A Mini Course

THE ESALEN
TOUCH:

AN EASY
GUIDE TO
LISTEN WITH
YOUR HANDS
1
 WRITTEN BY:
MARGRET HAYSEN
WEIR LMT, CNMT
COPYRIGHT © 2007 UTIMATE HEALING TOUCH

2
 MY BRIEF STORY
Hello, my name is Margret Haysen Weir. I am a licensed
Neurolomuscular Massage Therapist. I have been practicing for more
than twenty-two years. I graduated in 1985 from Scherer’s Academy,
owned and operated by Dr. Jay Scherer, located in Santa Fe, New
Mexico.

Let me start by saying that Life doesn’t always turn out the way you
think it is going to be. I always thought I was different, not in a good
way, but in a rather peculiar way. I was teased all through school. It
was hard to maintain sanity, and I had extremely poor self-image. I
felt that I was a failure, and I now know that is not true. It was
through my introduction to massage therapy that set in motion the
changes I have and am now still experiencing in life.

When I was first introduced to massage, I was very uncomfortable, as

I absolutely did not want to be touched nor did I want to touch others.
I would have to excuse myself from class to go outside and scream!
To make matters even worse, I could hardly bring myself to touch
others. I wanted so badly to be a massage therapist, and I felt I really
had some extremely difficult hurdles to jump. I was determined not
to give up and this was the beginning of my New Life Story. My body
has changed immensely, even though it was difficult to adjust. I have
experienced so much pain in my body and spirit. I have experienced
being so broken down where all I could do is cry, feeling totally
frustrated and hopeless when I was unable to walk since I was so stiff
that I could barely even breathe. I felt like I had been so beaten down
and had been scraped off the pavement.

When I was younger, I had experienced perfect health, ran five miles
per day at least three times a week. It is truly amazing how life can
turn on a dime. Suddenly and most unexpectedly I lost massive
physical abilities. Life became such a challenge to even desire to stay
alive. I developed neuropathy and possibly Muscular Sclerosis (MS).
The Western Physicians have not fully determined my diagnosis, as it
has become so complicated. Alternative Practitioners say I have a lot
of heavy metals in my body. Whatever it is, I just wanted to die since I
couldn’t do the things that I used to do.

I asked myself on many occasions, why I should even bother to live. I

asked myself how I could be of use to anyone and what good am I?

My healing journey was greatly facilitated by learning to listen to my

hands in the practice of Esalen Massage. I do know that through this
practice, it has created the key to great improvement of my health and

3
total well-being. Creating is the key to living and that’s why I have
written this book, “Listening with Your Hands”. I must say that it has
been a long way home, and I am still on my journey of TOTAL health
and well-being. This journey is a lifetime endeavor for all who walk
upon this earth plane. Our spiritual well-being is the basis of all our
experiences.

As a demonstration supported by others, the following are quotes

from Professional Practitioners:

“Best massage I’ve ever had.” Dr. Jack Copeland, MD

– Marfa, TX

“The Esalen style is the most fabulous massage I’ve

experienced.” Dr. Robert Campbell, DOM – Santa Fe,
NM

“Her obvious expertise and innate healing ability is

very deeply effective.” Dr. Carol Callen, DOM – Santa
Fe, NM

“I get a massage once a week and I feel so much

better.” Amy Fagen , Business Owner– Santa Fe, NM

"Haysen has changed my life in a profound way. She

has a way to bring an awareness of the connection
between my body, mind, and emotional spirit though
her massage therapy and her caring hands." James
Baker, School Teacher, Santa Fe, NM

4
Inside these pages, it is my intention that you will discover the
following:

- How you can stay healthy and perhaps avoid doctor visits
- Release tension headaches and stop taking over-the-
counter medicines
- Get rid of insomnia and sleep well every night
- Reunite with your partner in a very intimate way
- Facial techniques that are easy to do and wonderful to
experience
- Professional techniques that only the best therapists know

It is not my intention that this book replaces Professional advice, nor

does it claim to be the cure-all for any diseases. It is a vibrational
offering for you to align and accept in your journey for TOTAL well-
being. I am confident that this offering will generate a better lifestyle
on your journey.

5
 What is Esalen Massage?
Esalen Massage is a slow, flowing, stroke-massage that opens the
sense of ease in a person. Esalen Massage also employs passive joint
movements to enable sense of body space. A sense of body space is
defined as a holistic versus an allopathic method of self-expansion.
Esalen Massage specifically focuses on the body as a whole, rather
than just one part of the body. This is the main difference from
receiving a Swedish massage versus an Esalen Massage.

For example, a long flowing stroke starting from the hand to the back
of the neck and then coming back down to the arm and completing at
the hand is done in one flowing motion. It establishes the connection
from the hand to the head, with each procedure cascading to establish
total connection.

The person who is giving an Esalen massage is moving his/her body

like the ocean in nature’s way of continuing flowing and ebbing of the
tide. This is what gives the sense of expansion to the one who is
receiving the massage. It is imperative that the person giving the
massage stays focused to the continued flowing of motion in their
own body and the flowing and sensing with the hands.

