Touching Essence™
A 50-Hour Multi-Sensory Immersion in Neo-Shamanic Bodywork
Venue: Amertha Bali Villas, Bali, Indonesia
Dates: February 5 - 12, 2027 (8 days)
Program type: Fully residential
Faculty
Teachers: Ellen Watson with Phonik Angel
This program is taught in English. Indonesian translation is available.
Mandarin and Japanese translation may be arranged in advance for an additional fee.Note: Our professional translators provide seamless live translation. Rarely are our students adversely affected by translation.Program Overview
Touching Essence™ is an 8-day, 50-hour immersion in multi-sensory, neo-shamanic bodywork, held at Amertha Bali Villas on Bali's northwest coast. You'll work with chakras, meridians, essential oils, sound and mantra under Ellen Watson and leave with a certificate of attendance plus your first step toward full Touching Essence Healing Artist certification.
There are something about our venue in Amertha and Taman Sari, that are hard to put into words; so we let Indra show you instead. Watch these two short videos and get a real feel for the space before you arrive.
The Setting
What Is Touching Essence™?
Touching Essence is a multi-sensory, multicultural, neo-shamanic approach to healing through touch. It combines the physical with the metaphysical, working with the energies of the chakras, the meridians and the cosmos. Sessions engage the five physical senses, the three subtle senses of imagination, intuition and inspiration, and specifically chosen essential oils, sound, song and mantra creation.
Every session is crafted individually, in support of the client's highest good and desired outcomes.
Touching Essence grew over 40 years of practice at Esalen Institute in California, Centro d'Ompio in Italy, and here in Bali. It draws on Ellen's plant-medicine work, sound healing and Esalen® Massage; on the Grof Legacy breathwork practice; on Elena's Reiki (she founded Tactus); on prayerful energy work; and on Daniela's study and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Together, Daniela, Elena and Ellen bring 75 years of combined study, practice and teaching in Esalen® Massage & Bodywork and related healing, somatic and expressive arts.
Touching Essence uses the Indian map of 8 chakras and the Chinese map of 12 meridians alongside essential oils, vocal and sound healing, visualization and affirmation, all in support of your desired outcomes. These act as conductors through which the body, mind, emotions and energy interact as one integrated system, so any imbalance at the level of the chakras and meridians shows up as tension and disharmony in the physical body.
The focus of the work is to access these powerful energy centers through a combination of the five physical senses and the three subtle senses. We teach students how to direct breath and sound to release holding patterns throughout the physical, emotional and energy bodies.
The intention of this course is global fusion of highly effective approaches and protocols that address patterns of holding in the physical, emotional, and energetic bodies.
Who This Training Is For?
Touching Essence welcomes everyone; for personal development, continuing education or professional training. If you are new to this work, this is a strong place to begin. If you are a seasoned bodywork professional, this continuing-education program adds to your existing clinical and traditional training.
The live program runs 50 classroom hours over this 8-day residential retreat, and you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Working toward full certification? To certify as a Touching Essence Healing Artist, you will join additional modules to complete the 200-hour requirement: 150 in-person classroom hours plus 50 post-graduate hours completed at your home site, where you give 30 Touching Essence sessions to friends and family, document them in writing, and collect feedback from each receiver. If you are new to bodywork, we recommend registering for the full 200-hour training track from the start.
Our Goal
By the end of this immersion, you will give and receive an effective, enjoyable and transformative Touching Essence session. You will build deep listening skills, personal presence, awareness and attentiveness. You will develop your voice through breath and sound exercises and craft mantra based on a client's desired outcomes. You will grow your awareness of the 8 sensing centers, learn to use specifically chosen essential oils in support of desired outcomes, and pick up the basics of Gestalt communication practice. You will develop appropriate professional boundaries, open your heart, engage your breath and free your spirit and, we hope, fall in love with this practice.
Why Bali?
The atmosphere and culture of Bali fit our intention to teach Esalen® Massage as a path toward healing in a way few other locations can match. In Balinese, the word for 'foreigner' translates as 'guest'; reflecting the warmth, openness, and beauty woven into every aspect of Balinese life. As guests during this time, we will visit local temples and ceremonies at full moon and Balinese holy days.
You will have at least 1.5 days free each week; time to practice, snorkel, visit the spa, rest, or swim. We encourage students to stay for days or weeks after the program ends to absorb this magical island: its tropical beauty, its grace, its world-class diving, and the extraordinary quality of stillness that Bali uniquely holds.
