Esalen, or the Esalen Institute

The Esalen Institute, commonly called Esalen, is a nonprofit retreat located in California. The group offers an alternative form of education, focusing on strengthening the connection between the mind and the body. The goal is to help people raise their levels of personal awareness. Today, the program offers a wide variety of workshops that focus on human psychology, spiritual awareness, and physical wellness. Recent additions include focuses on permaculture and environmental sustainability. Recently, the curriculum underwent an overhaul in an effort to make it more appealing to members of the younger generation. Some of the most common practices include meditation, mindfulness, yoga, wilderness adventures, spiritual and religious studies, and philosophical inquiry.