China for all who wish to sustain a daily practice for personal mind-body-spirit well-being. Master Huang will teach easy-to-absorb and adaptive exercises of this ancient qi-gong practice, and assist the seminarians through metaphors, visualization, sonic chanting mediation and deep circular breathing methods. It will be joyful and fun for all levels and all ages of the practitioners, to catch this healthy habit for good: “Wei Wu Wei”—doing by not doing, spontaneously. Beginners and “advanced beginners” are welcome. Chungliang Al Huang teaches Tai Ji philosophy, East/West synthesis and the art of movement meditation. He is the founder-president of the Living Tao Foundation and director of Lan Ting Institute in the Sacred Mountains of China. He is the best-selling author of numerous books including Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain and Tao: The Watercourse Way, co-authored with Alan Watts. www.livingtao.org

Social Entrepreneurship: From Spiritual Values to Effective Action Susan Collin Marks & John Marks

WEEKEND OF NOVEMBER 29– DECEMBER 1 Tending the Heart Fire: Regenerating the Body of Love Thanksgiving Yoga Journey Shiva Rea

Join our annual Thanksgiving retreat to tend your heart fire as the center of wisdom, soul satisfaction and most of all the transforming power of love. For many years, we have retreated to the warm springs of Esalen during the Thanksgiving weekend for a ritual deepening and renewal of the heart fire. This popular retreat always changes and yet is constant in the regeneration of the “body of love.” This year Shiva will be joined by musician Donna Delory. From our physiology to spiritual realization, tending the fire of love is one of the highest and most regenerative practices we can offer ourselves, our partners, our families and the world. It is the practical awakening of the regenerating power of the body of love as a living practice in yoga and daily life. Together we will explore: • Prana Flow Movement Alchemy: energetic vinyasa ritual practice • Mudra, mantra and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) meditation • Ayurvedic and tantric practices for cultivating ojas • Fire-ritual under the night sky (weather permitting)

Many of us feel a growing longing to have a positive impact on the world. We hold a vision of infusing our spiritual values into the political, economic and social life of our planet to create a kind and dignified world for all. During this workshop, Search for Common Ground Founder John Marks and Peace Ambassador Susan Collin Marks take you deep within yourself to unfold and define your personal vision. You can discover the Principles of Social Entrepreneurship, and the possibilities that abound when you grasp your inner potential to make a real difference, right now. Search for Common Ground grew out of meetings at Esalen in the early 1980s into one of the world’s largest non-profit peace-building organizations, with offices in 35 countries. The keys to Search’s success have been profound creativity, nimbleness and an unswerving, compassionate vision, reflected in the range of its work: TV and radio soap operas that reach millions, countering extremism in the Middle East, participatory theater in Africa and Congressional conversations on race in the U.S. Participants are expected to attend all workshop sessions. For more information, visit www.sfcg.org. Susan Collin Marks, a South African, has been an international peacemaker for more than 25 years, and works as Peace Ambassador for Search for Common Ground. She is a Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship and holds an honorary doctorate from the University for Peace. www.sfcg.org John Marks founded Search for Common Ground, a peace-building NGO with offices in 35 countries. He was a best-selling, award-winning author, a U.S. Foreign Service Officer, a U.S. Senate aide, a Skoll Awardee for Social Entrepreneurship and an Ashoka Senior Fellow. www.sfcg.org

The retreat is open to experienced practitioners and all yogadventurers familiar with the sun salutations. Please bring a yoga mat. Recommended Reading: Rea, Tending the Heart Fire — Living in Flow with the Pulse of Life. Shiva Rea bio on page 73. 75

WEEKS OF DECEMBER 1–13

WEEK OF DECEMBER 1–6

Esalen Massage® Teacher Training Module Three

Creative Tai Ji Experience in Daily Living

Esalen Massage Faculty

This week, we will reinvent Tai Ji forms playfully with ancient Tai Ji rituals, Five Moving Forces of Nature, as well as traditional Tai Ji motifs. We will explore, improvise and evolve to find renewal and refreshed ways to dance the open structures of this ancient wonder of movement meditation. To be truly creative is to learn not to consciously control yourself with pre-conceived restrictions, but to allow yourself the freedom to flow. Taoist wisdom calls it Wu Wei: Not interfering with what is already happening. With more than 50 consecutive years of teaching experiences since Esalen was founded, Master Huang will share his unique ways of imparting Tai Ji experience to all levels of practitioners. Come enjoy this creative “Living Your Tao” Tai Ji experience.

Today, Esalen Massage is practiced internationally and renowned for its long, flowing strokes inspired by the ocean waves audible from the Esalen baths. If you love massage, bodywork and the healing arts, and you’re practicing Esalen Massage, we invite you to become part of a growing community of leading-edge teachers aligned with Esalen’s mission to help facilitate individual and collective transformation. This third module is restricted to students that have successfully completed modules one and two. Immerse yourself in Esalen’s elemental beauty, delicious cuisine and daily experiential classes while learning how to teach Esalen Massage to others. Led by Esalen Massage School faculty, the program will provide education and leadership skills designed to develop a life practice that offers a pathway to a more flourishing future. Here’s a sample of the program’s focus areas: • Esalen Massage history, fundamental teaching and presentation skills, teaching the signature long-stroke of Esalen Massage • Awareness practices fundamental to Esalen Massage including sensory awareness, mindfulness and Esalen Massage Life Practices (daily meditation and movement) • Building teaching expertise through detailed work on specific areas of the body, anatomy, customizing teaching style to different audiences, building professional networks including marketing, understanding individual and group dynamics, ethics fundamentals, and self-, peer and teacher assessment The third teacher training module moves students one step closer to gaining the title “provisional teacher of Esalen Massage” at an introductory level. Teacher candidates who complete 12 months of professional and personal life practice plus additional class hours that may be required will become certified Esalen Massage teachers. Students that have completed module one may apply for this program. A password is required; please speak with the teaching team. This program requires a $600 non-refundable deposit, with final payment 20 days prior to the program start date. Please contact massagecert@esalen.org for more information. CE credit for massage; see page 93.

Chungliang Al Huang

Chungliang Al Huang bio on page 75.

Awakening the Creative: The Painting Experience Stewart Cubley

Explore the world of spontaneous creation, an unpredictable territory beyond the expected where no rules apply. In a respectful and nurturing studio environment, you’ll receive individual attention and gentle guidance to help you open to inspiration, creativity, growth and change. Using the powerful tool of “process arts,” you’ll be supportively invited to: • Discover a creative voice that’s entirely your own • Trust your intuitive perception, not the mind’s critical chatter • Follow your energy rather than what looks good or makes sense • Overcome blocks by embracing their hidden message • Experience your imagination as intelligent — a doorway to deeper knowing • Explore process painting as a genuine path to spiritual awakening In The Painting Experience, everyone is a beginner; people from all levels of experience are welcome, including those who have never picked up a paintbrush. The Painting Experience is about your creative process, not technique or training. There will be no judgment of your work or comparison with others. Instead, you are given the opportunity to embrace your own creative voice and confidently follow it. All materials are supplied — all you have to bring is you! Recommended reading: Cassou and Cubley, Life, Paint & Passion. ($50 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.) CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader. CE credit for nurses; see leader. Stewart Cubley has more than four decades of experience pioneering a way of integrative and creative living through the practice of process painting. His method is one of respectful questioning, and inviting you to extend yourself into new areas of thought and feeling. www. processarts.com

Painting by Esalen seminarian Lauren Wiseman

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 6–8 Couples’ Heart Tantra Peter Sandhill & Sarah Sandhill

Couples’ Heart Tantra offers couples an introductory exploration into the tender, exciting and empowering dance of Tantra. There are exercises to enrich your relationship, emotional intimacy, communication and sex life, and bring out the adventurer in you. This workshop is designed to bring you closer in heart, body, understanding and spirit. The workshop includes experiential processes and demonstrations, truth telling, playfulness, lots of sharing, sensuality, touch and time with your lover to practice and just “be.” A beautiful part of the course is the honest and often profound sharing that you’ll witness as other couples allow us into the joys and challenges related to their communicating and their relationship experiences together. In a sense, we all end up as teachers for one another, and experience a lot of depth and joy along the way. The sacred time spent with your partner to upgrade and refresh your intimate connection is easily taken home and into your life. This workshop is designed for couples of all gender and sexual orientations. Peter Sandhill, MA, is a workshop facilitator, counselor and executive coach. He passionately assists people of all ages and backgrounds to create lives filled with joy, love, purpose and possibility. Peter has been involved in the men’s movement for most of his adult life. Sarah Sandhill has been a sex educator and workshop facilitator for more than 20 years. She leads workshops for the Human Awareness Institute (HAI), she is a counselor (individual and couples), and has trained in Process Therapy.

