The Max runs at the Esalen Institute at Big Sur in California. It is a four and five day programme - Sunday night until Friday midday. It has been doing so once or twice a year for a good many years and is always outstanding. I and my wife have done it twice. Both my children have done it. Several others have gone I have recommended it to. You can actually go there and back in a week and do the course.
The programme is run by Paula Shaw. Paula is an outstanding leader, tough, quick witted, extremely funny, of the highest integrity and pushes you very hard indeed. The Max is not called that for nothing. It brings out of your best, your maximum effort, things you didn't think you were capable of. I went to the Max to sing on stage. I had never sung. I can talk on a stage without notes to an audience of hundreds without a problem, but to sing I was a quivering jelly. I was truly terrified but I did do it. It was enormous fun, extremely funny, tremendously moving.
One of the best weeks I have ever spent. Another truly life changing programme.
THE ESALEN INSTITUTE
The Esalen Institute www.esalen .org/ as the pictures show is situated on the cliffs of Big Sur, in beautiful grounds by the Pacific. The hot spring baths - pictures above, are an idyllic place to relax and chat to others of like mind. Sitting in the hot baths watching the sunrise over the Pacific is an experience not to be missed, as is sitting there at midnight and seeing the amazing star spangled sky in perfect darkness without the distortions caused by urban lighting.