“Sometimes a single weekend can change the direction of an entire life.”
For Eva-Maria Leve, that moment arrived unexpectedly — not on a mountain or in meditation, but during a local Esalen® Massage intro weekend in Dortmund. She had no intention of becoming a massage practitioner. “I didn’t even like massage,” she laughs. “A friend insisted I try it — so I did, just for a weekend.”
Yet what happened next would alter everything.
Through Tears, Clarity Arrived
At the time, Eva was in her early forties — standing at a crossroads in both her personal and professional life. “I had left my job at a dental clinic, started my naturopath training, and was searching for something that truly resonated,” she recalls.
A friend invited her to a weekend workshop with Ingrid May, and Eva reluctantly agreed. But by Sunday evening, something profound had awakened.
“I remember sitting in my car afterward, tears in my eyes, thinking — this is my path, this is what I want to learn. I had never felt that kind of clarity before.”
Full Circle — Finding Home at Esalen
Only three months later, she began her Esalen® Massage certification in Dortmund with Ingrid May, Daniela Urbassek, and Perry Holloman. One training led to another — Deep Body Work, Somatic Integration, and eventually, the Teacher Training (2009–2011).
“When Perry asked if I could imagine teaching, it felt like a natural next step. I realized I wanted to help others discover what had changed my own life.”
Her first visit to Esalen in Big Sur was another turning point. “I used to think people exaggerated when they said it was magical,” she smiles. “But when I walked onto that land — the ocean, the cliffs, the hot springs — I felt its energy immediately. Lying in the baths, looking out at the Pacific, I thought: the circle is complete.”
Inside the Karmic Washing Machine
For Eva, Esalen Massage is far more than technique — it’s a way of being.
“This work has transformed me. It’s like a karmic washing machine,” she laughs softly. “It changes you from the inside out.”
Her teaching invites students to bring presence and authenticity to every encounter.
“I want to create a safe, holding space where people can simply be as they are — without roles or masks, without judgment. Through Esalen Massage, I’ve learned to meet others without assumptions, to see their uniqueness with open eyes and heart.”
Community — A Celebration of Our Vision
Eva’s journey has always been woven through collaboration — learning with teachers across generations and countries. “Working with Ingrid, Daniela, Perry, and later Nina and Lili reminded me that we never practice alone,” she says. “Community is essential. Even now, in the German Esalen Massage circle, the exchange keeps our teaching alive.”
“It means so much to know that this lineage is global — that there’s an institute, a living network, and colleagues around the world carrying the same flame.”
For her, the upcoming Esalen Massage Global Village Gathering 2026 embodies this spirit.
“It’s wonderful that we’re coming together — teachers and practitioners from so many countries — to share touch, stories, and inspiration. It’s a celebration of our vision.”
The Language of Touch
For Eva, one of the most beautiful qualities of the Gathering is its inclusivity.
She knows that not everyone feels confident in English — and she wants practitioners from all over the world to know they are warmly welcome.
“Even if you don’t speak English perfectly, you’ll always have support,” she says. “There will be someone to help — and in Esalen Massage, you don’t need many words. The language of touch, of presence, of the heart, is universal.”
Her words remind us that what connects the Global Village is not grammar, but generosity.
Through hands that listen and hearts that open, communication happens beyond words — a living dialogue of breath, trust, and belonging.
Very Practical — Not Spiritual Theory
When asked what sustains her as a practitioner and teacher, Eva smiles.
“Presence. Listening. And awareness of my own body.”
After more than twenty years of practicing Pilates, she integrates this awareness into her teaching.
“It’s very practical — not spiritual theory. It’s about posture, grounding, and working from your center so you don’t injure yourself. I want practitioners to care for themselves while giving to others.”
At the Gathering, Eva-Maria will offer a Pilates-based session on body mechanics and mindful alignment for practitioners.
Together with her colleague Nina Ottenheym, she will also lead a one-day Deep Bodywork workshop dedicated to the lower back and hips — an exploration of structure, flow, and grounded touch.
Their approach invites practitioners to work with depth and clarity, combining anatomical precision with presence.
→ Read more about their workshop: Deep Bodywork – Liberating the Lower Back and Hips
Invitation to the Esalen Massage Global Village
Looking ahead to EMGV26 in Switzerland, Eva’s voice warms:
“I can’t wait to reconnect with colleagues I haven’t seen in years — and to meet new ones from Japan, China, Spain, Italy. I imagine us sitting by the fire, exchanging massages, singing, celebrating our shared work. That sense of tribe — that’s what I love most.”
Her message to practitioners around the world is simple:
“Dear ones, come to the Gathering. Come celebrate our shared vision.”
Today, Eva-Maria continues to share her passion for Esalen® Massage as both organizer and teacher of the German trainings for Johanna and Perry Holloman.
She teaches introductory workshops and certification trainings, guiding students with the same presence and clarity that first touched her own life.
In Dortmund, she also leads an Esalen Massage practice, where she welcomes clients with warmth, curiosity, and listening hands.
You can find more about the german community at → Esalen Massage Deutschland