Tickets to Paradise: A Yoga-Based Therapeutic Approach to Self-Care and Healing Harvey Deutch

An all-time favorite line from one of Harvey Deutch’s patients, “I’m not doing your PT exercises!” motivated Harvey to ditch the term “exercises” and call them “Tickets to Paradise” instead. Since it is one’s own responsibility to be the primary guardian of health and well-being, why not turn the components into positive self-care? A physical therapist and yogi since 1982, Harvey has led weekly therapeutic yoga classes, yoga teacher trainings and retreats since 2009. He blends art with science to construct and implement thoughtful, self-guided home/workplace drills and concepts to keep the mind and body sharp and in-tune. He can concisely and sequentially give you the pearls of wisdom necessary to sustain your interest and follow up with your independent programs. During this workshop, we will: • Explore your internal and external landscapes • Learn functional anatomy and bio-mechanics from within • Develop a foundational practice/mindset to improve overall posture awareness, strength and stability • Reduce common musculoskeletal dysfunction and discomforts Harvey Deutch teaches yoga with a unique blend of precise technical expertise and signature humor. He has been a physical therapist and yogi since 1982. He is well-known for making two-dimensional anatomy come to life, off the page and onto the mat. 77

WEEK OF DECEMBER 8–13 Mindful Self-Compassion Intensive Training Christopher Germer

Conversations on the Edge: America, Spiritual But Not Religious Jeffrey Kripal & Dana Sawyer

If you are looking for another way to grow, in a unique format different from the traditional workshop, please join us for an Esalen original series: Conversations on the Edge. In each of these curated weekend events, we bring together leading experts and visiting teachers to explore a pressing issue of our time in a vibrant, interactive forum of lecture, lightning talks, group discussion and idea sharing. In America, Spiritual But Not Religious, we will explore the historical, cultural, political and ethical roots of a sentiment common in America: “I am spiritual, but not religious.” Where did this expression come from? What does it mean today? And where is it going tomorrow? This gathering is designed to explore these questions, crystallize the scholarship on the same and move the conversation forward. Visiting teachers include Jeffrey Kripal, chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University, and Professor Emeritus of Religion and Philosophy at the Maine College of Art Dana Sawyer who wrote critically acclaimed biographies of Aldous Huxley and Huston Smith. This weekend is comprised of several short but impactful lecturettes that end in Q&A and conversation among the audience. Scheduled gathering time will be significantly less than traditional workshops to allow for participation in movement and meditation classes, healing arts and hot springs, and the natural beauty of Esalen. Presenters are subject to change. Jeffrey Kripal is chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at Rice University and chairman of the Board of Trustees at Esalen. He has written four books focusing on the comparative erotics and ethics of mystical literature, American countercultural translations of Asian religious traditions and the history of Western esotericism. Dana Sawyer is professor emeritus of religion and philosophy at the Maine College of Art, and author of critically acclaimed biographies of Aldous Huxley and Huston Smith. His areas of expertise are Hinduism, Buddhism, comparative mysticism and the Perennial Philosophy. www.aldoushuxleybio.com 78

Self-compassion is the heart of mindfulness. It is warmhearted, connected presence during difficult moments in our lives. Self-compassion provides emotional strength and resilience that allows us to admit our shortcomings, motivate ourselves with encouragement, forgive ourselves when needed, care for others and be more fully ourselves. Rapidly expanding research shows that self-compassion is strongly associated with emotional well-being; lower levels of anxiety and depression; healthy habits such as diet and exercise; and more satisfying personal relationships. Fortunately, self-compassion is a skill that can be cultivated by anyone. During this workshop, you will learn how to: • Practice mindfulness and self-compassion in daily life • Understand the science of self-compassion • Handle difficult emotions with greater ease • Motivate yourself with kindness rather than criticism • Transform challenging relationships, old and new • Manage compassion fatigue • Practice the art of savoring and self-appreciation • Teach simple self-compassion practices to others This program is an intensive training program rather than a retreat. It is a condensed version of the eight-session, empirically-supported Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training developed by Christopher Germer and Kristin Neff. MSC is an experiential journey — an adventure in self-discovery and self-kindness — supported by the beautiful Esalen campus. This program fulfills a prerequisite for becoming an MSC teacher. ($575 additional tuition will be added to the workshop cost, which includes the required workbook.) Recommended reading: Neff, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself; Germer, The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. CE credit for nurses; see leader. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see leader. CE credit for psychologists; see leader. Christopher Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice, a lecturer on psychiatry (part-time), and a founding faculty member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. He leads workshops internationally on mindfulness and self-compassion, and is author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion. www.MindfulSelfCompassion.org

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 13–15 Aligning with Nature: A Winter Solstice Yoga Retreat Sarana Miller

For centuries, winter solstice has been a time of reflection. Today, the holidays can be a hectic time of doing, leaving us feeling stressed and depleted. During this retreat, we will use the practices of yoga (asana, meditation and chanting) in the exquisite and healing natural environment of Esalen to revitalize the body and calm the mind. Together, we will focus our attention on being rather than doing. The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the seasonal movement of the sun’s path appears to come to a stop before reversing direction. Winter solstice is a time to pause and reflect; a time to cultivate vitality and take extra care to nurture ourselves. Moving into stillness, we can return to our lives refreshed and strengthened for the new year to come. Please bring a yoga mat. Sarana Miller has been a faculty instructor at Yoga Journal and leads annual retreats at Esalen and Wilbur Hot Springs, and in Mexico and Alaska. Trained in the Iyengar and Forrest Yoga traditions, she has built her life around sharing the benefits of the practice of yoga. www.saranayoga.com Enjoy Esalen after your visit with our free podcast, Voices of Esalen, hosted by former Extended Student Sam Stern. Listen to Esalen cofounder Michael Murphy, author Cheryl Strayed, philosopher Dustin DiPerna, psychologist Rick Hanson and many more.

Plumbing Your Creative Depths for Effective Memoir and Beyond Katie Hafner

If it is true, as Joan Didion once wrote, that we tell ourselves stories in order to live, then we are continuously telling ourselves stories. This intensive workshop will focus on the story you want to tell, whether it is memoir, fictional memoir or pure fiction. We will explore the following questions: • In memoir, how might you navigate the tricky terrain of writing about people who are still alive? • How accurate (or deceptive) are your memories, especially when it comes to events that took place years or decades ago? • How do you turn yourself (i.e., your main character) into a reliable narrator, one the reader will come to know and trust? This workshop helps you answer the basic question of what form you would like your story to take, and helps you mold that story into a structure with a clean arc. We will read some great writing, and we’ll do plenty of specific in-class writing exercises. This workshop is a safe five-day haven for exploring the story that resides in each of us, and finding the best way to express it via the written word. Please bring writing tools you are most comfortable using. You will be able to share your writing with Katie in advance of the workshop. Katie Hafner is the author of the memoir, Mother Daughter Me, which was featured by the New York Times and Oprah. Hafner was on staff at the New York Times for more than a decade, and she is the author of five previous books. www.katiehafner.com

Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief David Kessler & Paul Denniston

How do we release pain, heal grief and remember with love? Join grief expert David Kesser and grief yoga teacher Paul Denniston for a weekend of healing. You can discover how pain may be inevitable after loss, but suffering is optional. David learned that many people look for the elusive “closure” after a loss. Yet, he saw after decades of working with those in grief and with the sudden death of his own son, that it’s finding meaning beyond the stages of grief that can transform loss into a more peaceful and hopeful experience. Paul knows how the heart aches, the body remembers and the mind can get lost in all the guilt, what ifs and regrets after loss. He teaches with simple movements using many different techniques. David and Paul teach therapists ways to help clients find peace in loss and learn how to live again. Now you can learn to heal directly from them. Begin to remember your loved one with more love than pain and bring about a more meaningful new year. For more information, please visit www. grief.com and www.griefyoga.com. David Kessler is a grief and healing expert whose work has been featured on CNN, PBS, Oprah.com and elsewhere. His latest book is You Can Heal Your Heart: Finding Peace After Breakup, Divorce or Death co-authored with Louise Hay. He also co-authored two bestsellers with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. He founded Grief.com. www. davidkessler.org Paul Denniston created Grief Yoga and studied with William Worden and Peter Levine. He also studied with yoga masters Gurmukh and Seane Corn. Paul has taught Grief Yoga to therapists, counselors and health care professionals to use with their clients in the U.S., England and Australia. www.griefyoga.com

