Esalen Massage Practitioners

Below is a list of regularly available massage practitioners. Their specialties can be experienced in pure form or in combination. At times, guest practitioners are available. We also offer alternative bodywork modalities in "Room 23," which include Craniosacral work, La Stone, Rolfing, Shiatsu, Thai massage, Cortical Field Reeducation and others.

Alana Cain – My massage includes long interconnecting strokes that glide with the fluidity of a dance, to enter that rhythm where breathing....heartbeat....transcend, coinciding with the flow of the ocean....when all things become magic.

Ardell Hill – As an experienced massage therapist, I have built a resonance with bodywork; Deep Tissue, Reflexology, Craniosacral, and LaStone&trande; blended with Esalen® Massage.  My intention is to help you recognize and release tension held in your body.  I use muscle manipulation, stretches and breath work to assist you in your massage experience.

Benj Langdon – My massage, a meditation on presence, is intended to help you come closer to those effortless, flowing states associated with optimal performance, self-healing, and peak experience. It is inspired by my own model of expanding human functioning with essential elements drawn from Esalen® Massage, Tai Chi, Gestalt, psychosynthesis, expressive movement, Ericksonian hypnosis, and Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement®.

Brita Ostrom – I use movement within the context of a flowing, relaxing massage to reach deep within the body and release old habitual patterns. I direct my attention toward a feeling of real peace and acceptance, of organic wholeness, of balance. I work deeply or lightly as needed to release tense areas and to make connections towards aware, tension-free living. I also use my Gestalt awareness training for integrative sessions combining body awareness with psychological process when workspace allows for sound and talk. I am a licensed MFCC.

Carl Swanson – By listening to your needs with my hands and my heart, as well as my ears, I create a session that is unique for you, supporting and guiding you towards deep relaxation and healing. My classic Esalen® Massage session is a slow dance that blends long flowing strokes, gentle rocking and stretching, and precise deeper muscular tissue work. Sessions may also draw from my study/practice of Thai Massage Reflexology, Yoga, and Reiki.

C-Jay Bradbury – A practitioner at Esalen since 1987, my "Tai Chi" practice continues to stimulate and guide my work. Following my initial interview with you, I will lead you on an effortless journey of relaxing, stress releasing movements, and massage strokes, supportive of a relaxed body, which of course, supports a quiet mind. The degree of movement and depth of pressure will be tailored to you and altered whenever a change of rhythm is desirable. The Ocean sets the tone of an Esalen® Massage.

Chloe Spellman – My intention during a massage session is to create a nurturing, relaxing, and therapeutic experience where people can become receptive to the healing energy within themselves.  I have studied a variety of modalities including Esalen, Thai, Deep Tissue, Craniosacral, Prenatal, and Hendrickson Method orthopedic massage.  In addition to my massage therapy, I am a yoga teacher.  I believe the practice of both yoga and massage complement one another to help people find expanded presence and opening in their bodies. –

Christiane Weltch – In my massage I focus on relaxation and well-being through the use of deep nurturing contact, presence and flowing movement. I combine gentle stretches with long integrative strokes and energy work to assist my client in opening energy pathways, increasing body awareness and letting go of holding patterns.

Cory Shank – My intention is to meet each session with openness and acceptance. Along with the long flowing strokes and detail work of Esalen® Massage, I use my experience of dance and yoga to support the wisdom of the body to facilitate healing.

Daniela (Dani) Urbassek – I see massage as a way to remind the body of its full potential to move more freely. My intention is to support an ever-increasing awareness of the whole body, creating space for the release of tensions and unnecessary holding patterns. I use a wide spectrum of modalities from deep muscular work, joint mobilization, and elongating stretches to energy work and fine-tuning. By utilizing a strong foundation in Esalen® Massage, I include elements of Sports Massage, Reflexology, and Craniosacral work to bring progressive relaxation and wholeness.