Venue
Our home for this program is Amertha Bali Villas, located in the quiet northwest corner of Bali, far from the busy tourist areas of Seminyak and Kuta.
Here, the pace of life slows. The horizon opens to the turquoise waters of the Bali Sea, with the distant outline of Java’s volcanoes visible at sunrise. This is a more traditional side of Bali, unhurried, spacious, and deeply connected to nature.
Pemuteran is known for its exceptional diving and snorkelling, with vibrant marine life just offshore. Nearby, the West Bali National Park offers protected jungle, wildlife, and coral reef ecosystems, while the surrounding village life provides a genuine experience of local Balinese culture.
Classes are held in the Wantilan; a large, open-sided wooden pavilion filled with natural light, birdsong, and ocean breezes. The space is carefully prepared for the training, with silk hangings and a full range of equipment including massage tables, yoga mats, music, and movement props to support both learning and creative exploration.
Housing
Amertha Bali Villas
Beachfront resort set in lush tropical gardens on the shores of Pemuteran Bay.
Each villa has its shared pool, surrounded by koi ponds, outdoor terraces, and the sounds of the sea.
The Amertha property is grounded in the Balinese concept of Tri Hitas Karana, the harmonious relationship between Human and God, Human and Nature, and Human and Society; a philosophy that aligns deeply with the spirit of Esalen® Massage.
Taman Sari Bali Resort & Spa
Part of the same bay and operated within the same local hospitality network, Taman Sari offers a relaxed, garden-style setting with traditional Balinese architecture.
It provides a comfortable and welcoming environment while remaining closely connected to the main program location.
Participants staying here join all daily activities at Amertha, with a short walk along the beachfront as part of the daily rhythm.
We offer two accommodation options for this program, both located along the same beachfront in Pemuteran and connected by a short 5-minute walk on the beach.
Our main training activities are held at Amertha Bali Villas, where all classes take place. Participants staying at either property are fully part of the same program and community, with access to both locations throughout the training.
For those seeking greater privacy and comfort, Amertha offers spacious private villas with their own pools in a quiet beachfront setting. For those preferring a more flexible budget option, Taman Sari Bali Resort & Spa offers comfortable bungalow-style rooms and shared options just a short walk along the beach.
Food
Each day begins with a mid-morning brunch, freshly prepared and nourishing, served at the venue during the morning nutrition break. Fruit and light snacks are provided in the afternoon to keep you energised between sessions.
Five dinners per week are included. Saturday and Sunday dinners are on your own, giving you freedom to explore the local warungs and cafes along the beachfront, many within easy walking distance.
Once a week the group gathers for a shared dinner together, a valued part of our community life.
Vegetarian and vegan options are readily available, and dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
Pemuteran is approximately 3.5 hours from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), Bali. We are happy to help arrange ground transportation and suggest where to spend your first night.
We recommend sharing the journey with other students who have similar arrival times, we will help coordinate this. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from entry date.
A 30-day Visa on Arrival is available at the airport. We strongly recommend a 60-day e-Visa for flexibility. Contact our travel agent Ike for smooth, stress-free arrival.
We require that you purchase travel insurance for your journey to Bali. For more information please view Travel Info.
Getting to Pemuteran
Transportation
We are happy to help arrange ground transportation from the airport to Ubud or Seminyak, and assist you in deciding where to spend your first night or nights. The drive from the airport is quite interesting, with varied terrain, and is best enjoyed during daylight hours.
Please note that we do not include or organize flights; however, our Bali travel document offers helpful suggestions on airlines we recommend.
You may also share the cost with others who have the same flight or a similar pick-up time and are heading in the same direction, making the trip even more convenient and economical.
Our professional drivers will take excellent care of you throughout your journey. Each member of our driver team has extensive experience and a deep familiarity with the terrain along the route, ensuring a safe, smooth, and comfortable trip as you travel through Bali’s diverse landscapes. Let our experienced drivers handle the road so you can simply relax and enjoy the ride.
Meet your Faculty
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Ellen Watson
Ellen celebrates her 40th year on the staff and faculty of the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where she studies, practices and teaches meditative practice, massage and movement.
She teaches Esalen® Massage & Bodywork, 5Rhythms (by Gabrielle Roth), the Grof Legacy Project's Holotropic Breathwork, and Vibrance® Touching Essence™. From 1984 to 2003, Ellen developed and ran the Movement Arts Program at Esalen.
