Esalen® Massage & Bodywork
175-Hour Training
"Developed over the last 60 years at Esalen Institute, Esalen Massage engages both giver and receiver to deepen awareness and presence."
with Ellen Watson & Rob Wilks
Assistant Teachers: JingNi Wang & Patrick Stockstill
Teaching Assistants: Rie Kuwahara, Elena Gili, Phonik Angel & Ngurah Sudana
Table Assistants: Zoe Zhou & Kate (Yang Yuying)
March 2 - 30, 2025
Mimpi Resort, Menjangan - Bali, Indonesia
Program Information
Curriculum & Syllabus: Click here…
People from all over the world come to Big Sur to learn this healing art, and now, among the flowering jungles and lotus laden ponds of Bali, we offer a 26-day Basic Certification in Esalen® Massage. This training will provide you with in-depth experience and practice in basic Esalen® Massage techniques, enabling you to give a professional full-body massage upon completion of the course. Click the links to read more about Ellen Watson and Esalen® massage here.
Your study of massage includes daily moving meditation practices and experiential anatomy, including: partner yoga, chi gong, and conscious dance. To further enhance personal presence, included are guided Breathwork exercises and sitting meditation. Sensory Awareness enhancing exercises, gestalt communication practice, and group sharing circles are included in the curriculum of Esalen Massage. You will experience in your own body the qualities of aliveness and flowing presence central to this healing art form. The process of self-exploration (Inquiry) is a key element, grounding this practice in the experience of your own body, thereby transforming mere technique into a true healing art. The atmosphere and culture of Bali fit well with our intention to teach this method as a path toward healing. The Balinese word for foreigner translates as 'guest', this simple expression conveying the warmth, openness, and beauty which the Balinese embody in every aspect of their lives. As guests of the Balinese during this time, we will visit local temples and ceremonies at full moon, or Balinese holy days. You will have a minimum of 1 and 1/2 days free from scheduled class time; you can practice, go snorkeling, visit the spa, rest, swim. You might consider staying for some days or a week or two after the program ends to enjoy this magical island, absorbing both its tropical beauty and the grace of her people.
Learning the art of Esalen® Massage is an experience that often changes lives. Whether you intend to create a new career path, deepen your knowledge of bodywork, or spend time healing yourself through touch, our time together is sure to stay with you for years to come. Having taught certification courses in Bali for a number of years, we notice the lasting power of these memories - for some, as a healing recollection of new friendships made in the extraordinary Balinese landscape; for others, a time of self-exploration and transformation.
Whatever your intention, join us for this four week journey!
Requirements: This program is open for anyone to apply; upon acceptance, you can register with the room of choice. This program is appropriate for all levels. For professionals, some material will be a repeat, others new to you. We do offer 100 hour programs open only to professionals.
Professional Accreditation: NTBCMB approved provider, CE's for bodyworkers, Yoga Teachers, EMBA approved.
Travel Tips: You will need your passport to be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry, and a Visa if you plan to stay in Bali for longer than 30 days. For a 30-day stay or less, you can get the standard "Visa on arrival" when you land in Bali. We highly recommend getting a 60 day e visa, with the help of our ace agent, Ike. This makes your arrival and departure smooth, lines short and no stress to renew your VOA.
We require that you purchase travel insurance for your journey to Bali. For more information please view Travel Info.
Food: Food for this month includes a delicious and nutritious mid morning brunch, packed with local fresh fruit, smoothie making goodies, steamed veggies, local eggs along with seasonal offerings. While at Mimpi, we eat a lighter meal at 6:30 or 7:00, in the waterside Resto, with one night each week at a local Warung, and one at a local restaurant (The Dynasty or Menjangan).
You can visit the local market to buy fruit and can bring with you any snacks you want to have in your room. (We encourage eating lightly at night, especially those that include supervised evening practice).
Housing: Mimpi's patio rooms are home to most of our students. The rooms are spacious, with A/C, refrigerators, either queen/king or twin beds, telephone, lovely bathrooms, and are close to the communal hot springs pools, and the two large swimming pools. Most students elect to stay in shared patio rooms. For single housing, or upgrading options to CourtYard Villa, see pricing below.
Transportation: We do not include or organize flights. You may contact us to request private transportation to Mimpi at $75. Alternatively you can inquire about shared transportation. Shared cars will go from Seminyak and Ubud to Mimpi on arrival day with departure at 10am from a local meeting place. Shared transportation will cost $20 per person.
Sample Daily Schedule
Schedule :
Class 7:00-9:00
Nutrition break. 9:00 - 10:15
Class: 10:30 - 13:30
Afternoon Break
Class 16:00-18:30
Dinner
We provide two meals every day.
This program, Esalen® Massage Practitioner Training Level I, includes a minimum of 175 credit hours. Credit hours include all classes offered between 07:00 - 09:00, 10:30 - 13:30, 16:00 - 18:30, and assigned practice sessions. Most weeks include 5 - 6 classroom days, followed by one and one half days off; not all days off are on the weekend. These schedules change as group needs change, and to allow for service trips to local orphanages and clinics in Ubud, and at Mimpi, snorkeling and diving as well as time for kayaking and other activities.