Embodying Presence: Relaxing the Body into Being James Baraz & Adam Baraz

The shift from “thinking” to “being” is one of the most essential aspects of the meditative journey. We will explore somatic practices to quiet the conceptual mind, unlocking the hidden power, warmth and wisdom of the body. Drawing upon their father-son connection, James and Adam Baraz will offer teachings from Tibetan yoga and Buddhist mindfulness practice. Through experiential exercises and guided meditations, participants will take a systematic journey through the somatic path of spiritual transformation to support “bypassing the thinking mind.” This process will include techniques to release physical and emotional tension, awaken presence and relax the body into being. James Baraz is a co-founding teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, Calif. He is coauthor of Awakening Joy and leads the popular Awakening Joy course across the U.S. and abroad. He also coauthored Awakening Joy for Kids with Michele Lilyanna. James lives in Berkeley, Calif. www.awakeningjoy.info Adam Baraz is the founder of Samadhi Bodywork and has taught meditation at Spirit Rock. Adam has studied meditation under renowned spiritual teachers, and has spent many months in retreat. Adam is passionate about helping others discover the clarity, warmth and power concealed in the depths of the human body. www. samadhibodywork.com

WEEK OF DECEMBER 15–20 The Healing Art of Deep Bodywork®: The Psoas, Deep Visceral Work and Healing Knees Perry Holloman & Johanna Holloman

Because demand for practitioners with Deep Bodywork skills is growing, Perry and Johanna Holloman have developed a series of seminars designed to teach massage practitioners this healing art. Each seminar has a specific focus in terms of the physical structures touched and their related functions. An overall emphasis is placed on how to integrate this work into the format of a flowing massage. This seminar will focus on understanding the structure and function of the knee, the psoas muscle, and the importance of deep, sensitive touch in supporting the overall functioning of the abdominal viscera. Subjects of specific focus will be the role of the thigh and hip muscles in supporting the knee; how to work on the iliotibial band; learning to palpate and release the psoas; and massaging the abdominal viscera slowly and deeply. The role of the psoas in chronic pain of the back and hip will also be discussed. This workshop is designed as an advanced course of study for those wanting to integrate deep tissue skills into their work. Prerequisite for participation is prior experience as a massage practitioner or the equivalent of 150 hours of massage training. CE credit for massage; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Perry Holloman bio on page 12. Johanna Holloman bio on page 12.

THE MAX: Expanding the Limits of Your Self-Expression Paula Shaw

The purpose of THE MAX is to discover yourself beyond who you know yourself to be. It is a voyage through your own humanity and a journey to discover the extent of your self-expressive power. The experience can move you into a new arena of personal creativity and self-expression. THE MAX employs a variety of acting, communication and observation techniques to help participants explore the sources of their emotional limitations. Working individually, “on stage,” each person is encouraged and supported to move through lifelong fears of being “on the spot” — often playing to and with other group members — and to emerge into greater authenticity and enhanced “presence.” There are exercises that use raw emotion, role-playing and dressup assignments. This is an opportunity to experience yourself in ways you may have dreamed about but never thought possible. The course is for those committed and courageous in their process. If your heart beats faster when you think of taking THE MAX, it may be just the thing to do. Required: Bring a one- to three-minute memorized piece — monologue, poem, song etc. Note: Due to the intense and sequential nature of this workshop, attendance at all sessions is necessary. Paula Shaw, a professional actress and acting teacher for more than 40 years, has conducted workshops for those interested in expanding their self-expression, well-being and creativity in the U.S., Canada, Germany and the UK. www.themaxwithpaulashaw.com

Photo by Esalen seminarian Len Lehmann

Abandonment to Healing: Overcoming Your Self-Defeating Patterns Susan Anderson

Abandonment is a primal human fear and the underlying cause of emotional distress and dysfunction. Susan Anderson, psychotherapist and author of Taming Your Outer Child and Journey from Abandonment to Healing, will share powerful tools of emotional and spiritual healing to help you reverse abandonment’s universal wound. You will be taught exercises for each of the five stages of abandonment: shattering, withdrawal, internalizing, rage and lifting; how to conquer “abandoholism” and other outer child behaviors; how to make new connections; and steps for healing abandonment. Whether you’re experiencing a recent breakup, a lingering wound from the past or struggling to overcome self-defeating patterns, the tools will propel your growth, help restore your sense of self and increase your capacity for love. This workshop is particularly useful for health and healing professionals in their work with clients and patients. Recommended reading: Anderson, Taming Your Outer Child, Journey from Abandonment to Healing and Black Swan: 12 Lessons of Abandonment Recovery. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ abandonment-to-healing CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. CE credit for nurses; see page 93. Susan Anderson is a psychotherapist with 30 years of research and clinical experience working with the victims of abandonment trauma and loss. Founder of “Abandonment Recovery,” her books include Journey from Abandonment to Healing, Taming Your Outer Child, Black Swan:12 Lessons of Abandonment Recovery and Abandonment Recovery Workbook. www.abandonment.net 81

Photo by Esalen seminarian Vera Lin

I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness Paul Selig

In his breakthrough works of channeled literature, I Am the Word and The Book of Truth, author and medium Paul Selig recorded a program for personal and planetary evolution as humankind awakens to its own divine nature. Through a series of lectures, attunements and energy activations, workshop participants will be introduced to the frequency of the Word, which can be described as the energy of “God in action.” You will be shown exercises for healing the self and others, along with practical techniques for developing and sustaining higher levels of consciousness. You will also receive individual instruction that will support you in moving through the physical and emotional blocks that may be keeping you from manifesting your own higher nature. You can discover how realizing your own true potential is inexorably linked to the well-being of others and our planet. Paul’s workshops can be deeply transformative. The energy he works with is palpable and loving, and those attending will be supported in moving to the next level of their own spiritual development. This five-day intensive will offer the opportunity for more individual work and a deeper immersion in the higher energies. Please see December 20–22 for a weekend version. Recommended reading: Selig, I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, The Book of Knowing and Worth, The Book of Mastery, The Book of Truth and The Book of Freedom. Paul Selig bio on page 23. 82

WEEK OF DECEMBER 20–27 Soul Motion®: Tenderness at the Heart of the Dance Zuza Engler & Scott Engler

Soul is flow, an ever-changing cloudscape of textures, hues, sensations, scents and feelings. Soul is how the deathless Presence meets and moves a finite human body. In this workshop, we will reclaim the body-in-motion as a doorway to the soul’s flow, to the life that is unfolding just under the surface of everyday forgetting. Soul Motion is a meeting with self and other in a dance that is deeply nourishing, creative, intelligent, emotionally savvy, heartbreaking, soul-making, spirited and transforming. It is a movement toward the dynamic stillness at the center of all things, the place of rest at the heart of sound and motion. We will gather to listen deeply and hover on the threshold between doing and being, solitude and togetherness, awkwardness and grace. “Dancing at the edge of the continent, the edge of another beginning, the edge of Love despite all odds, we will move with our delight and our sorrow, inspired by the promise of light returning into the heart of darkness,” writes Zuza. “This formless dance form allows for passionate, full-bodied movement as well as mindful inner explorations, art making, ritual and luscious lounging.” Bring an object, a poem or an image for the altar to be created as a symbol for the simultaneous possibility of self-expression and belonging. There will be a celebratory Christmas Eve dinner in the Esalen Lodge.

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Esalen’s Big Sur backdrop holds a truly unique space between towering mountains to the east and lands’ end to the west and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond. In many ways, conversations at Esalen can often reflect this landscape, creating a feeling of departing from established ground and stepping off an edge to the unknown. “We often say that some of the most profound conversations at Esalen can happen in the baths or in the Lodge, and completely outside of a traditional workshop environment,” says Programs Director Cheryl Fraenzl. Inspired by the idea of introducing critical information on impactful current issues, followed by the opportunity to continue the conversation outside of the “classroom” environment, Conversations on the Edge has emerged as a new way to experience Esalen. The Conversations on the Edge series feature mini-lecturettes from invited experts on current or emerging topics impacting our world. Participants are encouraged to continue to explore their thoughts, ideas and knowledge with each other as the weekend unfolds. Conversations on the Edge premiered in 2016 with a single offering focused on the interplay and intersections of the masculine and feminine in today’s society. Additional Conversations programming followed, touching on themes such as the impact of technology on the human experience, the future of money, and how we gather in a world where structured religions and other traditional sources of community are becoming less prevalent. A common thread to what is chosen for a Conversations on the Edge theme is emerging questions or urgent relevancy coming from our society. “I’ll start to see patterns in discussions I’m having with different groups and organizations, and usually that is a catalyst to invite thought leaders from different walks of life to come speak at Esalen,” adds Cheryl. This Fall, Conversations on the Edge will explore the following themes: The Future of Personal Genomics; Crazy or Wise? A Contradiction to Modern Views on the Mental Health Crisis in America; Journeys in Gender, Exploration of Identities; and A Brave New China: Power, Competition, a Race for AI and the U.S.-China Relations. Featured experts and teachers will include Katharina Sophia Volz, founder and CEO of OccamzRazor; Carrie Northover, director of research services at 23andMe, Inc.; Phil Borges, director of CRAZYWISE documentary; Ben Geilhufe, director of outreach at UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center; Zak Dychtwald, author of Young China: How the Restless Generation Will Change Their Country and the World; Xiao Qiang, director and research scientist of the Counter-Power Lab; and Sophie Beach, executive editor of China Digital Times.

