1440 Multiversity — Local services in Scotts Valley

I really believe the founders of this place had/have good intentions. What manifested in reality is most often facade, unfortunately. The campus is pretty, but the values are zero to none in praxis here. Some things could have changed since and, I saw a lot here. I am a queer, trans person who practices Buddhism. I thought coming to work here I would be relatively accepted. Instead I was met with mundane violence by the institution. I was denied access to a proper bathroom for months while fighting for it. When it was finally approved, it took them months to buy and put up a sign. I was misgendered, met with fear and a few acts of hatred by my co workers, I was essentially gaslit by management. This happens all the time in work places to trans people and, it did happen here. In a spiritual center, that claims to truly embody certain neo liberal high ball dreams of open mindedness, acceptance and diversity. It is not ok to treat people the way I was treated, even if it happens in so many places. I eventually realized they were not able to offer me a work environment in which dignity would be attainable so I left. (I currently hold a job where I am fully afforded conditions in which I can retain my dignity.) The people highest up were so disconnected from the materials reality of others in America. The same problems were everywhere and people were socially dissuaded from speaking about it through negative social reinforcement, again in ways typical for institutions like this. The people who made the most money loved this cute and novel “idea“ of altruism. While the majority of people were underpaid and overworked. While being expected to smile at rich white clientele and never say the word no, or cause them to have any bad feeling. They called it deep hospitality, it didn’t play out well in real life application. This place left me with the impression that it serves, even if it’s not intended to, as a front for people with money to feel good without addressing the discomfort needed to actually shift change in self and cause then social change. That requires radicalizing, which means radically accepting that your wealth does mean things about the way you move through the world and your ethics that you don’t like or want it to. (I’ve gone through this process myself/am still making changes so I can see my values in the way I occupy my privilege, knowing the material reality of others.) Sometimes they bring in good teachers, but I saw them, at that time at least, book anyone who will make money regardless of integrity. You can give your money to this place, but you might leave short 1.5 grand looking...

5 out of 5 for 1440. As someone who had stayed in all top 4 wellness centers in US (Omega, Kripalu, 1440, Esalen), I think I have some ground to make a fair comment. As an educational retreat destiny for personal growth, core product we should be looking at is program quality and the facility around it, which I would say 1440, despite the newest among the 4, maintains at least equally high quality - I took SoulMotion class with Arjuna, a renowned spiritual dancer leader with over 40 year experience in this field, in Outlook workshop building, and many other sampler morning & evening classes such as drumming, improv, Yoga, and Qigong, in Sanctury, renoovated from the old chapel, with heating floor. Beside this, the Redwood-facing hot spring is soothing and healing - though it's different from Esalen's cliff one, this is something I went to every evening connecting to the sky and smelling the redwood. The campus itself is designed in a very warm and cozy style, and all staff are very kind and compassionate. I can tell 100% that as a new center, they're not inheriting the strength from the other established centers, but also innovating on their own - what struck me most is that I do NOT have to compromise food taste while seeking for nutrient & organic ingredients (the soup, the curry chicken, the dessert, the curated salad bowl, I attached some photos, I didn't gain any weight there but I surely enjoyed eating every bite of my food there, which is a rare experience in other centers esp. Omega), neither do I have to compromise accomodation quality for healthy living, the room is new without smell, sound proof is good so I'm not waken up by people walking/talking in hall way, which happened in most of other centers). I can write a long article about my experience in 4 centers, but I would just summarize in one line that, 1440 provides the best holistic expeirence for someone like me who has a "no compromise attitude" (we're aggressive on our personal growth as well as food taste&living quality). I will definitely recommend my friend seeking their frist time wellness center experience to come here (with one more advantage of 1440 is it's located 20mins drive from San Jose, bay area). P.S. to be fair, if you're looking for experience prioritizing the best Yoga school with the most diverse workshops offerings, you want to try Kripalu, 3 hours drive north from JFK; and if you're looking for the rustic, cliff, hippie experience as most important, you want to try...

Literally everyone we met was warm, friendly, kind, helpful and listened with heart. I was absolutely blown away by the supreme level of customer service at 1440 Multiversity for our retreat. Each interaction with people wasn't just high quality- I felt truly connected to each of the staff. They remembered what we shared with them. They were proactive in giving me a wonderful experience. If only health care could operate like this- we would literally change the face of it. The experience was genuine. AUTHENTIC service orientation- human to human. It didn't feel "check the box." It felt like they were all passionate about serving and that is truly unique and a gift.

Specific shout outs to: Carrie- front desk at check in who walked us around the upper campus when we arrived Wednesday.

The folks at Common Grounds for always welcoming us with friendly smiles, asking if we wanted special coffees, and offering us blankets, cookies.. whatever we needed. They always had full stocks of La Croix sparkling water- I cannot tell you how happy that made me. That was like the best special treat. Keep offering that!!! What a treat!!!

The events and logistics folks- specifically Irena, and the AV gentleman who helped us on Thursday for our workshop in Outlook 102. They were there early to set up with us, make sure everything worked and get us anything we need. The room was set perfectly. They had thought of EVERYTHING.

The kitchen staff and chefs. WHERE DO I EVEN START- GOODNESS THEY ARE LIKE A GROUP OF MAGIC FAIRY GODMOTHERS. They went out of their way to get me an english muffin at lunch on the second day because I missed breakfast and wanted to try it. They were all amazing. They asked about our dietary restrictions every time and remembered. I felt seen and welcomed. Their desire to help was genuine and authentic and that is a truly one of a kind experience. The fact that the chefs also served was so cool. I felt like I was peeking into how the magic happened.

Kim and Brianna- absolute gems. SO helpful. went way out of their way to accommodate us. Bri booked us a shuttle for Sunday at 4am and SHOWED up to pack us brown bag breakfasts and make sure we had coffee as we were departing. She woke up before 4 am to do that!!! That is beyond outstanding customer service- THAT IS HUMAN KINDNESS AND GOODNESS. Give her a raise, promote her and...