Esalen® Massage and Meridian Work

Imagine hands moving slowly across your body with such intention and presence that you feel simultaneously held and freed—as if long-stored tension is being invited to release, and your subtle energy field is being nourished in the same breath. This five-day healing workshop at the legendary Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, weaves together the slow, attentive strokes of Esalen Massage with the profound 12-meridian system of Asian medicine. Rather than treating bodywork and energy as separate worlds, this program integrates them into a unified approach: structural release meets energetic awakening, all grounded in practical, embodied skill.

Led by experienced faculty including guest instructor Mac Murphy—who studied qigong in China—this workshop is designed for practitioners and serious students ready to deepen their healing presence. Over five immersive days, you'll learn not just how to touch, but how to listen through touch. You'll discover the pathways of vital energy flowing through the body and develop the sensitivity to work with them. This is not esoteric manipulation dressed in mystery; it's the artful craft of releasing held tension while nourishing your client's resilience, emotional ease, and capacity to care for themselves.

What to Expect

Each day unfolds through guided practice, teaching, and embodied exploration. You'll learn to apply long, flowing oil massage strokes along meridian pathways while cultivating calm, centered presence—the foundation of true healing work. The program covers locating and working with fourteen vital energy points, complete with techniques for opening and closing a session with intention. Mac Murphy's movement practices weave throughout, supporting sustained energy flow and deepening your understanding of how qi moves through the practitioner as much as the receiver.

By the end of the workshop, both you and anyone you work with will have access to these energetic portals for ongoing self-care. You'll leave with a coherent, embodied methodology—not scattered techniques, but an integrated way of touching that honors the whole person.

Venue & Logistics

This workshop takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, one of North America's most transformative healing centers, perched on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The five-day program begins Monday, November 30, 2026. Wear comfortable clothing you can move and stretch in; massage tables and oils are provided. The Esalen campus is accessible by car; contact the institute directly for any specific accessibility questions.