In 1996 she founded MovingVentures (movingventures.org), offering workshops, retreats and trainings at Esalen, in Bali, China, Europe and Mexico. Visit TheVibranceCollective.com to learn more about Vibrance.
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Phonik Angel
For more than twenty years, Phonik has practiced and taught Esalen® Massage with grace and devotion. His presence is steady, his touch infused with courage and compassion. He carries the lineage of Esalen into Bali, blending East and West with artistry and heart.
Our Past Program Experience
Enrollment, Pricing & How to Apply
What’s Included
Faculty instruction and table assistance throughout
Accommodation for the full program
Daily mid-morning brunch, afternoon fruit and snacks, and 5 dinners per week (Saturday and Sunday dinners not included)
Full use of Taman Sari and Amertha property
Training manual and all class materials
What’s Not Included
International flights to Bali
Airport transfers (we assist with coordination)
Visa fees (if applicable)
Translator's fee (if using Mandarin, Indonesian, or Japanese translation)
Travel insurance (required)
How to Apply
Click here to complete the application form and apply
Upon acceptance, you formally register
Choose your room type (this determines your price)
Download Enrollment Agreement here, sign, and send it back to us via email at contact@movingventures.org
Submit payment (deposit or full amount) with your registration
We confirm, reserve your room, and send periodic updates
Pricing & Payments
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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.
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Taman Sari - Shared Studio Room (TBA)
Twin Bed, air-conditioned garden cottages with open-sky showers and a terrace overlooking tropical lawns. Steps from the beach and Biorock reef. Simple, serene, and full of character.
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Taman Sari - Private Studio Room (TBA)
Your own air-conditioned cottage with open-sky garden shower, private terrace and views across the lawn to the sea. A peaceful retreat close to the reef and Biorock project.
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Taman Sari - Shared Bungalow (TBA)
Twin Bed, renovated bungalow with beachside access, open-air garden bathroom, and views of the sea. Individually styled with Balinese accents — a step up in space and atmosphere.
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Taman Sari - Private Bungalow (TBA)
A renovated beachside bungalow with a private open-air garden bath, Balinese carved interiors, and near-direct access to the beach. Ideal for couples or those wanting extra comfort.
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Amertha - Shared Master Suite (TBA)
Twin bed, set within a private villa compound on Pemuteran Bay, this suite features a daybed, rainfall shower, private balcony and access to your own pool. Shared with one other student.
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Amertha - Private Master Suite (TBA)
An entire master suite within a private beachfront villa, shared pool, lush garden, rainfall shower, daybed, and panoramic views of Pemuteran Bay and hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
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No prior training is required. The program is open to all levels, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners. All participants are invited to bring a beginner's mind.
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The curriculum, teaching standards, and EMBA certification are aligned with those offered at Esalen Institute. Both programs are rooted in the same lineage and uphold the same depth, integrity, and quality of Esalen Massage training.
The main difference lies in the setting and overall investment. Training at Esalen takes place on its iconic Big Sur campus, known for its dramatic Pacific coastline, natural hot springs, and long-established community. This immersive environment is truly unique and is reflected in the overall cost of attending. For example, even shorter workshop stays at Esalen can reach several thousand dollars including accommodation and meals .
Our Bali program offers the same curriculum within a 28-day residential retreat in Pemuteran, surrounded by ocean, nature, and Balinese cultural life. While the learning experience remains consistent, the overall cost of participating in Bali is generally more accessible; especially when considering travel, accommodation, and daily living expenses.
For participants coming from Asia and nearby regions, Bali also offers a shorter travel distance and greater ease of access, making it a practical and inviting alternative without compromising the quality of the training.
Ultimately, both locations offer something meaningful and distinct; the essence of the work remains the same, while the environment and level of financial investment may guide your personal choice.
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Yes. The certificate is issued by the Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) and grants permission to use the Esalen® trademark globally. It is recognised at retreat centres, spas, and wellness facilities worldwide. This program is also an NCBTMB-approved CE provider.
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Your fee covers tuition, accommodation for the full 28 days. Daily mid-morning brunch, afternoon fruit and snacks, and 5 dinners per week (Saturday and Sunday dinners not included), full use of the Amertha and Taman Sari property (including pools and recreational area), training materials.
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This program is taught in English. Indonesian translation is available. Mandarin and Japanese translation may be arranged in advance for an additional fee.
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At least 1.5 days per week are free from scheduled classes. Evenings are also unscheduled. This is time to snorkel, visit the spa, rest, or explore. We encourage students to stay on after the program to absorb Bali at their own pace.