Full attendance is required. To complete, students will successfully give a practical hands-on assessment session to a faculty member. At course completion, students will document 30 massages at their homesite. Then they will receive certification in Esalen massage which allows them to practice in many locales
This course is offered through approval from the Esalen Massage and Bodywork Association and matches approved curriculum established by the Esalen Institute.
Meet Your Teacher
Ellen Watson
Ellen Watson, a 40 year member of Esalen Institute's community, lived on campus in Big Sur, while she healed herself, worked in the garden, as a chef in the kitchen, and studied extensively for 10 years. Ellen offers retreats and trainings globally in the fields of Mindfulness Practices which include Esalen®Massage & Bodywork, Touching Essence™, Vibrance™ Dance & Song, The 5Rhythms®, Holotropic™Breathwork, Vibrance Pranayama and Breathwork. Ellen’s work has been deeply influenced her work with plant medicines, empathogens and entheogens, while she apprenticed with Terence McKenna and Stanislav Grof.
Rob Wilks
Rob wilks is a full-time bodywork practitioner. He is a faculty member with Esalen Institute Healing Arts Department, teaching all levels of Esalen® Massage. He has taught massage and bodywork in Indonesia, China, and Italy, as well as experiential leadership education in the U.S. and Eastern Europe.
Testimonial
Venue & Accommodation
Mimpi Resort, Menjangan, Bali
On the North-West coast of Bali in the village of Banyuwedang, Mimpi looks out towards the Menjangan Island. The area is notorious as a hot-spot for diving and snorkelling and just a little further down the coast a regular dolphin hangout.
Mimpi's most special feature is its waters, as the resort is built across land with several natural hot springs. The careful architecture and landscaping makes for several shared natural hot spring pools across the 3 hectares of land. Inevitably the water and it's high mineral content is totally refreshing, rejuvenating and holds it's own healing qualities. For us the pools are perfect for aquatic bodywork, where we dance in the water to feel true fluidity.
Classes take place in the Wantilan. A large space with wooden floors, the sounds of birds and some gentle breezes. We decorate the wantilan with beautiful silk hangings and bring a range of equipment from musical instruments, to dancing scarves, yoga mats, yoga balls and of course an excellent sound system!
Patio Room
Mimpi's standard room is the patio. Stylishly finished and available with twin or double beds these rooms are home for most of our students through programs and regularly receive excellent feedback.
The rooms are spacious and very comfortable, making them easy to share with another guest whilst maintaing plenty of personal space.
Courtyard Villa
The Courtyard Villa is a pleasant and affordable upgrade to the patio room. With it's own garden and it's own private hot spring tub, the CY Villa is a taste of luxury.
The CYV also has an additional mezzanine that is perfect for families with children or private space for meditation.
A further addition is the private garden terrace and outdoor seating area making this ideal for sitting in the open air sunshine whilst keeping some peaceful solitude, alone or with your partner. If booking a shared space in this room category, you must book with a partner.
Pricing & Accommodation Options
EARLY BIRD PRICE
AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 31, 2024
Shared Patio Room ($7,250) $6,950
Twin patio rooms are spacious and comfortable to stay with two people. We will aim to pair you with someone most compatible based on your registration form. All Inclusive.
EARLY BIRD PRICE
AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 31, 2024
Private Patio Room ($8,150) $7,450
If you prefer a room to yourself and a large double bed this comes at a reasonable additional cost. All Inclusive.
EARLY BIRD PRICE
AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 31, 2024
Shared Courtyard Villa ($8,650) $7,950
Shared Villas must be booked with 2 people together at the same time. A CY villa features twin/double bed with a mezzanine, private garden area and tub which may be filled with hot spring water.
All Inclusive.
EARLY BIRD PRICE
AVAILABLE UNTIL JULY 31, 2024
Private Courtyard Villa ($9,150) $8,650
For a taste of luxury, enjoy a CY Villa to yourself for maximum comfort and privacy. Enjoy your own spacious area with garden and hot spring bath for total relaxation. All Inclusive.
Deposit ($ 1,000)
If you would like to reserve your space and pay the remaining balance up to 60 days before the start of this program.
Prices include: Food includes daily delicious, nutrituous brunch and dinner, training manual, all materials/equipment, and gift bag.
How to Apply?
1. Click Here to fill in the application form.
2. Return the application form to us.
3. Upon acceptance to the program, you then formally register.
4. Registration begins with choice of room, which determines the price you pay.
5. You also fill in and sign the enrollment agreement.
6. Submit the registration and enrollment agreement to us, along with payment (either deposit of in full) for the room choice you made.
7. We will send you a confirmation of payment, enter you onto the roster, reserve your room, and send you periodic updates.
Enrollment Agreement
Once you have submitted your application and been accepted, you need to download the enrollment agreement down below, read it carefully, sign it, and send it back to us via email at contact@movingventures.org
Please check travel requirements and our helpful travel info, click here…