These days, spaces for self-inquiry, emotional exploration, and healing are often coded as feminine — subtly or overtly. At the same time, many of the foundational voices in the human potential and personal growth movements were men. This paradox has helped shape how we think about inner work today: who it’s “for,” how it looks, and who feels invited. That narrative continues to evolve.
More men than ever are stepping into spaces of reflection, growth, and vulnerability — not as an exception, but as an essential part of being human. The idea of going on retreat is no longer about stepping away from life; it’s about stepping more fully into it. This work belongs to everyone.
Regardless of gender identity, doing this work is an invitation to explore strength beyond performance. When we make the time and space, we have the opportunity to reconnect with emotional fluency, examine and expand inherited ideas of masculinity and femininity, and cultivate qualities often left underdeveloped: receptivity, presence, tenderness, and care.
In a world where the masculine voice has often been amplified, experiences like these can offer something complementary — a more integrated kind of power. One that includes listening alongside speaking, feeling alongside doing, and connection alongside independence. There’s nothing here to fix or reject, but rather something to rebalance and deepen.
The workshops below aren’t exclusively for men, nor are they defined by gender — but they may resonate with those curious to explore these themes from their own lived experience.
Here are 19 workshops that open space for that kind of exploration.
These workshops invite a deeper exploration of masculinity — not as something fixed, but as something lived, felt, and continually evolving. Through the body, through identity, and through direct experience, participants are offered space to examine inherited narratives around strength, vulnerability, desire, and power. This is work that moves beyond concept and into integration so that presence can replace posturing, and authenticity can begin to take root.
To reimagine the masculine is also to reimagine how we relate — to partners, to desire, and to ourselves. These workshops explore the dynamics of intimacy, attachment, power, and surrender, offering tools and lived experiences that deepen emotional fluency and relational awareness. Here, strength is expressed not through control, but through the capacity to listen, to feel, and to stay present in connection.
These workshops support the ongoing process of self-discovery and reinvention. Whether through archetypal systems, intuitive exploration, or future-oriented visioning, participants are invited to examine where they are — and where they are being called next. This is about aligning inner truth with outer life, and cultivating the courage to evolve with intention.
At the intersection of science, psychology, and spirituality, these workshops investigate the nature of transformation itself. Drawing from neuroscience, contemplative practice, depth psychology, and emerging theories of human potential, they offer frameworks for understanding change — not just as a concept, but as a lived experience. This is an invitation to engage both intellect and intuition in the ongoing expansion of consciousness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
These days, spaces for self-inquiry, emotional exploration, and healing are often coded as feminine — subtly or overtly. At the same time, many of the foundational voices in the human potential and personal growth movements were men. This paradox has helped shape how we think about inner work today: who it’s “for,” how it looks, and who feels invited. That narrative continues to evolve.
More men than ever are stepping into spaces of reflection, growth, and vulnerability — not as an exception, but as an essential part of being human. The idea of going on retreat is no longer about stepping away from life; it’s about stepping more fully into it. This work belongs to everyone.
Regardless of gender identity, doing this work is an invitation to explore strength beyond performance. When we make the time and space, we have the opportunity to reconnect with emotional fluency, examine and expand inherited ideas of masculinity and femininity, and cultivate qualities often left underdeveloped: receptivity, presence, tenderness, and care.
In a world where the masculine voice has often been amplified, experiences like these can offer something complementary — a more integrated kind of power. One that includes listening alongside speaking, feeling alongside doing, and connection alongside independence. There’s nothing here to fix or reject, but rather something to rebalance and deepen.
The workshops below aren’t exclusively for men, nor are they defined by gender — but they may resonate with those curious to explore these themes from their own lived experience.
Here are 19 workshops that open space for that kind of exploration.
These workshops invite a deeper exploration of masculinity — not as something fixed, but as something lived, felt, and continually evolving. Through the body, through identity, and through direct experience, participants are offered space to examine inherited narratives around strength, vulnerability, desire, and power. This is work that moves beyond concept and into integration so that presence can replace posturing, and authenticity can begin to take root.
To reimagine the masculine is also to reimagine how we relate — to partners, to desire, and to ourselves. These workshops explore the dynamics of intimacy, attachment, power, and surrender, offering tools and lived experiences that deepen emotional fluency and relational awareness. Here, strength is expressed not through control, but through the capacity to listen, to feel, and to stay present in connection.
These workshops support the ongoing process of self-discovery and reinvention. Whether through archetypal systems, intuitive exploration, or future-oriented visioning, participants are invited to examine where they are — and where they are being called next. This is about aligning inner truth with outer life, and cultivating the courage to evolve with intention.
At the intersection of science, psychology, and spirituality, these workshops investigate the nature of transformation itself. Drawing from neuroscience, contemplative practice, depth psychology, and emerging theories of human potential, they offer frameworks for understanding change — not just as a concept, but as a lived experience. This is an invitation to engage both intellect and intuition in the ongoing expansion of consciousness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
These days, spaces for self-inquiry, emotional exploration, and healing are often coded as feminine — subtly or overtly. At the same time, many of the foundational voices in the human potential and personal growth movements were men. This paradox has helped shape how we think about inner work today: who it’s “for,” how it looks, and who feels invited. That narrative continues to evolve.
More men than ever are stepping into spaces of reflection, growth, and vulnerability — not as an exception, but as an essential part of being human. The idea of going on retreat is no longer about stepping away from life; it’s about stepping more fully into it. This work belongs to everyone.
Regardless of gender identity, doing this work is an invitation to explore strength beyond performance. When we make the time and space, we have the opportunity to reconnect with emotional fluency, examine and expand inherited ideas of masculinity and femininity, and cultivate qualities often left underdeveloped: receptivity, presence, tenderness, and care.
In a world where the masculine voice has often been amplified, experiences like these can offer something complementary — a more integrated kind of power. One that includes listening alongside speaking, feeling alongside doing, and connection alongside independence. There’s nothing here to fix or reject, but rather something to rebalance and deepen.
The workshops below aren’t exclusively for men, nor are they defined by gender — but they may resonate with those curious to explore these themes from their own lived experience.
Here are 19 workshops that open space for that kind of exploration.
These workshops invite a deeper exploration of masculinity — not as something fixed, but as something lived, felt, and continually evolving. Through the body, through identity, and through direct experience, participants are offered space to examine inherited narratives around strength, vulnerability, desire, and power. This is work that moves beyond concept and into integration so that presence can replace posturing, and authenticity can begin to take root.
To reimagine the masculine is also to reimagine how we relate — to partners, to desire, and to ourselves. These workshops explore the dynamics of intimacy, attachment, power, and surrender, offering tools and lived experiences that deepen emotional fluency and relational awareness. Here, strength is expressed not through control, but through the capacity to listen, to feel, and to stay present in connection.
These workshops support the ongoing process of self-discovery and reinvention. Whether through archetypal systems, intuitive exploration, or future-oriented visioning, participants are invited to examine where they are — and where they are being called next. This is about aligning inner truth with outer life, and cultivating the courage to evolve with intention.
At the intersection of science, psychology, and spirituality, these workshops investigate the nature of transformation itself. Drawing from neuroscience, contemplative practice, depth psychology, and emerging theories of human potential, they offer frameworks for understanding change — not just as a concept, but as a lived experience. This is an invitation to engage both intellect and intuition in the ongoing expansion of consciousness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
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