Workshop Details

Bombarded with youthful images in both gay and mainstream media, many gay men approach the midlife transition with a sense of foreboding. Yet the experience of coming out and building our own self-confidence in the face of oppression has provided us with essential skills for handling major challenges in our lives.
How can I enjoy the aging process more fully? How can I still enjoy my body as it ages? How can I build a better relationship with myself over time? In this workshop, we’ll counter negative stereotypes with positive aspects of gay midlife, such as authenticity, equanimity, and a sense of spirituality or meaning. We'll share the effects of aging on body image confidence, sexuality, dating, and relationships.
We’ll also look at how gay men often resemble the trickster figure in traditional cultures: we’re often the shape-shifters, creative healers, and shamans of modern culture, meeting life’s transitions with wisdom, healing, and humor. Through playful exercises using movement, mindfulness, and evocative imagery, we’ll celebrate these gifts, and at the same time encourage an awareness of undeveloped aspects of our own lives that long to emerge. Explore how to thrive at midlife. Professionals will also be able to apply these insights in a clinical setting, if desired.
Recommended reading: Isensee, Are You Ready? The Gay Man’s Guide to Thriving at Midlife.