Touching Essence™ 200 Hour Training
with Ellen Watson
Teaching Assistants : Rie Kuwahara, Nong & Phonik Angel
Japanese and Mandarin translation available
October 12 - November 2, 2025
Mimpi Menjangan Resort, Bali - Indonesia
Touching Essence is a multi-sensory, multicultural, Neo-shamanic approach to healing through touch. Touching Essence combines the physical with the metaphysical, engaging the energies of chakras, meridians and the cosmos. We engage the five physical senses, the three subtle senses of imagination, intuition and inspiration, specifically chosen essential oils, sound, song and mantra creation. Each session is individually crafted in support of highest good and desired outcomes of the client.
Touching Essence
Developed over the last 30 years at Esalen Institute, California, Centro d’Ompio, Italy and Bali, Indonesia, Touching Essence is inspired and nurtured by Ellen’s plant medicine work, sound healing, and breathwork practices and teachings, by Elena's (founder of Tactus), art of touch and energetic work, and by Daniela’s study and practice Esalen Massage and of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Daniela, Elena and Ellen have a combined total of 75 hears of study, practice and teaching Esalen®Massage & Bodywork, along with various healing, somatic and expressive arts practices.
Touching Essence uses the Indian Map of 8 Chakras, the Chinese map of 12 meridians, along with specific essential oils, vocal and sound healing, visualization and affirmation in support of desired outcomes. These act as conductors through which the body, mind, emotions and energy interact as an integrated system. Any imbalance at the level of the chakras and meridians is closely correlated with tensions and disharmonies on the physical level.
The focus of the work is to access these powerful energy centers through a combination of the five physical senses and the three subtle senses. We teach students how to direct breath and sound to release holding patterns throughout the physical and metaphysical bodies.
The intention of this course, is global fusion of highly effective approaches and protocols that address patterns of holding in the physical, emotional, and energetic bodies.
This Program perfect for
Everyone!! Whether for personal development, continuing education, or professional training, this healing and somatic arts program, will enhance your life. If you are new, a novice, perfect. A great way to begin. If you are a seasoned professional, this continuing education program will add to your likely more clinical and traditional training in massage and bodywork. The ‘live’ program includes 150 hours of classroom time offered during a 22 day residential or commuter training. You will receive a certificate of attendance. If you want to certify as a Touching Essence Healing Artist, you will want to follow the post graduate requirements, listed below.
Those without previous training will want to register for the entire 200 hour training. The training includes 150 classroom hours, ‘in person’; post graduate hours include 50 hours completed at your home site. You will give 30 Touching Essence Sessions, to friends and family members, documenting them in writing. Your receiver will also fill in a feedback sheet.
Our Goal
Give and receive an effective, enjoyable and transformative Touching Essence session. Cultivate deep listening skills, personal presence, awareness and attentiveness. Develop your vocal skills through breath and sound exercises, craft mantra based on client’s desired outcomes. Enhance Awareness of your 8 Sensing Centers. Use our specifically chosen essential oils in support of desired outcomes. Learn the basics of Gestalt Communication Practice. Develop and practice appropriate professional boundaries. Fall in love this Touching Essence as a practice. Open your heart, engage your breath and free your spirit.
Teacher Profiles
-
-
Ellen Watson
Celebrates her 35th year in the staff and faculty of the Esalen Institute, in Big Sur, California, where she studies, practices and teaches various ways of meditative practice, massage and movement. Ellen is a teacher of Esalen® Massage & Bodywork, 5Rhythms by Gabrielle Roth, Holotropic Breathing, SpiritDanceSoulSong®, Vibrance®, Touching Essence ™, Wake Up & Roar. From 1984 to 2003, Ellen developed and administered the Movement Arts Program in Esalen. In 1996 she founded MovingVentures (www.movingventures.org), which offers workshops, retreats and training courses in Esalen, Bali, China and other parts of the world. Visit: www.TheVibranceCollective.com, to learn more about Vibrance.
-
Want to Apply?
If you would like to participate in the Touching Essence just fill in the info below and we'll get in touch as soon as possible!
Places are limited so we advise registering interest at your earliest convenience.
Venue & Accommodation
Mimpi Resort, Menjangan, Bali
On the North-West coast of Bali in the village of Banyuwedang, Mimpi looks out towards the Menjangan Island. The area is notorious as a hot-spot for diving and snorkelling and just a little further down the coast a regular dolphin hangout.
Mimpi's most special feature is its waters, as the resort is built across land with several natural hot springs. The careful architecture and landscaping makes for several shared natural hot spring pools across the 3 hectares of land. Inevitably the water and it's high mineral content is totally refreshing, rejuvenating and holds it's own healing qualities. For us the pools are perfect for aquatic bodywork, where we dance in the water to feel true fluidity.
Classes take place in the Wantilan. A large space with wooden floors, the sounds of birds and some gentle breezes. We decorate the wantilan with beautiful silk hangings and bring a range of equipment from musical instruments, to dancing scarves, yoga mats, yoga balls and of course an excellent sound system!
Patio Room
Mimpi's standard room is the patio. Stylishly finished and available with twin or double beds these rooms are home for most of our students through programs and regularly receive excellent feedback.
The rooms are spacious and very comfortable, making them easy to share with another guest whilst maintaing plenty of personal space.
Courtyard Villa
The Courtyard Villa is a pleasant and affordable upgrade to the patio room. With it's own garden and it's own private hot spring tub, the CY Villa is a taste of luxury.
The CYV also has an additional mezzanine that is perfect for families with children or private space for meditation.
A further addition is the private garden terrace and outdoor seating area making this ideal for sitting in the open air sunshine whilst keeping some peaceful solitude, alone or with your partner. If booking a shared space in this room category, you must book with a partner.
Pricing Option
The price listed below is already including tuition, accommodation and 2 meals per day.
-
Shared Patio - Full price $ 5,250
Twin patio rooms are spacious and comfortable to stay with two people. We will aim to pair you with someone most compatible based on your registration form.
-
Private Patio - Full price $ 5,950
If you prefer a room to yourself and a large double bed this comes at reasonable additional cost.
-
Private Courtyard Villa - Full price $ 6,850
Twin patio rooms are spacious and comfortable to stay with two people. We will aim to pair you with someone most compatible based on your registration form.
-
Shared Courtyard Villa - Full price $ 6,150
Twin patio rooms are spacious and comfortable to stay with two people. We will aim to pair you with someone most compatible based on your registration form.
How to Apply?
1. Click Here to fill in the application form.
2. Return the application form to us.
3. Upon acceptance to the program, you then formally register.
4. Registration begins with choice of room, which determines the price you pay.
5. You also fill in and sign the enrollment agreement.
6. Submit the registration and enrollment agreement to us, along with payment (either deposit of in full) for the room choice you made.
7. We will send you a confirmation of payment, enter you onto the roster, reserve your room, and send you periodic updates.
Enrollment Agreement
Once you have submitted your application and been accepted, you need to download the enrollment agreement down below, read it carefully, sign it, and send it back to us via email at contact@movingventures.org