The
Esalen Institute, commonly just called
Esalen, is an American
retreat center and
intentional community in
Big Sur, California, which focuses upon
humanistic alternative education. Esalen is a nonprofit organization devoted to activities such as
personal growth,
meditation,
massage,
Gestalt Practice,
yoga,
psychology,
ecology,
spirituality, and
organic food. The institute offers more than 500 public workshops a year in addition to conferences, research initiatives, residential work-study programs, and internships.