Esalen Massage facilitates the releasing of letting go, allowing drifting

even deeper into a state of relaxation where you can experience your
definition of NIRVANA.

We are now ready to move on to the Procedures.

Chapter 1 -
The steps in Chapter #1 boost the immune system.

Ask the RECEIVER to lie on their stomach with their face in the
faceplate.

1st Step: Cover the RECEIVER’s body with a sheet. You want the
RECEIVER to feel comfortable and safe. The Giver then exposes the
part of the body that they are going to massage. The GIVER puts oil
on his/her hands and begins to apply the oil starting with the right
foot and continues to apply the oil all the way past the buttocks and
hip.

6
CONTOURING
You are now going to use a method called Contouring. Contouring
means to follow the outline/body figure in a smooth, even, and
flowing motion using the whole hand. The left hand is placed on the
right foot with the palm spread across the arch and the fingers lightly
wrapped around the foot. The right hand is placed on the back of the
calf just above the ankle with the fingers lightly wrapped. Using firm
pressure, and with both hands in motion at the same time, follow the
leg contour in an upward motion. The left hand will be contouring
the inner side of the leg and the right hand will be contouring the
outside of the leg. The left hand will stop at the top of the thigh
(medially) just under the buttocks and the right hand continues to
follow the contour up and push into the buttocks.

BUTTOCKS PROCEDURE
Now we are going to alternate the right and left hands pushing into
the buttocks. Bend your knees in harmony with the alternating
pressing motion. This forms an ocean wave from your body that will
be transmitted into the RECEIVER’s body. Your hands will be moving
together in the opposite direction. As the right hand is pushing up
into the buttocks, the left hand will be pressing downward toward the
thigh. Alternate your hands using this motion. Refer to Pictures 1.1 –
Buttocks Pressing.

7
 Figure 1.1 - Buttocks Pressing
After the buttocks is relaxed, contour downward to the inner thigh
with the left hand and the right hand will be contouring the outside of
the thigh. You are now ready to knead the thigh.
KNEADING
Kneading is the same motion as kneading dough. However, kneading
is combined with circular rubbing at the same time. The circular
rubbing motion is as the pipeline motion of the ocean. Refer to
Picture 1.2 – Kneading the Thigh

8
 Picture 1.2 – Kneading the Thigh

Continue kneading the medial area of the thigh until your hands tell
you that the medial thigh is relaxed. Be sure to go up and down the
inner thigh, kneading as you go. You will now go to the top portion of
the thigh and perform kneading until this too is relaxed. You will
then move to the outside of the thigh and knead up and down until the
outside thigh is fully relaxed. When the thigh is fully relaxed, use
contouring to move to the top middle portion of the calf.

CALF
Your body will be swaying in the movement of the kneading when
applying this technique to the calf. Begin kneading in a circular
motion. The motion is similar to that of the ocean as the waves are
coming in and going out. Make sure to knead the whole big muscle of
the calf. Be sure to knead from the top down to the ankle and back up
again until the calf is fully relaxed. Once the calf is fully relaxed, it is
time to Esalen the foot.

9
FOOT
You may place the ankle on your knee, which is on the table, or you
may place a pillow under the ankle, whichever is more comfortable
for you. Placing the right hand on the arch of the foot and the left
hand just above the ankle, at the same time, the right hand sweeps up
the back of the middle of the calf and the left hand sweeps down
across the toes. Using a sweeping motion, the hands will meet back
together at the heel. Repeat this wave motion until the foot is fully
relaxed. Refer to Picture 1.3 – Foot Position & Hand Positions. The
steps for the Foot are very relaxing and stimulate the Heart, Lungs,
Kidneys, and Gallbladder. Basically, these steps facilitate the whole
body.

Picture 1.3 – Foot Position & Hand Positions

10
We are now ready to proceed to the ball of the foot. Remember, the
foot is now either on your thigh or is positioned on a pillow. Cup your
right hand under the dorsal (top) of the foot with the thumb pressing
the ball of the foot. Cup your left hand on the outside of the foot with
the thumb pressing the ball of the foot. Use a circular pressing
motion. Refer to Picture 1.4 – Pressing the Ball of the Foot.

Picture 1.4 – Pressing the Ball of the Foot

Spread the toes and massage each one until they are fully relaxed.
Refer to Picture 1.5 – Massaging Each Toe.

Picture 1.5 – Massaging Each Toe

11
We are now ready to Esalen the Heel. You are going to contour up
each side of the arch to the heel, pressing into the heel. Refer to
Picture 1.6 – Contouring and Pressing the Heel.

Picture 1.6 – Contouring & Pressing the Heel

We are now going to finalize the foot and leg protocols.

Congratulations! You have completed the first procedure.

If you find yourself drawn to an area on the foot and it feels that you
need to massage longer, then by all means, go there. You are now
listening with your hands, and will develop greater skills with
practice. Remember, you don’t have to do it by the book! Get creative
and have fun!!!

Allow yourself to be the RECEIVER! It is great fun and fulfilling to

experience both being the GIVER and RECEIVER.

You can purchase the entire book go to http://tinyurl.com/6rapns

To your health
Haysen

12
13
14