Esalen® Massage & Bodywork
175-Hour International Training
"Developed over the last 60 years at Esalen Institute, Esalen Massage engages both giver and receiver to deepen awareness and presence."
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chiang Mai Wellness
Program Dates
June 8–23, 2026
November 1–13, 2026
Faculty
Ellen Watson — Senior Teacher
JingNi Wang — Teacher
Rie Kuwahara — Teaching Assistant
Translators
Japanese & Chinese
Table Assistants
Nong, Phonik, and Faculty
This program is taught in English with translation available : Chinese and Japanese for a translator’s fee.
Note: Our professional translators provide seamless live translation. Rarely are our students adversely affected by translation.
Our First Esalen® Massage Training in Thailand
This program marks a meaningful step in bringing the Esalen® Massage tradition into a new cultural and geographical context, while honoring the integrity and lineage of the work.
Our home for this training is the Chiang Mai Holistic Studio, an environment well suited to the study of Esalen® Massage. Here, participants are invited to slow down, return to their senses, and step away from the pace of city and digital life. Through this intentional shift, we reconnect with natural rhythms that support embodied learning, presence, and integration.
As daily distractions fall away, we cultivate the essential qualities of Esalen® Massage: awareness, attentive listening, fluid movement, and connection. Within this supportive setting, learning unfolds gradually and experientially, allowing technique to deepen into a living, responsive healing practice.
Your study of massage includes daily moving meditation practices and experiential anatomy, including : 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 Chiang Mai fit well with our intention to teach this method as a path toward healing. The Thai word for foreigner translates as 'guest', this simple expression conveying the warmth, openness, and beauty which the Thai embody in every aspect of their lives. As guests of the Thai during this time, we will visit local temples and ceremonies.
You might consider staying for some days or a week or two after the program ends to enjoy northern Thailand, 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 this unique landscape; for others, a time of self-exploration and transformation.
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.
Professional Accreditation: NTBCMB approved provider, CE's for bodyworkers, Yoga Teachers, EMBA approved.
Where is Esalen Institute and What is Esalen®Massage?
The Esalen Institute is located in Big Sur, California, along the Pacific coastline within the Ventana Wilderness. Founded in 1962 by Michael Murphy and Richard Price, Esalen was created as a residential retreat center dedicated to exploring the integration of Eastern mysticism and Western pragmatism. From its beginnings, Esalen became a birthplace of the Human Potential Movement, offering inquiry into psychology, philosophy, somatics, movement arts, breathwork, and the essential practice of touching the body.
“It ought to be against the law to work with the mind and psyche without touching the body.” — Jack Rosenberg, PhD
During the 1970s and 1980s, many influential teachers lived and taught at Esalen, shaping the evolution of Esalen® Massage. Among them was Milton Trager, who developed the Trager® Approach, emphasizing freedom through gentle rocking and effortless movement.
Rie writes, “Rocking is a form of long stroke that connects the body together like a gentle wave.”
Learning to move and touch three-dimensionally gives the receiver a sense of energetic and physical freedom in the joints and in the deeper layers of tissue; muscles, fascia, and organs. This experience supports a connection between mind, body, heart, spirit, and soul, offering a felt sense of unity with one’s whole Self, their partner, the planet, and the cosmos.
Esalen® Massage evolved as a touch-based healing art and a moving meditation, integrating presence, awareness of breath, quality of touch, varied depths of pressure, pauses for integration, and the practitioner’s own embodied movement. Drawing from elements of Tai Chi, yoga, and dance, the practitioner moves with the body on the table while remaining grounded and responsive, allowing each session to unfold organically.
“Put the body into motion; the psyche will heal itself.” — Gabrielle Roth, creator of 5Rhythms
Who This Training Is For?
This program is open to all levels of experience, from complete beginners to experienced professionals.
• No prior massage training required
• Professionals may find some material familiar and some new
• All participants are invited to cultivate a “beginner’s mind”
Participants should be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and able to engage in group learning. Open to all genders.
Learning Esalen® Massage is often a life-changing experience; whether you are seeking a new career path, deepening your bodywork practice, or engaging in personal healing through touch.
How Do We Support Your Education in Esalen Massage?
Our educational approach is experiential, progressive, and well supported. Learning unfolds gradually through daily practice, movement, and hands-on application, allowing students to integrate skills with confidence and presence.
Each day begins with movement arts and experiential anatomy practices that awaken body awareness and prepare students for learning. These include sensory awareness practices, partner yoga, and movement-based exploration. From there, students move to the massage table to learn and practice the foundational elements of Esalen® Massage.
Each class builds upon the previous one, with generous time for practice and integration. Students receive ongoing support from faculty, table assistants, and the invaluable feedback of fellow students.
Program Structure & Credit Hours
This program is the Esalen® Massage Practitioner Training Level I and includes a minimum of 175 credit hours.
Credit hours include:
All scheduled class sessions
Assigned practice sessions
Movement and experiential anatomy practices
Classes are held between:
07:30 – 09:00
10:30 – 13:30
16:00 – 18:30
Full attendance is required to successfully complete the program.
Sample Daily Schedule
07:30 – 09:00 Class
09:00 – 10:15 Nutrition break
10:30 – 13:30 Class
Afternoon Break
16:00 – 18:30 Class
Evenings : No scheduled classes
This schedule allows time for rest, integration, and personal reflection.
