Who We Are

Passionate...The one word that collectively describes us best. This quality is what has brought us together and what inspires us to share each of our teachings with you all everyday.

Carrie Ann Belanger (Pilates/Esalen & Deep Bodywork)

Carrie grew up in the world of dance and theater in Chicago. Over the years she worked through numerous injuries as a dancer which gives her empathy and compassion for the physical and emotional pain and frustration we all suffer at times. Her passion for wanting to understand more deeply the workings of the human body led her to transition into a career in massage and bodywork. Carrie began her training at the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing in Los Angeles. It was there that she was introduced to Esalen Institute here in Big Sur, where she has continued her education over the last 11 years. She has a private massage practice, working with clients from all walks of life for over 15 years focusing on therapeutic work rooted in Esalen massage and Deep Bodywork.

As a part of her own healing process Carrie revisited the world of Pilates, a part of her training as a young dancer. Her growing awareness of the symbiotic relationship between bodywork and Pilates led her to undergo a formal Pilates teacher training program at Frog Temple Pilates in Chicago, a classical Pilates studio owned and operated by Randi Whitman who is a graduate of The Pilates Center in Boulder, and a student of influential teachers such as Kathy Grant, Amy Lange, and Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle. Carrie's belief in the endless possibilities for healing, and the bond between Pilates and bodywork has been a focus of her work ever since.

Carrie continues to learn through the experiences she has with her clients as well as her own physical exploration and continued studies in movement. Her daily meditation practice and dance exploration help guide her as a teacher and an individual. Her vision is to bring all aspects of movement therapy into the studio to create a space where together we all can explore and feel free as we continue on our paths of awareness and personal growth.

Melany Westwell (Physical Therapy/Pilates)

Melany is a licensed physical therapist with M.S. degrees in Biomechanics and Physical Therapy, and over twenty years of experience as a clinician working with individuals who are trying to overcome their neuromuscular and orthopedic obstacles. Through this work and her own physical experience she has come to see the value of Pilates as a rehabilitation tool, especially with her clients with back, neck, shoulder and/or hip pain. She takes great satisfaction in helping clients advance towards their wellness and rehab goals.

Melany is a life long runner and yoga practitioner, and found herself increasingly drawn to a Pilates practice due its focus on integrated strength. She decided to go on a much deeper exploration of the method, and completed an in depth comprehensive teacher training program. She obtained her certification through Power Pilates after training with Cheryl Turquist and Leslie Levy, giving her a solid foundation in the classical work from upon which she expands and creates to support the specific needs of the client in front of her.

Those of us who have had the opportunity to be in a class with her are familiar with her warm energy, her bright smile and constant curiosity. She brings a light-heartedness to the room while having fun that hopefully each of you will come to experience for yourselves.

For more information on rates and how to book a session with Melany please reach out to her at (860) 836-0134 or mwestwe@gmail.com

Rob Wilks (Esalen & Deep Bodywork)

Rob sees himself as a cultivator of self-awareness. Movement and activities that naturally invite introspection are his jam - he is a dedicated Yogi and Steward of the ocean. When you talk to Rob about self-awareness, and why it plays such a central role in his life, he’ll say:

“Being active is how I find my own boundaries. It’s taken me years to develop the presence to be able to sense my quality of experience at any given moment. My intention is to cultivate the ability to monitor my experience constantly, and sweetly, without controlling it. Knowing myself more completely is the key to empathizing with others. 

I dedicate a huge amount of energy to empathy, and this is the core of my work in massage. The knowledge of myself and my intention to relate to others has naturally evolved into an ability to bring others to the threshold of their own experience - and invite them to contact what they find there without judgement. That threshold is a place that we all visit from time to time - it’s the source, the seat of our natural potential.” 

Rob currently teaches at the Esalen Institute and other educational centers in California.

Sessions offered from 60 min to 120 min starting at $100.

Isabel Fleury (Insight Meditation & Archetypal Astrology

Isabel is a licensed psychologist in Brazil where she kept a private practice and worked in clinical and institutional settings. She moved to the United States in 2007, working to deepen her experience at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. She continues to work at Esalen Institute where Isabel guides classes in Insight Meditation, Yin Yoga, and Buddhist practice.

Drawn to astrology at a young age, Isabel’s approach to archetypal astrology is a combination of her life-long studies including Clinical Psychology, Jungian Psychology, Buddhism, Insight Meditation, and Yin Yoga.

Isabel’s intention is to support insight and its integration into daily living. Using archetypal astrology, she uncovers a pathway toward clarity, lucidity, and inner wisdom. She believes in a participatory vision of life, meaning we take responsibility for the way we respond to our inner voice. Our lives are shaped by patterns, beliefs, and conditioning. Too often their influence remains hidden. Using compassionate guidance, Isabel takes a practical approach to understanding the movements of the mind, and their real effect on the body and spirit. Uncovering inner dynamics leads to understanding how we relate with the world. As clarity emerges, we see how each response to our inner and outer worlds affect our lives and the lives of those around us. We cultivate a deeper presence in service of skillful decision making. We see what led to suffering and pain, and what will lead to happiness, deeper peace, and well-being.