Zuza Engler has been on the spiral path of kinesthetic investigation into consciousness for close to three decades, through motion, stillness and process inquiry. She is a teacher of Soul Motion® and Open Floor Movement, creatrix of Embodied Inquiry, and a long-term practitioner of Buddhism and Gestalt Practice. www.zuzaengler.com Scott Engler, a longtime student of presence and healing, supports adults, children and infants through Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and workshops in trauma resolution for the family. He holds a seconddegree black belt in aikido. www.heartofstillness.com

WEEKEND OF DECEMBER 20–22 Solstice Meditation Retreat Mark Coleman & Lori Schwanbeck

Following ancient traditions on this winter solstice, we will take this poignant time to retreat, slow down, and enter stillness, silence and inner exploration. While the natural world appears to be dormant, the inner realms are alive with transmuting the passage between the old and the new. The solstice asks how we stand openhearted in the face of the darkest night while holding faith in the returning light. On a practical level, it is a time of sorting what wants to be released that is no longer serving our potential, and what wants to be called in to help us fulfill that journey. In this retreat we will be exploring these questions: • What needs to end to make space for a new beginning? • How do you resist letting go of things that need to be released? • What are you welcoming in? • What is your relationship to transitions — to beginnings and endings? • How is it to stand in the unknown? During this retreat, we will use meditations, ritual, time in nature, inquiry and group exercises and discussion as ways to explore this theme of transition. Participants can leave clear and courageous in taking the next steps to create an inspired life. Mark Coleman bio on page 23. Lori Schwanbeck is a mindfulness-based somatic psychotherapist. Lori developed Sense and Sensibility, a sensory-focused mindfulness treatment for emotional regulation, which she teaches internationally. She is co-founder of Mindfulness Therapy Associates, located in San Francisco. www.mindfulnesstherapy.org

Mark Coleman What is your passion? My passions all center around nature. My primary passion is spending time in the wild mountains, by the vast ocean, deep in the redwood forests and in the stillness of the desert. And that connection inspires me to share with others the beauty, wonder, love and insight that happens when we are in nature with a mindful presence. What makes meditation important in our 21st-century lives? We are living in times where stress, anxiety and depression are at unprecedented levels. We have also become distracted and scattered in part due to our technology use and busy lives. Mindfulness meditation provides a powerful antidote to that restless distractibility and disconnection from ourselves and helps orient us to what is really meaningful and true. What do you hope participants take from your workshop? I see my work as providing the container of mindful awareness that then facilitates people to profoundly connect with the natural world, and by doing so, fall deeper in love with this beautiful planet and all that lives here. So my deeper hope is that participants realize their inter-connected nature and that what they do in their lives can make a significant difference to our personal and collective sustainability. What happens at Esalen that happens nowhere else? Esalen is magical on so many levels. The views of mountains plunging into the sea, the confluence of waters, the wild ocean, the perennial stream…and the hot springs is sacred and rare. Combine that with the exquisitely beautiful gardens and farm that have been tended with intentional loving care and it’s an amazing setting to do any work but particularly nature-based contemplative work. Then there is the community of participants, faculty and staff that create a unique environment for connection, conversation and inspiration. How would you describe Esalen in one word? Awe-inspiring.

I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness Paul Selig

own higher nature. You can discover how realizing your own true potential is inexorably linked to the well-being of others and our planet. Paul’s workshops can be deeply transformative. The energy he works with is palpable and loving, and those attending will be supported in moving to the next level of their own spiritual development. Please see December 15–20 for a five-day version. Recommended reading: Selig, I Am the Word, The Book of Love and Creation, The Book of Knowing and Worth, The Book of Mastery, The Book of Truth and The Book of Freedom. Paul Selig bio on page 23.

Paul Selig What’s the hardest thing about being a spiritual channel? That I’m the channel. That it’s coming through me. And who am I to be doing this? My guides have now verbally dictated seven books through me that don’t require any editing, and when they work, an energy comes through that is palpable, even to skeptics. I don’t consider myself to be terribly evolved and I certainly don’t think of myself as a spiritual teacher. I show up for this work, again and again, without knowing what will happen. It’s exciting, but still somewhat bewildering to me. What qualities are important to address today’s challenges? My guides call a reckoning “a facing of oneself and all of one’s creations” and say that everything that’s been created in fear needs to be recreated in a higher way; that this is happening for the individual and the collective, and that we have real opportunity for change. They teach that the action of fear is to claim more fear, and invite us to look at the choices we’ve made in fear to see that this is so. One of the simplest ways to support oneself in challenging times is to not make choices in fear. What happens at Esalen that happens nowhere else? I’ve asked this question myself. The community that I see develop over a brief workshop surpasses anything I experience elsewhere, and the entirety of the Esalen experience seems to foster deep and abiding change. I’ve never come to Esalen and left the same way I arrived, and I know that’s true for many of us. How has Esalen impacted you? The first time I was ever invited to channel publicly was at an Esalen Center for Theory & Research conference 10 years ago. My first channeled book, I Am the Word, was published as a result of that conference, and Esalen has since become ground zero for the teachings of my guides. The energy at these workshops continues to be some of the highest I experience anywhere. How would you describe Esalen in one word? Magic. Paul Selig was recently featured on the Voices of Esalen podcast. Listen here: www.esalen.org/page/voicesesalen-podcast

Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

WEEK OF DECEMBER 22–27 Winter Solstice Mindfulness Retreat Shauna Shapiro

Come rest and rejuvenate yourself in good company during this darkest time of the year, which also is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the return of light and the joy of life. We will integrate meditation practices with revolutionary research in neuroscience to explore the transformational power of meditation during this profound seasonal milestone. In this workshop, you will be taught simple yet potent meditation practices, including mindfulness meditation, loving-kindness, and mindful movement and yoga. We will also learn about new research in neuroscience that offers this hopeful message: We can change and reshape our brain to live healthier, happier lives. We will become familiar with specific practices and techniques for cultivating greater joy, ease, presence and genuine compassion, and explore how to integrate these effortlessly into our daily lives. We will immerse ourselves in the striking natural beauty of Esalen, allowing the sounds and vistas of the ocean, the exquisite coastline, and bountiful gardens to nourish and support our practice during the winter solstice. This workshop is appropriate for beginning and experienced meditators who want to awaken the mind and open the heart. Be prepared for unexpected delight and deep nourishment as the planet turns toward the light of a new year. This workshop is suitable for all health care and education professionals in working with their clients and patients. There will be a celebratory Christmas Eve dinner in the Esalen Lodge. Shauna Shapiro bio on page 28. 85

WEEK OF DECEMBER 27-JANUARY 3 Awake in the New Year: Setting Conscious Intentions for Our Lives in 2020 Deborah Eden Tull

Photo by Esalen seminarian Stephen Meier

The New Year is a powerful threshold. It is an opportunity to listen deeply, reflect, restore and create anew. Yet we often make resolutions that perpetuate the myth of self-improvement, while doing nothing to empower our heartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intentions, thereby setting us up for disappointment. This seven-day retreat invites you on a powerfully restorative journey to exchange striving for compassion through compassionate awareness, meditation and relational mindfulness, conscious movement, writing, deep time in nature, guided imagery and ritual. Throughout our time together, the group will explore such questions as: What are my deepest intentions for the year ahead, for my life and for our world? What lessons are there to harvest from 2019? What obstacles or limiting beliefs is it time to release or forgive? How can I fully empower my essence or center, which is the source of my deepest power and my peace? How can I hold myself accountable to embodying my whole self? How can I allow myself to be guided by compassionate awareness rather than effort or striving? And what is the key to balance, joy and personal sustainability in my life? The New Year beckons with possibility and renewal. If we open to this invitation with wonder, curiosity and courage, we can position ourselves to receive the true guidance within and to embrace the support of the universe. Deborah Eden Tull bio on page 21.