Daphne Johnson – "Work is love made visible, " wrote Kahlil Gibran. My work is a joy and an honor, and I consider every client as an individual blessing in my life. I trust your body to guide me; through my touch, you can become aware of your unique and beautiful ability to heal. Full body strokes, intuitive and slow, allow your body to soften, move, and breathe. Contracted muscles melt, welcoming the integration of slow deep bodywork. The ocean tides pulse through your veins, as you are rocked into sweet surrender.

Deborah Anne Medow – A practitioner at Esalen since the late 1960s, I combine long lengthening strokes and slow deep work along with elements of Esalen® Massage, soft tissue work, quiet chanting, Craniosacral work, Reiki, Polarity Therapy, and integrative bodywork. All are designed to balance the body energies, enabling the client to release chronic tension and stress patterns, restoring fluidity of movement, and allowing the body, mind, and spirit to feel free and rested in their natural harmonious state. A certified nutrition educator, I am also available to teach private massage, nutrition education, and yoga lessons.

Ellen Watson – I have studied, practiced and taught massage and movement at Esalen since 1984. My massage style reflects my love of movement, singing and chanting, essential oils, spiritual healing, music, breathwork, and the natural sensuousness of the human body. While developing my own style, The Art of Essential Touch, I received over 1,000 professional sessions with bodyworkers, healers, ministers, movement artists, breathworkers, shamans and gurus. In creating the best session for each client, I call on all my experiences as both giver and receiver. My wish for you is to end our session deeply relaxed, refreshed, and in closer touch with your essential well-being.

Erlinda Montano-Hiscock – As a nurturing and eclectic bodyworker, I have studied a variety of modalities including Therapeutic Massage, Deep Tissue, Swedish, Energetic, Craniosacral, and Lymphatic Drainage. A long-time Big Sur artist, I feel my passion as a painter both complements and supports my intuitive approach and sense of touch.

Harmony Alsen In my massage, I intuitively connect gentle deep work with long integrative strokes of Esalen® Massage. My experience with Deep Tissue, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Craniosacral, and energy balancing inspires my work. In a symphony of loving intention, movement, and deep breathing, guided by the rhythm of the ocean, I invite deep relaxation and free energy flow?taking you into a journey to experience a loving connection between mind and body, encouraging life in balance.

Heather Elizabeth James – As a dancer, percussionist and bodyworker, my style is fluid, rhythmic, and heart-centered. I draw upon an eclectic blend of modalities, which include Esalen®, Craniosacral, Acupressure, Reflexology and La Stone therapy. I invite the dance of energy between giver and receiver to evoke a unique session that magically unfolds just for you. Let the warmth and experience of my hands address your specific needs and nurture you into bliss.

Jessica Fagan – A massage practitioner since 1994, I use the therapeutic principles of Eastern and Western modalities, Deep Tissue/Structural Integration, Neuromuscular Therapy, Sports Massage, Craniosacral, Shiatsu, Tui Na, and Thai Massage to address injury and the source of holding patterns unique to each individual.  Range of motion, rhythmic rocking, stretching, and cradling encourage deep relaxation and a nurturing environment for the body to find it?s own equilibrium, thus, creating space in the body that allows increased ease, openness, and expansive awareness.

Johanna Holloman – I combine many years of experience as a practitioner and teacher of Deep Tissue work with my skills as an Esalen® masseuse. My style of massage is characterized by loving, nurturing long strokes and slow, sensitive detail work, making my work both therapeutic and pleasurable. It is my intention to quiet the mind and access a deeply restful presence, replenishing your whole being.

Jud Varner – I listen quietly to support unwinding and release, stimulating healing and spiritual renewal. My work is rooted in the classic Esalen® massage with long flowing strokes, gentle stretches, and a strong quality of presence, along with elements of acupressure, energy work, and deep tissue.

