This workshop is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Esalen’s land while gaining a foundation in Esalen® Massage.
Senior teachers will guide you in this experience of connection and presence translated to the massage table. Through lecture, demonstration, and practice with your fellow students, you will be introduced to the essentials — including quality of touch, rapport, respect for our natural impulse toward healing, and mindful body mechanics. You will listen to what is felt as well as what is said. You will learn how to comfortably drape, and how to easily apply the foundational long, integration strokes and gentle stretches that characterize Esalen massage. You will have plenty of time for guided practice and to effectively share your experience. At the end of the weekend, you will be able to give a simple massage to friends and family back home.
Esalen massage promotes feelings of wholeness and reconnects us with our natural state of being. Teaching tools include experiential exercises to awaken the senses, demonstrations, and tableside guidance appropriate for you. The class will enjoy an optional evening in the hot tubs, the birthplace of Esalen® Massage.
This class is appropriate for the new and curious as well as the professionals who would like to rejuvenate their senses and the quality of their touch.
Daniela Urbassek is a long-time teacher and practitioner of Esalen® Massage. She holds a masters degree in oriental medicine, is a licensed acupuncturist, and is passionate about the powerful impact of somatic and holistic practices.
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Jessica Fagan, MA, AMFT is an Expressive Arts AMFT who has been practicing and teaching bodywork and movement since 1994. She joined the Esalen® massage staff in 1997 where she was deeply influenced by the innovative forms of somatic and healing arts.
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Fri 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat 9:30 am – 12:45 pm
Sat 3:00 pm – 6:15 pm
Sat 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm (optional)
Sun 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
More activities can be found on our open class schedule.
See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.
Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.
For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.
Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.
Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.
In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.
Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.
July 29–31, 2022
Applications are closed.
This workshop is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Esalen’s land while gaining a foundation in Esalen® Massage.
Senior teachers will guide you in this experience of connection and presence translated to the massage table. Through lecture, demonstration, and practice with your fellow students, you will be introduced to the essentials — including quality of touch, rapport, respect for our natural impulse toward healing, and mindful body mechanics. You will listen to what is felt as well as what is said. You will learn how to comfortably drape, and how to easily apply the foundational long, integration strokes and gentle stretches that characterize Esalen massage. You will have plenty of time for guided practice and to effectively share your experience. At the end of the weekend, you will be able to give a simple massage to friends and family back home.
Esalen massage promotes feelings of wholeness and reconnects us with our natural state of being. Teaching tools include experiential exercises to awaken the senses, demonstrations, and tableside guidance appropriate for you. The class will enjoy an optional evening in the hot tubs, the birthplace of Esalen® Massage.
This class is appropriate for the new and curious as well as the professionals who would like to rejuvenate their senses and the quality of their touch.
Daniela Urbassek is a long-time teacher and practitioner of Esalen® Massage. She holds a masters degree in oriental medicine, is a licensed acupuncturist, and is passionate about the powerful impact of somatic and holistic practices.
Jessica Fagan, MA, AMFT is an Expressive Arts AMFT who has been practicing and teaching bodywork and movement since 1994. She joined the Esalen® massage staff in 1997 where she was deeply influenced by the innovative forms of somatic and healing arts.