The Self-Care Vow: Embodying Resilience and Renewal Every Day Michael Sapiro & Elissa Epel

This dynamic and interactive workshop integrates the latest research on stress resilience, meditation and heart-centered practices to help participants commit to their own lasting well-being. Developing stronger skills for stress resilience can enhance emotional and physical health, and slow biological aging. Bolstering stress resilience is especially critical to those in demanding professions, such as health care providers, or those caregiving and parenting. Caring for self, others and those in our communities takes a toll on our personal resources and can lead to psychological burnout and physical fatigue. During this workshop, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll immerse ourselves in meditation, self-reflection activities, didactic discussions on stress resilience and burnout, and experiential activities to better understand how we can unlock our enormous potential for more joy, vitality and vibrant health. We will explore a set of self-care tools that keep us grounded, balanced, connected and engaged in meaningful work and living our lives fully. Committing to and embodying daily practices that enhance stress resilience and spiritual and physiological renewal are essential for living a life of joy and purpose now and throughout the new year. There will be a celebratory Christmas Eve dinner in the Esalen Lodge. Michael Sapiro bio on page 66. Elissa Epel, PhD, is a professor at UCSF, author of New York Times bestseller The Telomere Effect and president-elect of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She is an expert on stress and contemplative practices, including mindful eating for optimal metabolic balance. 86

New Year Meditation Retreat: Self-Love and Kindness that Benefits All

Shadow Yoga: Cultivating a Personal Practice

Mark Abramson

Chandra Easton & Scott Blossom

Meditating in noble silence offers a special opportunity to focus inward and to deeply connect with oneself, create intentions and reflect on life goals. New Year’s, with its connection to the winter solstice and new beginnings, is the perfect time to silently journey inward. You are invited to set intentions and explore, through seated and moving meditation, themes of self-kindness, self-care and nurturing. This retreat offers a quiet, reflective New Year’s celebration with the opportunity to discover a deep, centered place within. The week will be spent in periods of noble silence with two extended periods a day in various meditation practices. Enjoy eating lunch at a silent table and continue your meditation or join the open activities of the day at Esalen in mindfulness. Mark will guide you through a series of practices of both stillness and movement, which will build the momentum of concentration and awareness. We will practice mindfulness meditation utilizing the rich, sensual experience of Esalen, with the sounds of the ocean, the feeling of the air and the beauty of seeing the colors and textures as well as the rich experience of our own bodies and minds. Evenings will be open to mindfully enjoy Esalen’s beauty and community or choose to continue silence in inner retreat. New Year’s Eve at Esalen usually includes a community-wide celebration of some kind, which is an option, but not required.

Like the whales who gracefully navigate their winter migration down the California coast each year, we must cultivate a fluid mixture of perseverance, clear reckoning, skillful navigation of life’s currents and devotion to arrive at the extraordinary health and spiritual insight that yoga and Ayurveda promise. It is a deeply personal journey. Three essential questions to ask before setting off: What do I really want in my life? What do I really need? How can I tap into the source of healing and wisdom within myself? This retreat explores how to find truly satisfying answers to these questions and encourage a flexible approach to committed practice using Shadow Yoga and Ayurveda. A set sequence of Shadow Yoga practices will be taught in a step-by-step progression to promote body memory and refinement, and to facilitate home practice. All levels are welcome; yoga experience is recommended. Please bring a yoga mat and a journal.

Mark Abramson is part of the Stanford Center for Integrative Medicine and heads Stanford’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program. He teaches at Stanford’s School of Medicine and is on staff at Stanford Hospital. www.drtmjsleepapnea.com

Recommended reading: Remete, Shadow Yoga; Svoboda, Hidden Secret of Ayurveda and Prakriti. Chandra Easton teaches Tibetan Buddhism and Shadow Yoga in the California Bay Area. She studied at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in Dharamsala, India, and has translated numerous Tibetan Buddhist texts. www.shunyatayoga.com Scott Blossom is a traditional Chinese Medical practitioner, Shadow Yoga teacher and Ayurvedic consultant. He has studied yoga for more than 18 years and taught for 12. His primary teachers are Zhander Remete, founder of Shadow Yoga, and Dr. Robert Svoboda, Ayurvedic physician and scholar. www.shunyatayoga.com

Esalen Through Your Eyes Do you have a favorite photograph of Esalen? Share your creative work with us and it could be published in the next catalog. Short essays and images of sculpture and other artwork created at Esalen will also be considered. Photos should be at least 300 dpi.

Visit Esalen.org/page/call-photos for more information.

Residential Study Program “My favorite part of my residential study experience was...the amazing and supportive community, being cradled by the land, unplugging from my phone and challenging myself…” —ESALEN RESIDENTIAL STUDENT, 2018

88 88

What if you had more than one week to explore your potential and push the boundaries of what is possible within your own growth? Our four-week, immersive residential program is designed for individuals who want to explore new perspectives and experiences leading to tools to unlock our greatest potential. With the support of a cohort of students, and under the direction of a dedicated Esalen faculty member, residential study participants will be challenged to push their personal growth edge in order to open up to greater discovery. Key pillars of the program include: • A deep dive into a specific field of transformative practice • An introduction in Esalen practices to increase awareness • A creative combination of service and study from which to apply learnings This program is by application only and requires robust physical activity. Scholarship is available for individuals who demonstrate need and ability to transform their learnings for greater social impact. Once your application has been accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $400 will hold your space in the program.

THE STUDY COMPONENT: Engage in a rigorous course of study with more than 36 hours taught by a faculty member as well as additional instruction on essential teachings and practices of Esalen and the human potential movement. Subject areas could include Gestalt, massage, yoga, and permaculture, among others.

THE SERVICE COMPONENT: As a complement to your studies, you will be asked to dedicate 26 hours of service per week in one of Esalen’s departments. The campus is rugged and students should anticipate robust physical activity. ACCOMMODATIONS: Esalen provides mostly singlegender dorm-style student housing, with multi-gender housing possible. Esalen is located in a very rural, rugged environment on the central California coast. Both staff and students live in close contact with one another with approximately 100 guests visiting every week. Privacy is at a minimum and the closest major town is Monterey, which is approximately one hour away by car. RESIDENTIAL STUDY PROGRAM FEES: Housing and meals are included with your residential fee. Once applicants have been accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $400 will hold your space in the program. Visit www.esalen.org for more details on pricing.

APPLICATION: Visit www.esalen.org/page/residentialstudy to apply. Please contact students@esalen.org for more information. For additional offerings, visit www.esalen.org/ page/upcoming-residential-study-programs.

JULY 7–AUGUST 4 The Flourishing Lab Dustin DiPerna, Mikey Siegel, Aneel Chima & Ahmed Alashwa

How do we flourish as human beings? What can we learn from ancient wisdom about living a meaningful and fulfilling life? In a tech-everywhere world, when faced with more options and more distractions than ever before, how do we best use our time, energy and attention? Inspired by the innovative teachings and methods within Stanford University’s Wellness Education curriculum, join four of the program’s lecturers in exploring the latest research, frameworks and experiential tools that enhance emotional, psychological, social and contemplative well-being. This program will be taught by rotating faculty each week, and includes: • Week 1: Human Flourishing (+ initial assessments) with Aneel. What is human flourishing and how do we practice it in an age of hyper-complexity and ever-accelerating pace? You will engage with these two questions by studying, discussing and applying research on the psychological, emotional and social factors that promote a life well lived. • Week 2: Neuroscience, Technology and Meditation with Ahmed. The group will investigate the power of meditation for training the mind and changing the brain, specifically in focusing attention, enhancing awareness and generating compassion. • Week 3: Designing Well-being with Mikey. You will design processes and principles that support well-being and human connection. Work in interdisciplinary project teams and design a modern tool or product that supports human flourishing. • Week 4: Contemplative Well-being with Dustin. At the heart of human flourishing is our potential to move beyond our usual sense of self. You will explore your own awareness through body-based, heart-centered and analytical meditation practices. Through deep exploration of contemplative well-being, participants will have the opportunity to take their meditation practice beyond mindfulness and into the core of human flourishing. Core members of the teaching team are also trained in Ken Wilber’s integral theory, transpersonal theory and clinical psychology. Throughout our time together, you will be offered a comprehensive framework that will allow you to synthesize ancient and modern wisdom in a way that has a tangible and immediate impact on your life. Dustin DiPerna bio on page 15. Mikey Siegel bio on page 15. Aneel Chima is the associate director of Health and Human Performance at Stanford University. The question animating his work is: What is the future of human flourishing in a hyper-complex, everaccelerating culture where technology is everywhere? Ahmed Alashwa teaches meditation at Stanford University using neuro and biofeedback technologies. He focuses on accelerating brain learning, flow states and peak performance. Ahmed teaches from unscripted direct experience. His workshops on human flourishing run throughout the world.