Kathleen McCombie – Blending the nurturing long strokes of Esalen® Massage and therapeutic detail work of Deep Tissue and Shiatsu, my massage leaves you feeling both deeply relaxed and physically integrated. My intention is to assist you in healing, by bringing your awareness to the ?holding? areas of your body, and working with your breath to allow tension to release, My long glowing strokes remind the body of its interconnectedness, giving you the experience of feeling more unified, embodied, and whole. Breathe. Let Go. Unfold. Heal.

Kelly McKay – I give a nurturing massage, using strong flowing strokes and gentle stretches. I apply firm pressure in a sensitive way, creating a safe environment to release blocks within the body. My work intuitively encourages fuller breathing, allowing for deeper relaxation, restored vitality, and reduction of tension. Upon request, I also integrate Reiki and Craniosacral work.

Laura Zarcone – I am very grateful for the gift of connecting with people and helping them to heal themselves. I love my work. With over fourteen years of experience, I have studied Esalen® style massage, Chi Nei Tsang, Swedish, and currently I am studying Craniosacral work. The massage I offer is a balance of stretching, fluid long strokes, and energy work. I also bring my background in Continuum and Sensory Awareness to the table?. Peace.

Lawrence Jenkins – My work is a synthesis of Hellerwork, Polarity Therapy, Zero Balancing, and Esalen® Massage. I listen with my heart and hands, varying my touch from light to deep, to accommodate the needs of your body.

Les May – Warm fingers of sunshine caress the forest floor. Evergreen branches sway in the breeze. Water flows gently, powerfully into curves, slowly softening hard places. Light dances beautifully across boulders resting in the stream. Redwoods stand strong and still, supporting supple limbs above, embracing earth below. My hands embody the qualities of the forest, flowing like water, rocking gently like wind, warming like sunshine, gradually moving deeper with exquisite gentleness and strength, channeling nature's energies to lovingly awaken the body.

Lioness Laurie Parizek – I combine nurturing massage, reflexology and stretches. I use pressure points and encourage deep release while aligning the structure and balancing the body?s energetic field. I work with body, mind and breath and like to engage you in an exploration of your health potential. My work consciously tracks and releases blocked energy and balances the nervous system. I am a registered nurse and a long-time member of the Esalen teaching staff.

Margaret Stevens I give a relaxing Esalen® Massage using a depth of pressure ranging from light to deep. With twenty years on the Esalen Massage Crew, I have studied Deep Tissue, Shiatsu, Zero-balancing, and foot reflexology. I enjoy the practice of yoga, dance, drawing, and singing as well as the art of massage.

Nancy Lawrence – Being a massage therapist who has worked in various settings in and out of this country, I have found that every person and body needs to receive its own unique form of massage. That is why I like to incorporate different styles into each massage, from relaxing therapeutic deep tissue and pressure point work to long flowing nurturing strokes. My specialty and passion is deep focused work.

Nora Matten – My massage is very loving and nurturing, yet deep. I work from my heart. My intention is to create a space of acceptance and safety in which change can happen through awareness? a dance of listening and responding, breath and movement, creating a sense of wholeness and wellbeing.

Oliver R. Bailey – A massage practitioner and teacher of Esalen® Massage for over 25 years, my massage incorporates a skillful blend of various types of bodywork, including elements of Trigger Point Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage, Acupressure, Craniosacral work, Reconnective Healing, and Esalen® Massage. I can do deep massage, lighter energetic work, or somewhere in between. I enjoy working with chronic neck and low back problems, as well as working with those who want to relax, de-stress, and recharge.

Paméla Espinoza – Aloha! My intention during our massage experience is to balance, clear, and nourish the currents of life flowing through the meridians and spiral patterns of the body. Like a flower unfolding, we blossom within an inter-connective shimmering wholeness. My original training was in Hawaii. Lomi lomi, Craniosacral, Mayan Abdominal Massage, Shiatsu, Chinese Medical Qi-gong, Esalen® Massage, Swedish sports massage, and deep tissue Myofascial release are the forms I find useful for this journey. I am also available for focused Craniosacral sessions in Room 23.

