100hr Esalen® Massage Professional Training – Portugal 2026
October 17–31, 2026 | Quinta Marugo, Alentejo, Portugal (EMBA-approved)
Overview
An immersive 15-day journey into presence-based bodywork rooted in the living lineage of the Esalen Institute, Big Sur.
This professional training weaves technical skill, embodied awareness, and relational presence into a refined practice of touch and healing.
Participants learn to deliver full Esalen® Massage sessions — integrating long, flowing strokes, passive joint mobilization, side-lying techniques, and awareness-based connection.
The program meets the standards of the Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) and offers a 100 hours Esalen® Massage Certificate.
“Esalen Massage is more than a technique — it’s a way of listening, a moving meditation that honors both giver and receiver.”
Who this Training is for
This training is designed for massage and bodywork practitioners who wish to deepen their professional practice through presence-based touch.
It is suitable for those who already hold a minimum of 150 hours of certified massage or bodywork training.
If you are unsure whether your background qualifies, please reach out, we are happy to support your individual path.
Minimum age: 21 years
Language of instruction: English (with optional German support)
What Is Esalen® Massage?
Esalen® Massage is more than a technique. It is a presence-based approach to touch that invites awareness, connection, and wholeness.
Rooted in the Human Potential Movement of the 1960s at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, this practice emerged where psychology, somatics, and mindfulness met the art of touch.
At its heart are the long, flowing strokes that connect the body as a whole — movements that unify rather than separate, inviting a quality of attuned presence and embodied awareness, inviting both giver and receiver into a shared exploration of the present moment.
Each session is a dialogue through touch, guided not by correction but by listening, by sensing what is present, alive, and unfolding in the moment.
Esalen® Massage honors the body as a living process, not an object to be fixed.
It integrates anatomical precision with awareness-based presence, Gestalt inquiry, and movement principles drawn from Sensory Awareness and somatic education.
The result is a bodywork practice that nurtures both physical ease and emotional integration, a return to feeling at home in oneself.
“When touch becomes awareness, the whole body begins to breathe again.”
The Venue
Serpa, Alentejo – Portugal
Nestled in the rolling landscapes of southern Portugal, Quinta Marugo is a fully sustainable retreat center dedicated to regeneration and mindfulness.
It offers spacious en-suite rooms, organic farm-to-table meals, a 70 m² movement and massage space, a natural swimming pond, and quiet corners for rest and reflection.
Daily vegetarian or vegan meals are freshly prepared with local ingredients, and herbal teas and fruits are available throughout the day.
“A retreat into the rhythm of nature — simplicity, silence, nourishment.”
Dates & Schedule
Dates: 17 – 31 October 2026 (15 days / 14 nights)
Total Hours: 100 contact hours (approx. 103.5 scheduled hours including movement & supervision)
Sample Daily Rhythm:
-
Morning practice (YinYoga / Breathwork / Pilates/ Meditation)
-
Nurishing Breakfast
-
Class: demo & hands-on practice
-
Lunch & Rest
-
Class: demo & hands-on practice
-
Dinner & Free Evening
Training Content & Methodology
Through demonstrations, guided hands-on practice, movement explorations, and reflective dialogue, participants learn to:
Deliver a professional full Esalen® Massage session with long, integrative strokes
Apply advanced skills such as passive joint mobilization, assisted stretching, and side-lying techniques
Work with awareness, attunement, and ethical boundaries
Integrate Gestalt-informed dialogue and self-reflection
Support self-care and sustainability as a practitioner
Methods include:
Demonstration & guided practice · Peer feedback · Somatic movement · Gestalt dialogue · Group integration & supervision.
Hours & Certification
-
100 contact hours (approx. 103.5 scheduled incl. movement/supervision)
-
To receive the certificate, participants must have completed at least 150 hours of prior training in a certified massage, bodywork, or somatic modality
-
Participants who complete the program requirements can apply for the official 100hr Esalen® Massage Certificate ($150 certificate fee), issued by the Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) and are allowed two use the name Esalen® Massage Practitioner.