Photo by Esalen Seminarian Melina Meza

AUGUST 4–SEPTEMBER 1 Compassion Cultivation Training Leah Weiss, Margaret Cullen, Monica Hanso & Erika Rosenberg

Compassion is an emotion that provides a sense of shared suffering combined with a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and to show loving-kindness to those who suffer. The benefits of practicing compassion are profound and numerous, not the least of which is happiness, which can be infectious to your partner, family members, friends and even co-workers. Developing the qualities of strength, courage and resilience in the face of suffering can support a wide range of goals — from improving personal and work relationships to making a positive difference in the world. A crucial key to developing compassion in your life is to make it a daily practice. Faculty and curriculum for this program are from the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University School of Medicine. During your monthlong study you will discover how to cultivate and practice mindfulness and increase self-compassion and self-care; reduce stress, anxiety and depression; and enhance connection with others. Designed to help people improve resilience and feel more connected to others, the program combines traditional contemplative practices with contemporary psychology and scientific research to help you lead a more compassionate life. Through instruction, daily meditation, mindfulness and in-class interaction, you can strengthen the qualities of compassion, empathy and kindness. In this course, you will learn how to: • Increase kindness and compassion for yourself and others • Develop profound levels of serenity, resilience and creativity • Calm the mind and direct thoughts more positively • Sharpen your ability to focus and pay attention 90

• Access a variety of self-care skills and techniques The program will be taught by rotating faculty each week. Week one focuses on mindfulness, taught by Erika Rosenberg; week two focuses on compassion for self and loved ones, taught by Leah Weiss; week three focuses on compassion for the common humanity, taught by Margaret Cullen; and week four focuses on active compassion and integration, taught by Monica Hanson. Leah Weiss, PhD, MSW, is a founding faculty member of the Dalai Lama’s Compassion and Cultivation Program at Stanford University and a lecturer at Stanford Business School. She has dedicated her life to teaching people how to leverage research-based mindfulness and compassion insights to create outstanding leaders and thriving work environments. www.leahweissphd.com Margaret Cullen, MFT, co-developed Compassion Cultivation Training and is currently a senior teacher at the Center for Compassion, Research and Education at Stanford University and founding faculty at the Compassion Institute. She has been a meditation practitioner for almost 40 years, and is a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction instructor. Monica Hanson is an educator and trainer specializing in the Compassion Program developed at Stanford University. She is also a founding faculty of the Compassion Institute, a global advocate for compassion training in health care, education, law enforcement and corporations. Erika Rosenberg, PhD, is founding faculty and director of research at The Compassion Institute, senior teacher at Stanford’s CCARE, and co-author of the Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) Program. A scientist and meditation teacher, Erika brings multiple perspectives to the understanding of emotions and the growth of compassion.

SEPTEMBER 1–29 Leadership and Presence Suzanne Scurlock-Durana

Presence is the hidden key to successful leadership. The more present we are in ourselves, the more present we can be with someone else. This monthlong program offers experiential work designed to help you pay attention to the subtle cues you receive from your body and the surrounding environment all the time. This will give you access to your own, highly valuable inner landscape — the wisdom of your body-mind-spirit, which significantly enhances your ability to be more fully present as a leader. In this month we will share how to: • Assess your energy reservoir and refill when you are depleted • Increase your capacity to be present versus doing all the time • Grow awareness of, but not absorb, the emotions of others • Make healthy connections (empathy versus sympathy) • Stay openhearted and clearheaded • Have more powerful leadership conversations The deeper layer of this program will help you more fully utilize the navigational system of your body, including wisdom of the heart, gut, bones, pelvis, feet and legs. If you feel overwhelmed at times by your feelings or those around you, this course will help you develop your body and energy field into a container that can hold and modulate the whole range of human emotions. Learning to build this capacity within your navigational field enables you to have feelings and learn from them. Please bring a journal for reflection time and notes, as well as a binder for handouts. Required reading and listening: Scurlock-Durana, Full Body Presence: Learning to Listen. Suzanne Scurlock-Durana bio on page 32.

SEPTEMBER 29–OCTOBER 27 Upledger Institute International’s CranioSacral Therapy Level One Intensive: Presence, Palpation and Protocol Karen Axelrod

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) utilizes very gentle touch to assess and correct imbalances in the craniosacral system — the membranes and fluids protecting the brain and spinal cord. CST is a powerful handson modality that addresses numerous sensory, motor and intellectual challenges; central nervous system disorders; and chronic pain. You will be taught detailed anatomy and physiology of the craniosacral system, its functions in health and its relationship to disease. Emphasis will be on developing effective palpation skills to detect subtle movement, energy, fluid and structures within the body. The group will explore palpation as both an evaluative and therapeutic tool to facilitate fascial and soft-tissue releases. As part of this monthlong program you will also explore how to use your presence to augment the healing process through mindfulness/sensory-awareness exercises. The practitioner’s sense of presence during a treatment session enables a strong therapeutic alliance, which in turn creates a safe environment for the client’s innate healing process to unfold. Anatomical knowledge, palpation and presence provide the foundation needed for participants to learn an effective 10-step CranioSacral protocol. By the end of this program, you will have the tools to evaluate the entire body from a CranioSacral perspective, identify significant restrictions affecting the craniosacral system, apply structural and energetic CST techniques to restore balance to the client’s body, and gain measurable results from a CranioSacral treatment session. Completion of this workshop will result in full credit for Upledger’s CS1 course, and eligibility to take CS2 through the Upledger curriculum. Required reading and advance preparation: Upledger, CranioSacral Therapy chapters 1-6 and Your Inner Physician and You. Also please familiarize yourself with the definitions and/or locations of the anatomical terms here: www.upledger.com/seminar_info/ Terms/CSIterms.doc. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ upledger-cst1-residential-study. CE credit for massage; see page 93. Karen Axelrod, MA, CST-D, CMT, is a certified somatic therapist specializing in CranioSacral Therapy. She teaches CST internationally for the Upledger Institute and maintains a private practice in Redondo Beach, Calif. Her passion is helping clients connect to inner resources necessary for healing body, mind and spirit. www.karenaxelrod.com 91

OCTOBER 27–NOVEMBER 24 An Embodied Response to the Challenges and Opportunities of Our Lives through Sensory Awareness Lee Lesser

There is so much in our world that we cannot change or control. Yet how we respond to the immediate possibilities and challenges of each moment is completely within our domain of influence, and can change the way we live, allowing more room for joy and wholehearted responsiveness. This monthlong journey of practicing Sensory Awareness is focused on cultivating trust in our natural capacity through landing in our bodies and in our direct and concrete sensory experience. Our terrain of exploration is the simple activities of daily life. As we become more in tune with how we sit, walk, stand, lie down, eat, work and connect with another person, we also become more aware of the habits and patterns that hinder us. All of our sessions are based on experiential learning. We cultivate quiet and stillness that allows focused attention on what is happening in each moment. We also explore movement and playfulness, as well as our relationship to breath, to the influence of gravity and energy. We learn how to discern between the energy that is needed to fulfill a task, and the extra effort that creates strain and constriction. We will have group classes, and the daily tasks at Esalen will expand the terrain of discovery as we apply what we learn in the class. There also will be individual sessions to provide more individualized attention to personal insights and growth. The ability to be present and responsive belongs to all of us. Our sensations are ever-present allies, enduring and solid. They can help us be true to our most authentic selves and respond effectively to the challenges and opportunities of our lives. Lee Klinger Lesser bio on page 61.

NOVEMBER 24–DECEMBER 22 Embodied Relational Gestalt Michael Clemmens

This monthlong program is focused on Gestalt as a group process. Gestalt offers the opportunity to experience and explore our own process in relation to others and the context of the present moment. We will create a group that can contain the varieties of each person’s unique way of being and allow us to experience the power of the greater whole, the group. Because of the importance of creating an ongoing collective, it is crucial that all students attend each session. No prior experience with Gestalt or group process is necessary. The structure of the program will be experiential exercises, practice sessions and group discussion to develop our awareness of self and the group. We will begin with our earliest movements (prior to birth) and then explore how we co-create our bodily membership in the more complex gestalts of family, groups and cultures. Our goals will be to experience how we create relationships through embodiment, and to develop skills in attending to ourselves and others. For continuing education syllabus, see www.esalen.org/ embodied-relational-gestalt-residential-study. CE credit for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs; see page 93. 92

Michael Craig Clemmens, PhD, is a psychologist and trainer in Pittsburgh. He is a faculty member of the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and teaches at the Metanoia Institute in London and at Esalen. He is the author of Getting Beyond Sobriety and numerous articles on Gestalt therapy, body process and addiction.

