It’s a modality, a place, and a philosophy…
This style of massage comes from the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Esalen® massage practitioners seek to break down the hierarchy between client and therapist, and reawaken the client’s awareness and ownership of their own body. It’s a way of working that differs from other types of massage in a few important ways. The practice is grounded in the therapist’s self-awareness and nonjudgmental observation of the client. Through watching the client’s breath and exploring the body with a mix of curiosity, anatomical expertise and intuition, the practitioner helps the client build self-awareness, self-compassion and connection; unwinding the patterns of holding and pain.
Esalen practitioners use long, flowing strokes to connect the different parts of the body and give the client a sense of themselves as a complete whole. They employ various massage techniques from other modalities, including Thai Yoga, Traeger, the Feldenkrais Method, myofascial release, and Swedish massage. Anna customizes the depth and speed of contact to each client and each area of the client’s body. A traditional Esalen® massage covers the entire body, including the abdominal, sternal (center of the chest), and gluteal areas. Esalen practitioners often uncover multiple parts of the client at once, to facilitate contact and connection between various parts of the body. If any of these aspects raise concerns for you, know that your needs will be discussed before the session, and your boundaries respected.
Esalen® massage is an excellent method for building awareness and connection to your body. As patterns of holding are recognized and begin to unwind, strong emotions may arise. It is completely normal to feel these strong feelings in the course of a session. Esalen practitioners are trained to recognize and hold space for these experiences.
“Bodywork, then, is a kind of sensorimotor education, rather than a treatment or a procedure...I must enter into an active relationship with [them], feel [them] out... The bodyworker is not attacking a localized problem; [they are] carefully generating a flow of sensory information to the mind of the client...It is the mind of the client that does the fixing.”
Rates
75 Minutes … $105
90 Minutes … $125
120 Minutes … $165
60 Minutes … $85
30 Minutes … $50
(Rates are gratuity-free)
What to Expect
When you arrive at the office, Anna will be there to greet you. If this is your first visit, you may have filled out an intake and waiver online. If not, you will be asked to fill out a short intake and sign a consent for treatment. Once your paperwork is complete, Anna will bring you back to the treatment space. She will ask clarifying questions about the information on your intake form, and additional questions about your expectations and goals for the session. Once the intake is complete and all of your questions and concerns have been discussed, it’s time for the hands-on portion of your session! Anna will step out to wash her hands and allow you privacy as you disrobe and make yourself comfortable on the massage table. She will knock, re-enter the room, and adjust everything to your level of comfort. When the session is complete, Anna will step out of the room again, allowing you ample time and privacy to get up and dressed. There will be a hot towel set out for you, which you may use to wipe away any excess oil or lotion. When you are ready, exit the room and meet Anna in the lobby to discuss your session, take care of payment, and schedule your next appointment. Have more questions about what to expect? Visit the FAQ.
“We approach our work with reverence and we believe it is an honor to touch another person deeply in the way that we do”