What Is a Somatic Retreat for Men? Understanding the Benefits and Experience.
Finding Connection and Healing Through Somatic Retreats
In 2017, I packed a backpack and weekender and headed up to Petaluma, CA to attend my first men’s retreat with EVRYMAN. I was really drawn to Owen Marcus’s body based approach to healing. And I wanted to experience a weekend where the body was prioritized over the mind. I had always been an embodied person -- but I didn’t have the language to articulate my experience or what I wanted. I only knew that I wanted to feel better.
This retreat set me on my path to intensely study somatic work, particularly how it can help men heal.
This is a bold statement and I believe it to be true: most men are disconnected from their bodies. I believe men feel trapped in their heads, overwhelmed by responsibilities, and disconnected from their deeper emotions.
Over time, this leads to emotional shutdown, chronic stress, and even physical symptoms like tightness. But what if there was a way to reconnect, heal, and re-energize through body-focused practices? Enter SHIFT Men’s Retreat—an immersive experience designed to help men reconnect with their bodies, process stored emotions, and foster genuine healing.
In this article, we’ll explore what a somatic retreat is, why it’s specifically beneficial for men, and what you can expect from this transformative experience. If you’re a man seeking a deeper sense of connection and healing, or simply curious about the power of somatic work, read on.
Disclaimer: I’ve attended and facilitated somatic men’s retreats for EVRYMAN and MELD. I’ll be mostly speaking about the experience, curriculum, and outcomes of SHIFT Men’s Retreat. The quotes below are from past participants of SHIFT.
What Is Somatic Work?
Somatic work is all about bridging the gap between the mind and the body. The term “somatic” comes from the Greek word “soma,” which means “the body.” Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on processing emotions and experiences through conversation, somatic practices work directly with the body to release trauma, reduce stress, and cultivate a greater sense of inner peace.
Key Somatic Practices and Containers at SHIFT Men’s Retreat
1. Somatic Experiencing: This approach, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, focuses on resolving the body’s physiological responses to trauma. Somatic experiencing practitioners, like myself, gently guide participants in recognizing and releasing the physical sensations associated with stored trauma.
2. Breathwork: Deep, intentional breathing that can activate us into survival responses. Being with these responses in a safe container can help us expand our capacity to manage stress and overwhelming situations. Breathwork helps release emotional blockages and re-energize the body.
3. Embodied Movement: We are truly animals that crave movement. Coordination, reflex, and balance drills are a hallmark at SHIFT Men’s Retreat. These practices help us mindfully come inward to sense our somatic experience. The more somatically aware we are, the more capacity we have to feel. And when we feel more, we have more information to guide us through our daily lives.
4. Somatic Meditation: This mindful practice strengthens our interoceptive skills or the skill of matching our awareness to physical sensations. While there is a lot of movement at SHIFT, we also emphasize embodied stillness.
5. Authentic Relating: Our nervous systems want to feel safe with other nervous systems. Our body can detect danger and sometimes it’s not conscious. Authentic relating exercises helps our bodies find safety in sharing openly and honestly.
6. Mindful Eating: SHIFT Men’s Retreat is also a culinary experience. Each dish is mindfully crafted to support our nourishment, energy, and nervous system without the expense of taste and flavor. Our gut health impacts how we think and feel. So we focus on supporting our gut health to optimize our mental health.
7. Play: Most men have lost the ability to truly play. Honestly, many men don’t have the capacity to even feel joy. At SHIFT Men’s Retreat, we run around, laugh, get silly, and adventure.
These practices are integrated into SHIFT Men’s Retreat, offering a holistic experience that addresses not just the mind but the entire body. So, what makes this particularly beneficial for men?
Why a Somatic Retreat for Men? Addressing Unique Challenges
There’s a lot of pressure for us men to perform, provide, and protect — but there’s also pressure to be emotionally available and present. Without the right tools, strategies, and somatic practices, many of us are left feeling alone, helpless, and not enough. For generations, many we have been conditioned to prioritize self-reliance and to suppress our emotions -- aka The Lone Wolf Myth. The cultural narrative of “man up” often leads men to internalize stress and disconnect from their feelings, sometimes without even realizing it. Over time, this disconnection can lead to emotional shutdown, relationship difficulties, anxiety, and even physical health issues.