DECEMBER 22–JANUARY 19, 2020 Deep Bodywork® Rob Wilks, with Paul Wehrman and Lori A. Lewis

Deep Bodywork, as created by Perry Holloman over the last 25 years at Esalen Institute, is a method that integrates the qualities of a flowing Esalen Massage® with the therapeutic effectiveness of deep tissue work. Using deep tissue methods, massage practitioners can enter the body’s deeper soft tissue layers, freeing previously dense, hardened areas, which may have become chronically painful due to a lack of fluid exchange and energy flow. As these areas soften and “re-organize,” their chronic tension patterns release, revitalizing living tissues with blood, lymph and chi (life) energy. Because living systems like the human body require a constant flow of chi energy to self-organize and heal, blockages to that flow within our tissues can create longer-term health problems like joint and soft tissue pain, movement restriction and circulatory problems. This month with Rob Wilks will focus on exploring the modality of deep bodywork as a healing art, and is designed for massage and bodywork practitioners seeking to incorporate effective deep tissue techniques into their work. We will explore the common areas (back, neck, shoulders, hips, etc.) where these chronic tension patterns tend to stagnate. You will be taught how to effectively address these areas using gravitational energy, proper use of body mechanics, the importance of working slowly and self-care practices. Professional massage experience is highly recommended for this advanced-level class. Please visit www.deepbodywork.com for more information. Recommended viewing: Deep Bodywork I: Healing the Back, Shoulders and Hips (DVD), available at www.deepbodywork.com. CE credit for massage; see page 93. Rob Wilks is a full-time bodywork practitioner and yoga teacher at Esalen. He specializes in Deep Bodywork. He has taught experiential leadership education in the U.S. and Eastern Europe. Paul Wehrman is a guest practitioner of the Esalen Massage crew, and former resident of Esalen. As a Deep Bodywork specialist, he resides in Santa Barbara, Calif., where he maintains a private practice and teaches Yin Yoga.

MFT, LCSW, LEP, and LPCC: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Esalen Institute maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. (Provider No. 128759) MASSAGE PRACTITIONERS AND BODYWORKERS: The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (provider number 043062-00) and the Bureau for Private Post-Secondary Education (school code 2700571) REGISTERED NURSES: Board of Registered Nursing (provider number 01152) REGISTERED DIETITIANS: State Commission on Dietetic Registration ACUPUNCTURISTS: State of California Acupuncture Board (provider number 946) Approved weekend workshops qualify for 10 CE units, approved five-day courses qualify for 26 CE units, approved seven-day courses qualify for 36 CE units, and approved Residential Study courses qualify for 38 CE units. You can find the course information and educational objectives in PDF format for all MFT-approved courses on our website through the link on the course page. Please check workshop listings online for frequent updates to CE status.

Deep Bodywork and Esalen Massage

July 7-12

The Radically Alive Leader

July 12-14

Intro to Esalen Massage

July 14-19

R.D. Laing in the 21st Century

July 14-19

Mindfulness as a Wisdom Practice

July 19–26

Mystical Realism in Film

July 21-26

Positive Neuroplasticity

July 21-26

The Transformational Enneagram

July 26-28

Igniting the Power of Your Empathy

July 28-Aug 2

Embodying Your Love: For Couples

Aug 4-9

Advanced CranioSacral Therapy 1

Aug 4-9

Leading at the Edge: Extraordinary Performance

Aug 9-11

Advanced Esalen Massage

Aug 18-23

Full Body Presence

Aug 23-25

Couples' Communication

Aug 23-30

EMDR Basic Training: Parts

Aug 25-Sep 1

Healing the Pelvic Floor

Sep 8-13

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Sep 8-15

Qigong for Health and Happiness

Sep 22-27

Zero Balancing Part 1

Sep 29-Oct 27

CranioSacral Therapy Level 1 Intensive

Oct 4-6

Esalen Massage for Couples

Oct 18-20

The Art of Leadership

In order to receive a certificate for continuing education participants must meet the following requirements:

Oct 27-Nov 1

Visceral Manipulation 1

Nov 1-17

Esalen Massage Certification

• Notify your teacher at the beginning of your workshop

Nov 8-10

The Neuroscience of Resilience

• Attend and sign the attendance sheet provided by the leader. Partial credit will not be given

Nov 10-15

The Buddha, the Brain, and Bach

Nov 10-15

How We Change and Why We Don't

• Once you complete the workshop, please fill out the evaluation form distributed by the leader (you will be asked to provide your license number) and turn it in to the Esalen office with a $25 processing fee Multiple certificates will be an additional $25 per certificate

Nov 10-15

Intro to Esalen Massage

Nov 10-15

Relational Gestalt Practice

Nov 24-Dec 22

Embodied Relational Gestalt

Dec 1-13

Esalen Massage Teacher Training

• Certificate processing can take up to 45 days. Certificates will be emailed to you

Dec 15-20

The Healing Art of Deep Bodywork

Dec 15-20

Overcoming Self-Defeating Patterns

Please note: If your workshop is listed as offering CE but indicates that you must “see leader” the workshop leader will be responsible for processing and issuing the CE certificates. There is no need to contact the Esalen office at the end of your course.

Dec 22-Jan 19

Deep Bodywork

Acupuncturists

July 7-12

Bodyworkers

Course Title Esalen Massage and Energy Work

Nurses

Dates June 30-July 5

MFT/LCSW/LEP/LPCC

Esalen’s status as a provider of continuing education is approved by the following boards:

Psychologists

Continuing Education Programs

For more information about accessing special accommodations (ADA requests) please contact 888-837-2536. To file a grievance please write to ce@esalen.org.

only at

From Our Kitchen to Yours: All The Things Juice

ingredients

This delectable fresh-pressed concoction from the Esalen Juice & Espresso Bar will nourish and enliven you through every season of the year. Packed with veggies, natural sweetness, spice and a whole lot of depth, this juice is an awful lot like an Esalen experience…it’s all the things!

1 large beet 3 carrots 6 dino kale leaves (also known as lacinato kale) 8 celery stalks

instructions

Wash all ingredients thoroughly under cold running water. Trim away any bruises or damaged areas of the produce. Cut ingredients to the size requirements of juicer.

3 to 4 large Fuji apples

Juice all ingredients, saving ginger and lemon for last. Smart juicing tip: Alternate feeding greens and the other ingredients into the juicer. Greens tend to be drier and more fibrous than other ingredients, so alternating can help move the greens through the machine more smoothly, and yield more of their juices. Optional: Strain juice through a fine mesh strainer. Enjoy the fresh juice immediately, or transfer it to the refrigerator in airtight containers, where it will keep for about three days. Recipe yields four to six 12-ounce servings.

/2 bunch of flat-leaf parsley

1 finger-sized piece of fresh ginger root – add more if you enjoy spice 2 lemons with peel mostly removed

equipment Sharp knife and cutting board Juicer of your choice Fine mesh strainer Glass containers with airtight lids for storing juice

Faculty Index A

Rachel Abrams 40 Mark Abramson 87 Dee Dettmann Ahern 59 Ahmed Alashwa 89 Dana Albany 64 Ronald Alexander 55 Rebecca Anders 14 Susan Anderson 81 Karen Axelrod 91

Amanda Ball 49 Banana Slug String Band 22, 23 Adam Baraz 80 James Baraz 80 Pawan Bareja 63 Sophie Beach 69 Mestre Beiçola 40 Sharon Blackie 38 Scott Blossom 87 Michaela Boehm 69 Barbara Bogatin 66 Phil Borges 19 Kelly Boys 48, 73 Gabriela Bozic 68 Ann Bradney 13 Rick Brown 18, 54

Lucy Caldwell 53 Alejandra Campoverdi 55 Fritjof Capra 16 Dorothy Charles 67 Aneel Chima 89 Michael Clemmens 92 Laurence Cole 42 Mark Coleman 23, 84 Stewart Cubley 76 Margaret Cullen 90 Lynda Richtmeier Cyr 56

Linda Delman 43 Russell Delman 43 Melanie DeMore 42 Paul Denniston 79 Harvey Deutch 77 Dustin DiPerna 15, 24, 29, 41, 89 Lama Drimed 37 Zak Dychtwald 69

