250-Hour Esalen Massage® Certification Program

This 250-hour certification course is designed for those who plan to professionally practice massage or for personal reasons. The course reflects Esalen’s legacy, integrating body, mind and spirit. Students build competence through experiments in sensory awareness, gestalt practice, movement and meditation.

The curriculum includes multiple massage approaches for the whole body, draping, detailed techniques, passive joint movements and compassionate communication skills. Through lecture, demonstration and supervised practice, students study massage as a holistic approach to optimal health and functioning. The course includes the core 100-hour curriculum required by the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), linking anatomy, physiology and ethics to massage. Students have ample time for supervised practice with each other, emphasizing comprehension, body mechanics, self care and innovation.

Upon completion, and after documenting 30 additional massages at your home site, participants receive a Certification of Completion for 250 hours that can be applied toward the 500-hour California Massage Therapist Certificate. Esalen Institute is approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and accredited by CAMTC and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

This is a professional training with limited admission and is especially useful for those in the healing professions in working with their patients and clients. Tuition for this course of study is $11,100, all inclusive, with standard accommodations. Bunk bed accommodations (six to a room)  are considered scholarship, at the fee of $8,010. Premium accommodations are also available; price will vary. A $50 materials fee will be added to the workshop cost.

For industry-related questions or more information about Esalen Massage, contact Massage School Director Brita Ostrom at massageschool@esalen.org or call (831) 667-3040.

We require a $600 deposit to secure your space, of which $250 is non-refundable, and your final payment is required 30 days prior to the program start date.

Esalen offers numerous levels of massage certification. To apply, please visit www.esalen.org/page/esalen-massage-certification-programs-overview.

CE credit for Massage Therapists.