The Benefits of a Somatic Retreat for Men
1. Safe Space for Vulnerability: SHIFT Men’s Retreat is intentionally designed to create a safe, supportive space where men can let down their guard and explore emotions they may have suppressed for years.
2. Connecting with Other Men: Retreats provide a unique opportunity for men to build authentic relationships based on shared experiences, vulnerability, and mutual support over a course of a few nights. At SHIFT, we spend 5 nights together -- creating a tight knit group of like-minded men. Many find lifelong friendships.
3. Body-Based Healing: Somatic practices allow men to process and release emotions not through words, but through their bodies. This can be especially liberating for those who struggle to verbalize their feelings.
Through these retreats, men can learn to better understand their bodies, process their emotions more effectively, and develop healthier patterns for dealing with stress and adversity.
The Benefits of a Somatic Retreat: More Than Just Relaxation
A common misconception is that retreats are simply a relaxing getaway. While relaxation is a priority at SHIFT Men’s Retreat, it offers much more. There’s an opportunity for profound emotional and physical healing. These are some of the primary benefits.
1. Releasing Stored Trauma
Trauma isn’t just a mental experience; it lives in the body. Traumatic events can leave physical imprints on our nervous systems, leading to symptoms like hypervigilance, anxiety, or a constant sense of unease. With the help of a trained practitioner, like myself, somatic practices help identify and release these imprints, allowing for genuine healing.
2. Reducing Chronic Stress
Chronic stress impacts both the mind and the body, leading to tension, poor sleep, and long-term health issues. SHIFT Men’s Retreat focuses on calming the nervous system through techniques like breathwork, grounding exercises, movement, and play, helping to alleviate chronic stress and promote a sense of inner peace.
3. Enhancing Emotional Regulation
When emotions are suppressed or ignored, they don’t just disappear—they often manifest as irritability, anxiety, or emotional numbness. Somatic practices help men become more attuned to their emotions and develop the tools to regulate them in a healthy way.
4. Strengthening Relationships
As men become more connected to themselves, they also become more connected to others. The insights and healing gained at SHIFT Men’s Retreat often lead to improved relationships, both with loved ones and with oneself.
These benefits extend far beyond the retreat setting, allowing men to carry a greater sense of connection and resilience into their everyday lives.
What to Expect During a Somatic Retreat for Men
If you’re considering a somatic retreat, you might be wondering what the experience actually looks like. Let’s break down a typical structure at SHIFT Men’s Retreat and the types of activities you can expect.
Daily Structure and Activities
Mornings:
Sunrise Movement Activation or Breathwork
Breakfast
Morning Session (nervous system lessons, authentic relating, somatic techniques for regulation, group work)
Afternoons:
Lunch
Afternoon Coordination/Balance Drills or Games
Rest + Restore (massages, naps, hanging by the pool, sitting in the sun, relaxing)
Evenings:
Dinner
Evening Session (nervous system lessons, authentic relating, somatic techniques for regulation, group work)
Pre-Bed Hangout (Pool, jacuzzi, fire, game room)
Preparing for Your Somatic Retreat
If you’re ready to take the next step and attend a somatic retreat, it’s essential to approach the experience with intention and openness. Here are some actionable tips to help you prepare:
1. Set Clear Intentions: Take some time to reflect on what you hope to gain from the retreat. Are you looking to release stress, process a specific emotion, or simply reconnect with your body?
2. Be Open to New Experiences: Somatic practices may feel unfamiliar at first, especially if you’re used to traditional talk therapy. Approach each activity with an open mind and a willingness to explore.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: Healing is not a linear journey. Be gentle with yourself and trust the process, even if challenging emotions arise.
Reclaim Your Connection Through a Somatic Retreat
Attending a somatic retreat is not just about relaxing—it’s about reconnecting with your body, healing old wounds, and finding renewed purpose. SHIFT Men’s Retreat offer a unique opportunity for men to step away from the demands of daily life and focus on their inner world in a supportive, healing environment. By incorporating body-focused practices, men can process and release long-held emotions, reduce stress, and cultivate a deeper sense of connection to themselves and others.
If you’re ready to reclaim your connection, SHIFT Men’s Retreat might be exactly what you need.
