Esalen Institute

The Esalen Institute is a workshop and retreat center in Big Sur, California.

Their website states

The Esalen Institute was founded by Michael Murphy and Richard Price [not the minister] in 1962 as an alternative educational center devoted to the exploration of what Aldous Huxley called the "human potential," the world of unrealized human capacities that lies beyond the imagination. Esalen soon became known for its blend of East/West philosophies, its experiential/didactic workshops, the steady influx of philosophers, psychologists, artists, and religious thinkers, and its breathtaking grounds blessed with natural hot springs. Once home to a Native American tribe known as the Essalen, Esalen is situated on 27 acres of spectacular Big Sur coastline with the Santa Lucia Mountains rising sharply behind.

Workshops may cover many subjects including

• The Arts
• Creativity
• Biofeedback
• Hypnosis
• Intuitive Development
• Children
• Families
• Contemplative
• Spiritual & Religious Studies
• Dance
• Movement
• Dreams
• Health
• Healing
• Integral
• Practices
• Martial Arts
• Yoga
• Sport
• Myth
• Ritual
• Shamanism
• Anthropology
• Philosophical Inquiry
• Intellectual Play
• Professional Growth & Training
• Transpersonal Process
• Relationship
• Communication
• Somatics
• Wilderness
• Ecopsychology
• Women's Issues
• Men's Issues
• Workplace
• Social Responsibility
• Education

Richard Feynman enjoyed the atmosphere but was put off by the pseudoscientific attitudes of some of the participants. He nonetheless gave a workshop, Fritz Perls, Babatunde Olatunji, Robert Bly, and Rusty Schweickart have taught and spoken at the Esalen Institute as well. Massage and hottubbing are popular activities at Esalen.

Eternal Link

• Esalen.org