-
Full attendance (100 hrs minimum)
One mid-training touch-in with instructor feedback
One final assessment massage (60-75 min)
15 documented practice sessions submitted within 6 months after training
Demonstrated technical skill, embodied presence, and ethical awareness
-
Early Bird:€ 1,950 (until March 31, 2026, or within 7 days after attending an Introductory Workshop with Nina/Eva)
Regular:€ 2,400(from April 1, 2026)
A certification fee of USD 150 is paid directly to the Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) upon completion. This includes a one-year EMBA membership.
-
€ 130 per person / night (14 nights = € 1,820)
Includes: shared twin accommodation with en-suite bathroom, full vegetarian meals, herbal teas, fruit, and access to all facilities.
Single occupancy may be available upon request (limited capacity).
Accommodation and meals are booked directly through the organizer as part of your registration.
-
Early Bird path: from € 3,720 (tuition + accommodation)
Regular path: from € 4,220
An extra certificate fee of USD 150 is paid directly to the Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) upon completion. This includes a one-year EMBA membership.
-
To secure your place, a deposit of € 500 is due within 7 days of registration.
The remaining tuition can be paid in instalments if needed.
Final balance due: 14 days before training start (October 2026)
-
Deposit & Payment Schedule
€ 500 deposit due within 7 days of registration
Balance payable by installments if needed; final payment due before training start
Cancellation & Refund Policy
(as aligned with EMBA standards and venue terms at Quinta Marugo)
Up to 90 days before training start: refund of tuition minus € 150 administrative fee.
60–89 days before training start: 50 % refund of tuition fee.
Less than 60 days before training start: no refund of tuition, unless your space can be filled, in that case, refund minus € 150 administrative fee.
In the unlikely event of program cancellation by the organizers or due to force majeure: full refund of tuition fees. Venue costs are handled according to Quinta Marugo’s policy.
Transfer of registration to another qualified participant: possible upon approval; handling fee € 75.
Participants are strongly advised to take out travel and cancellation insurance.
Meet the Teachers
-
Nina Ottenheym
Organizer & Teacher
EMBA Certification Teacher (100 & 175+ hrs), Esalen® Massage Teacher & Practitioner, Somatic Integration® Practitioner, Integrative Gestalt Coach™, Deep Bodywork® & Integrative Somatic Practice® Practitioner.
Nina teaches Esalen® Massage courses across Europe, creating warm and inclusive spaces for embodied learning and connection. She especially loves bringing together people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, inviting them into authentic contact, presence, and the shared language of touch.
Her teaching is rooted in trauma-informed and integrative somatic approaches, grounded in deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence.
In her Hamburg-based practice and online, she also offers embodied coaching, breathwork, and integrative bodywork sessions that bridge awareness and transformation.
-
Eva-Maria Leve
Co-Leader & Teacher
EMBA Certification Teacher (100 & 175+ hrs), Senior Esalen® Massage Teacher & Practitioner, Heilpraktikerin (Naturopath), Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, Somatic Integration®, Integrative Gestalt Coach™, Deep Bodywork®, Integrative Somatic Practice®.
Eva-Maria shares her deep passion for Esalen® Massage as both organizer and senior teacher of the German trainings with Johanna and Perry Holloman.
She teaches introductory workshops and certification programs across Europe, guiding students with the same presence, clarity, and compassionate curiosity that first transformed her own life.
From her practice in Dortmund, she welcomes clients and students alike with warmth and listening hands, creating spaces where awareness and touch become gateways to healing and connection.
What You’ll Take With You
By the end of this training, you’ll have:
A refined technical skillset grounded in flow, anatomy, and body mechanics
The ability to offer full Esalen Massage sessions with presence and confidence
A deepened relationship to your own embodied wisdom
An experience of community, awareness, and professional growth
“This work is not about fixing — it’s about being with what is, in presence and compassion.”
How to Apply
Please write to hi@ninaottenheym.com or use the form below and include your name & contact information, a short description of your background in bodywork / massage, any previous Esalen® Massage experience or trainings, a few lines about your intention for joining.
Applications are reviewed personally to ensure group balance and readiness.
Upon acceptance, you will receive registration details and payment instructions.
Group size is limited to 16 participants.
Early application is recommended.