Chandra Easton 87 Charles Eisenstein 71, 72 Scott Engler 82 Zuza Engler 82 Elissa Epel 86

Elizabeth Esalen 36 Gogo Ekhaya Esima 19 Paméla Espinoza 28 David Estes 41, 48

Amishi Jha 28 Sam Jinich 13 Johnsmith 62 Andrea Juhan 38

Nikki Mirghafori 66 Phillip Moffitt 27 Stephen Mosblech 17 Nikki Myers 58

Jessica Fagan 28 Robin Fann-Costanzo 67 Warren Farrell 34 Rich Fernandez 48 Jamie Forsyth 39 John Forsyth 39 Thomas Michael Fortel 35 Kristi Funk 55

Nita Gage 16 Jim Gallas 51 Grace Gamboa 36 Michelle Gannon 13, 44 Rolf Gates 58 Ben Geilhufe 58 Christopher Germer 78 Ligia Giese 47 James Gordon 56 Harriet Goslins 58 Jessica Graham 37 Linda Graham 63 Marci Graham 27 Schuyler Grant 14 Doug Dirt Greenfield 22, 23 Judy Greenman 58 Mingtong Gu 39 Silvia Guersenzvaig 60 Anjali Gupta 47

Katie Hafner 79 Daria Halprin 25 Laurel Hanson 19 Monica Hanson 91 Rick Hanson 19 Steven Harper 11, 31, 36 Susan Harper 37 Jennifer Hastings 58 Susan Hauser 30 Rene Henery 70 Paul Heussenstamm 10 Johanna Holloman 12, 80 Perry Holloman 12, 80 Michael Hopkins 64 Lucia Horan 21, 22, 68, 70 Peggy Horan 53 Chungliang Al Huang 74, 75, 76 Russ Hudson 20 Christian de la Huerta 19

Gopi Kallayil 41, 48 Byron Katie 53 Dacher Keltner 28 David Kessler 79 Tony Khalife 73 Masood Khan 44 Kirtaniyas 41, 48 Alan Kishbaugh 22 George Kohlrieser 26 Carol Kramer 70, 72 Kim Krans 64 Jeffrey Kripal 50, 78 Laura Kunysz 58

Adam Leonard 41 Lee Lesser 61, 92 Brad Lewis 17 Lisa G. Littlebird 42, 45 Francis Lu 18 Bruce Lyon 24

MaMuse 42 Dara Marks 14 John Marks 75 Susan Collin Marks 75 Dean Marson 12 Mark Matousek 35 Nora Matten 60 Noah Mazé 10 Lauren McHale 52 Karla McLaren 49 Mollie McNeil 28 Deborah Anne Medow 53 Kia Miller 31 Sarana Miller 79

Amelia Nagoski 47 Emily Nagoski 47, 52 Carrie Northover 16 Deb Norton 14

Judith Orloff 20 Anne Ornish 54 Dean Ornish 54 Brita Ostrom 12, 15

Suzanne Scurlock-Durana 32, 34, 91 Paul Selig 23, 24, 82, 84 Shauna Shapiro 28, 54, 85 Paula Shaw 81, Sianna Sherman 44 Amy Shinal 56 Daniel Siegel 28, 54 Mikey Siegel 14, 89 Nina Simons 21 Fritz Smith 46 Susan Steiner 25 Janet Stone 42, 61 LuviaJane Swanson 62

Laurel Parnell 33 Char Pias 67 Sarah Powers 30, 61

Davida Taurek 68 Michael Guy Thompson 16 Vicki Topp 15 Fletcher Tucker 51 Deborah Eden Tull 21, 86

Xiao Qiang 69

Charu Rachlis 72 Ann Randolph 40, 41 Shiva Rea 73, 75 Daniel Rechtschaffen 70 Stella Resnick 22 Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche 49 Erika Rosenberg 90

Kerena Saltzman 36 Peter Sandhill 77 Sarah Sandhill 77 Michael Sapiro 66, 86 Clifford Saron 66 Dana Sawyer 78 Banafsheh Sayyad 73 Lori Schwanbeck 84

Daniela Urbassek 36

Cida Vieira 40 Prajna Vieira 48 Cassandra Vieten 66 Noël Vietor 51 Katharina Sophia Volz 16 John Vosler 17

Ellen Watson 36 Anne Watts 26 Paul Wehrman 92 Leah Weiss 90 Sarah Weiss 51 Jason Weston 27 Maggie Wheeler 42 Rob Wilks 92 Christiane Wolf 11

Beth Jaeger-Skigen 44 Roger Jahnke 46 Renee Jennings 51 Photo by Esalen seminarian Jason Moon

Drink In Goodness There’s something new blooming in the Esalen Lodge at the McQuowns’ Bar. We’ve harvested the amazing bounty of our Farm & Garden to create beautiful elixirs that taste good and are good for you. Enjoy first thing in the morning or as an afternoon pick-me-up. We also have expanded our espresso and evening drinks selections as well. COME BY FOR A FREE TASTE OF: Clean greens • Nourishing nut milks • Fruit and vegetable juices • Hot shots and much more

Imagine Yourself Here Take A Time to Reflect only at Esalen

Sometimes what we need most is time...time to step out of our busy schedules and reflect on what is calling out to us and how we might respond.

RESERVE YOUR A TIME TO REFLECT AT ESALEN AND ENJOY: • Unscheduled time alone or in community • Daily movement classes, including yoga and dance • Beautifully prepared meals from our Farm & Garden • Access to the Art Barn and arts supplies to inspire you • Immersion in our world-renowned hot springs • Walks in nature, quiet time in our Meditation Hut and more

A TIME TO REFLECT PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED ON AN ESALEN WORKSHOP SCHEDULE, INCLUDING WEEK-LONG AND WEEKEND VISITS. LEARN MORE AT WWW.ESALEN.ORG/REFLECT.

Come Explore Your Human Potential and Help Others Discover Their Own

IBC

As part of our own transformation as a nonprofit organization, we are pleased to share with you new opportunities to participate in our mission by joining our Friends of Esalen program. Starting at just $10 a month, when you become a Friend of Esalen you’ll receive regular updates from Big Sur including copies of our latest catalog and our members newsletter. You’ll also enjoy benefits that serve to inspire you on your journey such as the ability to reserve a Personal Retreat when space allows and special guided tours of campus by Esalen community members. Any gift, no matter the size, has an impact. Your support contributes to student scholarships, development of new and innovative programming, and stewardship of our land and campus buildings. Learn more, including additional Friends of Esalen benefits, at www.esalen.org/give.

“Esalen is the place that allows the heart to open, and we need so much more of that in this world. It is an honor to support a place that helps us let go of some of our fear and discover that wonderful feeling when we open our hearts.” —AZA FROM SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA. ESALEN WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT SINCE 2016

AS A FRIEND OF ESALEN YOU SUPPORT:

AND YOU’LL BE SUPPORTED BY:

• Scholarships available for workshop offerings • Partnerships with mission-aligned organizations such as the Wellbeing Project • Areas of greatest need at Esalen, including land stewardship

• Ability to reserve a Personal Retreat when space allows; this is a unique opportunity to stay at Esalen outside of workshops • Invitations to Friends of Esalen reception and guided tour of our campus while at Esalen • Advance ticket sales for our annual Midsummer Festival • Subscription to the Esalen Catalog for one year • Subscription to Friends of Esalen newsletter

ENJOY NEW WAYS TO SUPPORT ESALEN’S NONPROFIT MISSION WHILE SUPPORTING YOUR OWN JOURNEY. VISIT WWW.ESALEN.ORG/GIVE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Esalen Institute 55000 Highway 1 Big Sur, California 93920-9546

you move, please let us n Ifknow your new address. It helps save trees and money. Please email info@esalen.org.

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Harness the Power of the Positive The Art and Science of Mindfulness, Compassion and Awe August 11â&#x20AC;&#x201C;16, 2019 At Esalen, awe and wonder come with the territory. What better place for a deep dive into exciting new research and hands-on practices to integrate more joy, compassion and positivity into your life?

Featuring: Dacher Keltner

Amishi Jha

Founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and author of Born to Be Good and The Compassion Instinct.

Neuroscientist, professor investigating the cognitive systems of attention and working memory.

Shauna Shapiro

Daniel J. Siegel

Professor, author, clinical psychologist and meditation expert whose work focuses on the power of mindfulness to improve focus, productivity and well-being.

Interpersonal neurobiologist, clinical professor and co-founding director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center.

Mollie McNeil Artist, writer and teacher at Mills College.