Assessment & Practice Requirements
To complete the training, students must successfully give a practical, hands-on assessment session to a faculty member during the course.
After the program, students are required to:
Complete 30 documented massage sessions at their home site
Collect client feedback forms
Submit all documentation as a single PDF to one or both teachers for review
Upon review, students will complete an additional assessment session with a qualified assessor.
Certification Process
Once all requirements are met, the teacher will notify the Esalen Massage and Bodywork Association (EMBA) that the student has qualified for certification.
Students then:
Visit www.massage.esalen.org
Create or update their profile
Click “Certificate”
Receive an invoice from EMBA for USD $150
Complete payment
After payment, students receive a numbered digital Esalen® Massage certificate, granting permission to practice using the Esalen® trademark.
An Esalen® Massage certificate may support professional opportunities at locations worldwide
This course is offered through approval from the Esalen Massage and Bodywork Association and matches approved curriculum established by the Esalen Institute.
Why Chiang Mai?
Chiang Mai offers a cultural and natural environment that beautifully supports this work. In Thai culture, the word for “foreigner” translates as “guest,” reflecting the warmth, openness, and generosity embodied in daily life.
As guests in Thailand, we will visit local temples and ceremonies, and you are encouraged to stay longer after the program to enjoy northern Thailand’s tropical beauty, cuisine, arts, and wellness offerings.
Chiang Mai Holistic
Chiang Mai Holistic is a welcoming wellness and holistic centre nestled on the edge of Chiang Mai’s vibrant Nimmanhaemin (Nimman) area. This will be the heart of our program; a space where we gather, practice, explore inner work, and rest between sessions.
More than just a beautiful venue, Chiang Mai Holistic is a sanctuary designed for connection, healing, and growth. It offers a rich mix of classes and experiences including yoga, meditation, sound healing, breathwork, Reiki, and transformational workshops that support both personal and collective well-being.
Whether it’s grounding into movement, deepening into meditation, or sharing community over breathwork and sound, this space invites you into presence and connection. Hundreds of visitors from around the world have found clarity, peace, and creative inspiration here; making it a truly fitting home base for our class in northern Thailand.
Check their website : https://www.chiangmaiholistic.com
Meet Your Teachers
Ellen Watson
Ellen Watson is an international Somatic and Healing Arts Educator who has studied, practiced, and taught at Esalen Institute since 1984. She joined the Healing Arts staff in 1987 after completing certifications in Esalen® Massage, 1000-hour ERYT Yoga, 5Rhythms®, Grof® Legacy Breathwork, and spiritual ministry.
From 1985 to 2003, Ellen directed the Movement Arts Program at Esalen, where she welcomed thousands of participants to daily morning movement and meditation practices. Today, she teaches internationally, with a long-standing focus in Indonesia, China, and Italy, and continues to support the development and transmission of Esalen® Massage worldwide.
Senior Teacher
Jingni Wang
JingNi Wang is an Esalen® Massage practitioner and teacher from China, with a background in yoga and expressive arts. Her work integrates touch, movement, and presence, supporting processes of healing and integration across body, mind, and spirit.
JingNi teaches within the Esalen® Massage network in China and internationally. She brings warmth, sensitivity, and clarity to her teaching, creating a learning environment that emphasizes embodied awareness, relational presence, and thoughtful practice.
Teacher
Rie Kuwahara offers Esalen® Massage through private sessions and professional trainings in Tokyo and Chiang Mai, Thailand. She began her massage studies in 2002, training with Susan Stein at the award-winning Jari Menari Spa in Bali.
Since 2003, Rie has studied Esalen® Massage under senior teacher Ellen Watson and has served as a table assistant for Esalen® Massage Certification Trainings from 2011 to 2023. She holds a teacher certification from the Thai government–accredited International Thai Massage School (ITM) and taught as a senior teacher at ITM Shinjuku from 2012 to 2017, guiding more than 400 students. Her work has been featured in publications including ELLE Japon, VOGUE Japan, FRAU, and the professional magazine Therapist.
Teaching Assistant
Rie Kuwahara
Enrollment, Payment & What’s Included
This program is open to applicants of all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Acceptance is required prior to registration. Participants must be physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and able to engage in group learning. Open to all genders.
Enrollment is limited. Once accepted, participants may select their accommodation and complete registration.
What’s Included
Your program fee includes:
175-hour Esalen® Massage Practitioner Training (Level I)
Faculty instruction and table assistance
Accommodation during the training
Two meals per day throughout the program
Not included:
Airfare and travel to Chiang Mai
Local transportation (approximately 40-minute taxi from Chiang Mai Airport; optional transport can be arranged)
Payment Options
Full payment in one lump sum
¥100,000 non-refundable deposit + two installments (The deposit is deducted from the total program cost)
All fees must be paid in full by April 10, 2026.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation up to 60 days before the program: deposit only
Cancellation 30–60 days before: deposit + 50% of program fee
Cancellation 30 days to one week before: deposit + 70% of program fee
Cancellation within one week of the program or after start: full payment required
Important Program Terms
This is a two-module certification program. Registration requires commitment to the full program, with payment for the entire training due at the start.
In the event of illness or circumstances preventing attendance at Module II, we will work with students to attend another approved Esalen® Massage program elsewhere in the world, subject to availability.
*This link connects you to Rie Kuwahara's WhatsApp for registration assistance