Esalen always changes, fluid like the ocean is how they would want me to state it…read more *bring your own blanket. The spare blankets are one grade hire than packing blankets. The blanket on the bed was a thin whatever felt like a Target dormitory special. *Bring your own towel or two, you won't regret it. *The food, some of the changes are good, the coconut yogurt is amazing (I'm not vegan.) The salad, miso, soft boiled eggs are gone. The bread bar isn't a party like it used to be, uninviting and cramped is how I would describe it now. The breakfast classic. eggs, potatoes, meat is now served, although it's comforting, it's not the steamed chard I came for. Since I can remember, people always rave about the food, how healthy they are eating, what their bowel movement was like. Now you can maintain your mundane eating habits if you desire. I appreciated breaking people out of their dietary boxes. There was some shitaki dishes that I really appreciated in the evenings. * At one point I was approached by a very large man wearing all black, he asked for my room key, "for my own safety" it was a security guard. I was sitting in front of the lodge talking with a friend. We had been in the lodge talking but left to avoid him because we wanted our space. Then we had to engage with him and proved we belonged there. I've been to Esalen maybe 15 times and that was a first for me. I did not like it. *im still really irked about having to weasel a face cradle for the massage tables at the baths every time I attend. The cradles mount are 10" in case you couldn't find anyone on the phone to answer that question in advance. At the front desk you SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A DEPOSIT TO BORROW A FACE CRADLE. Hey Esalen, you have massage courses all the time, please instal a hand washing trough so we can sanitize like professionals. Esalen he's definitely priced out most of its massage students from getting a massage. Which is very ironic. I 100% just told a friend to take massage courses at Esalen the other day. You can't replace that foundation of education. Told him not to join the cult, just take the classes.

I've attended and followed Esalen for years and genuinely believe in the spirit of the work. That's…read morewhy this is hard to write. If you look at the website, you'll see strong language about inclusion and racial equity. But when you move from messaging to mechanics, a different picture emerges. Registration requires a 50% deposit upfront. At the lowest tier, that's about $490. For many workshops, it's $1,000+ depending on accommodations. That's due immediately. In a country with a well-documented racial wealth gap, large upfront deposits are not neutral. They disproportionately exclude people who don't have flexible cash on hand -- including many Black, Brown, Indigenous, and working-class folks. Scholarships are limited and require extensive financial disclosure. I've applied and was denied. When I recently asked if I could split the deposit into two payments, the answer was no. That's not just an inconvenience. That's a structural access issue. It's also difficult not to notice who is in the room. In many sessions, participants of color are limited. Most staff are white. Most teachers are white. For an organization that publicly centers equity language, the lived experience doesn't fully match the branding. I also reached out directly to members of the leadership team to raise these concerns. I received no response. That silence speaks volumes. Esalen offers meaningful programs. But equity isn't a value statement -- it's reflected in payment policies, hiring decisions, and who can realistically afford to say yes. If the goal is broader participation, installment options and more flexible access policies would be a straightforward place to begin. Right now, it's very clear who Esalen primarily serves and who they intend to include as part of the human potential movement.