Paul Moraca – Your session begins with the classic long strokes of an Esalen® Massage. With over 1000 hours of massage training, I use my strong, intuitive, loving hands to adjust the depth of pressure and range of motion in creating a relaxing massage suited to your body?s needs.

Perry Holloman – My work focuses on touching the deep structures of the body in an effort to release chronic tension and holding, often at the root of chronic pain. Releasing chronic tension and pain can result in an increase in the flow of vital energy. In my work, special attention is paid to supporting this process, if, and when it occurs. An integral part of this process is freeing the breath, finding greater room and freedom to breathe.

Rob Wilks – My intention is to work with you and be present to your needs; I listen and then respond to the messages naturally given by your body, creating an experience of nurturing, deep relaxation, expansion, and release. I use integrating Esalen long strokes, combined with sensitive detailed work, deep tissue work, lengthening stretches, and gentle twists.

Robert Helm – I call my work Esalen somatic bodywork because I use Esalen® Massage as a foundation and then blend various somatic modalities into each session. These include Craniosacral, Esalen deep tissue, pressure points, and Polarity/energy work. I also work with the body's energy meridians. I am experienced and comfortable with Gestalt process and my sessions have space for emotional release.

Sabina Loetscher – For me, massage is a silent body conversation with the client. While listening to my intuition, I explore dynamic Breema moves and the stillness of craniosacral work. I love to nurture and use the rhythms of breath to complete the circle of body, soul, mind, and spirit.

Silvia Guersenzvaig – My specialty is in accessing the neuro-skeletal structure of the body, translating into a feeling of being contacted deeply. I use an array of techniques along with Esalen® Massage, Craniosacral and Intuitive healing, creating a unique type of bodywork. My discoveries in the field of Continuum movement led me to the creation of "BodyResonance," a form of drumming and still point contact on bone structures that helps release deeper holding patterns, targeting areas like the neck, back and shoulders, while promoting a deep state of balance and relaxation.

Susan Gries – My intention is to honor the sacred connection between the body, soul, and spirit with an open heart and a loving presence. My sessions are a dynamic flowing dance, reminding the body of its fluidity and innate wisdom. I incorporate my years of experience in Esalen® Massage, craniosacral therapy, deep muscle work, Thai massage, long stretches and balancing of the energetic bodies.

Thomas Attila Vaas – I have spent the last three decades on the Esalen Massage Staff developing "Balance in Motion"™, an evolved form of Esalen® Massage, incorporating techniques of long flowing strokes, sensitive harmonious rhythmic movement, soft supported stretching, blended with Polarity Therapy, Reflexology, Acupressure, and Cranial work. Special emphasis is placed on feet, hands, lower back, shoulders, and neck. My intuitive touch fills the need to complete the sense of peacefulness and wholeness within the body, mind, spirit, and soul.

Tom Case – Using pressure points and the integrative Esalen® style massage I work deeply into areas of tension, lengthening and opening. I balance this work with gentle nurturing strokes to promote relaxation and include stretching and joint manipulation to promote greater mobility.

Vicki Topp My massage is supportive, nurturing, and a form of meditation. I work on multi-dimensional levels, integrating deep structural spiralic movements with a soft and sensitive use of pressure point, deep tissue work, and somatic balancing. I am a registered Movement Therapist, a practitioner of Body-Mind Centering, and a founding member of the Esalen Massage School.

Please Note - Esalen® Massage, well-known for its long flowing strokes over the whole body, helps release the stresses of everyday life, leaving the receiver feeling whole, integrated, and deeply relaxed, in a natural state of well-being. Esalen practitioners are dedicated to connecting deeply with each client and can usually accommodate specific requests and preferences within the Esalen® Massage modality.

Meet our guest practitioners.