Esalen, to be or not be?

Esalen, to be or not be?

The Biodanza program has finished, and on the last Thursday of the month I got notice that I shall stay as an ES (extended student) candidate for the month of April.
That means a month at Esalen working in the Kitchen to give both Esalen and myself the opportunity to see if it’s a good match, Ok, and soaking in the hot spring baths too…

What is an ES and why do I want to do it?
An ES is a person that works and studies at Esalen Institute for a year. Works in a specific department (kitchen for me), and has something they are working on/studying/developing while here.
If I get to stay at Esalen I hope to achieve a few things:
- Live in a fantastic setting with some great people from all over the world.
- Learn and improve my kitchen skills (cooking for 300+ every meal)
- Teach yoga and meditation on the regular schedule classes
- Develop workshops related to Blissful Living
- Develop a unique photography workshop
- Learn about ways an institute and community such as Esalen functions
- Keep learning and realizing myself, learning to better myself as to be better for others.

At the moment I work 4 days a week in the kitchen. Each day I have a different title.
One day I am a sous chef, one day a rover (do whatever is needed), one day create the salad bar (last week made stuffed peppers as one dish), and one day I am in charge of the pond – the dishwashing area. So the question that remains is WHO AM I? : )
The work is hard but fun. It’s a healthy environment to work in. Most people are very kind and helpful. Not your usual commercial kitchen.
Twice a week we have group process. (An alternative group shrinking…) We meet as a work group, sit in a circle on pillows, and share what we are going through. There is a process leader (a trained person), that helps open and guide the person that is talking/working through something.
It is not unlikely to have tears in the room, to hear intimate stories, and learn more that what we might normally know about our colleges.

Early morning Thursday (and Sunday too) I walk into the round hut over the waterfall, always surprised that the river never stops, even when we sleep the water keeps flowing, same river, but different every morning. I sit quietly waiting for those that manage to crawl out of bed when the sun is still sleeping and join for Zazen (Zen meditation).
Wednesdays, crossing the river, I open the big dance dome and set up to teach my Blissful Yoga class.

I am now sitting on the carpet on my loft room in a cute little house (a motel room really) that has views of the ocean. A big skylight above me lets the stars and moon watch over me as I sleep. Esalen has purchased this old Motel as a sleeping place for the longer-term residents. Some people here say it reminds them of college days, living so close to each other…
The motel is a mile down the road along the ocean. Seems like everything here is along the ocean and under the mountains, along a stream or a waterfall, covered by a huge starry sky. Nature is very powerful here. Monarch butterflies dancing around the millions of flowers, seea utters playing nearby, birds fly over the great ocean while dolphins and whales pass by on their migration route.
Susie invites Craig and myself to the beach for sunset watching. We head down the steep steps descending the cliff, skipping over some rocks to find our perfect sitting rock. One where we can see the drama of the waves crashing over the dark rocks, seaweed hanging on as the salty water rolls over, and birds diving off the cliff behind in what might seem as the jump of a glider off the cliff in Rio.

While at Esalen, I hope to participate in some of the workshops that happen here on a regular basis. Esalen attracts some of the best teachers out there, in a wide array of disciplines, from dance, psychology, writing, massage, yoga, mediation and what not?
Anything that has to do with developing the human potential goes.
Next week I shall do a pottery workshop, making bowls the native Indian way. I love the art barn; a place open 24 hours a day for everyone to come and play, express and enjoy.

At the end of this month I shall know if I get another month of candidacy at Esalen, if they accept or decline me. Then the question remains about dates, when will I be able to start.
I only know that in June I am planned to go to Boulder, Colorado to participate in Richard Freeman’s Ashtanga intensive for a month. This shall be second Yoga teacher training, a place to round up more knowledge and experience about my practice and teaching others.

Esalen is a place that can only be experienced. Hard to explain what really happens here. I guess that much of it has to do with human interactions on daily bases, working, living, and bathing with the same people. Dancing and practicing yoga, eating and going for walks, hugging and opening the heart, a community, a place of sharing.

Feeling gratitude for the time I’m spending here. All you beautiful people around the world, I miss you and feel you close. We shall meet again when the conditions are right. Every one of you has created a new part within me. Helped me realize a moment more of our interconnectedness.

Thank You. Sharing the Love.