Esalen massage was developed in line with the Esalen philosophy of allowing people to explore the “far reaches of human potentiality.” Many of the strokes are based on Swedish massage and incorporate elements of yoga, Rolfing, meditation and gestalt practices. The massage practitioner and the receiver work together to produce a massage that helps to empower the receiver and allows her to regain a sense of harmony, balance and inner healing. The emphasis is on relaxation, stress management and wellness, and practitioners incorporate a large variety of techniques to tailor the massage to each individual.
Esalen runs a 28-day massage certification course, which includes 150 hours of instruction. After completing the course, students must then document 30 massage sessions within six months in order to become fully certified. On completion of the 30 sessions, and payment of a $100 fee, Esalen will issue students with a Certification of Completion approved by California State Department of Vocational Education.
The Esalen certification course includes lectures and demonstrations in massage skills, anatomy, pathology, ethics, business practices, somatic bodywork and sensory skills. The curriculum also includes yoga, movement classes, supervised massage practice and communications skills. Classes focus on helping students create a balance between massage and bodywork technique, creativity and their own intuition.
Esalen offers the massage certification program to experienced practitioners and also to people who are new to bodywork. However, it does give preference to people who have already taken a workshop in Esalen massage and have some knowledge of the style. Workshops are usually offered as weekend, five-day or 10-day retreats. Esalen also offers advanced specialized massage training for those who have already taken the certification course. These are also offered as weekend, five-day or 10-day retreats.
Esalen massage certification is also taught in several other centers. These programs have been approved by Esalen and have included locations in Spain, Germany, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Georgia and South Carolina. The exact locations change, and the courses are only offered occasionally. Anyone wanting to become certified should contact the Esalen Massage and Bodywork Association. Its website also contains a current list of courses and application forms.