SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men

A grounded, in-person workshop for men navigating stress, disconnection, and emotional overload

Most men don’t feel “emotionally blocked.”

They feel tight, braced, tired, or disconnected from their bodies in ways that are hard to name but easy to live with. Stress settles in the chest. The jaw stays clenched. Breathing gets shallow. Over time, this contracted way of living starts to feel normal.

This weekend is an opportunity to experience something different.

SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men is especially suited for men who are thoughtful and self-aware, but who are navigating chronic stress at work, strain in their relationships, feelings of loneliness, or a growing sense that their health and emotional wellbeing are being pushed to the side. Many men who attend are already in therapy or personal growth work and are tired of living mostly in their heads while their bodies continue to feel tight or shut down.

A Somatic Workshop for Men Focused on Nervous System Regulation

SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men is a day-and-a-half, in-person workshop designed to help men feel better in their bodies and develop practical skills for emotional regulation, emotional awareness, and self-inquiry.

This is not about analyzing your emotions or talking endlessly about your past.

The work is grounded in somatic education and nervous system awareness and draws from over a decade of experience facilitating men’s groups, retreats, and embodied practices. Rather than focusing on emotional labels, we work with a simple, body-based framework that many men find immediately accessible: expansion and contraction.

Understanding Stress, Shutdown, and Emotional Overload Through the Body

Instead of trying to figure out what you’re feeling cognitively, this weekend invites you to notice how your body naturally moves between contracted and expanded states.

Contraction often shows up as:

• Chronic stress, pressure, or burnout

• Feeling shut down, numb, or emotionally distant from life and relationships

• Anger, grief, or shame held in the body

• Tension that impacts work, relationships, or health

• Living mostly in your head, even after therapy or personal growth work
  
  

Contraction is not a flaw or a failure. It’s a protective nervous system state.

Expansion can feel like:

• More breath and space in the body

• Greater emotional flexibility and responsiveness

• Ease, presence, and fluidity in daily life

• Feeling more connected to yourself and others

• Increased clarity and resilience at work and at home
  
  

Both states are human. The skill is learning how to notice them and move between them with more choice.

What We’ll Be Doing During the Weekend

An experiential, choice-based approach to somatic men’s work

This weekend is designed as an in-person experience because regulation, connection, and embodied awareness happen most effectively in real time and in relationship.

Over the course of the weekend, you’ll be guided through:

• Morning yoga practices to support grounding and mobility

• Breathwork sessions designed to support nervous system regulation

• Somatic men’s work focused on sensation, awareness, and presence

• Group experiences that are paced slowly and offered by invitation
  
  

Most men leave feeling more settled in their bodies, clearer about how stress affects them, and better able to notice when they’re moving into contraction and how to support regulation in daily life.

Dates, Schedule, Structure and Location

Saturday, April 4
8:00am – 4:00pm (full day)

Sunday, April 5
8:00am – 12:00pm (half day)

Both days begin at 8:00am and are intentionally paced with breaks, movement, and integration time to support nervous system regulation rather than overwhelm.

She Builds Creative Studio

3391 Mt. Diablo, Suite D,

Lafayette, CA 94549

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EiFd9dy319qUCy8o6

*The studio is located in a four-plex commercial building. Suite A and B are street-facing and Suite C and D are on the rear side of the building. Walk to the right of the driveway behind Sonor Music School.

*For parking, please park on the street (you will not need to move it even though it says 2-hour parking). There is ample parking along both sides of Mt. Diablo.

*She Builds Creative Studio is a 20 minute walk from Lafayette BART Station

Meet the Facilitators

This weekend is held by a small, experienced team committed to safety, clarity, and embodied presence.

• Mike Sagun – Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and founder of SHIFT Men’s Retreat, with over a decade of experience guiding men through embodied emotional work and nervous system education.

• Andrew Riven – Executive Coach and Certified Anusara Yoga Teacher, offering a grounded, alignment-based approach to movement and embodiment.

• Brandt Miller – Breathwork facilitator and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner-in-training, supporting regulation, presence, and nervous system awareness.
  
  

Together, we create a container that is structured, relational, and deeply human.

Who This Men’s Workshop Is For

This weekend is for men who:

• Are already doing some inner work or therapy

• Feel stressed, contracted, or emotionally overloaded

• Want a practical, embodied approach to emotional health

• Are craving connection with other men without pressure or performance
  
  

This is a men-only, closed container designed to support safety, pacing, and depth.

No prior experience with somatic work, yoga, or breathwork is required.

This workshop may not be a good fit if you’re looking for a purely physical fitness experience or a highly cathartic or confrontational environment.

SHIFT Men’s Retreat

This workshop stands fully on its own and also serves as a clear introduction to the philosophy, pacing, and practices behind SHIFT Men’s Retreat, our longer immersive experience.

For men who choose to attend SHIFT Men’s Retreat in 2026 or 2027, the full cost of this Bay Area workshop ($349) can be applied directly toward the retreat investment.

To hold a place at SHIFT Men’s Retreat, a standard $600 deposit is required. If you’ve attended this weekend workshop, your $349 investment is credited toward that deposit.

In practice, this means you would contribute the remaining $251 to complete the deposit and secure your spot.

This option is offered to honor your commitment and support a longer arc of integration. There is no expectation to continue, and this weekend is complete on its own.

Many men feel drawn to SHIFT Men’s Retreat after this experience not because they’re being sold something, but because their bodies already recognize the value of the work.

Still not sure you're a right fit for this workshop, read: Is Somatic Experiencing Effective for Male Burnout or Anxiety

What is a somatic workshop for men?

A somatic workshop focuses on the body as a primary entry point for emotional awareness and regulation. Instead of analyzing thoughts or stories, somatic work helps men notice physical sensations, breathing patterns, tension, and movement in the body. This weekend uses gentle yoga, breathwork, and guided somatic practices to help men better understand stress, emotion, and nervous system states through direct experience.

Is this men’s workshop the same as group therapy?

No. This is not group therapy. SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men is an educational and experiential workshop focused on nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and embodied skills. Sharing is always optional, and there is no expectation to process trauma or disclose personal history.

Do I need experience with somatic work, yoga, or breathwork?

No prior experience is required. This workshop is designed for beginners as well as men who have done therapy, coaching, or personal growth work. All practices are guided, accessible, and offered with choice so you can participate at your own pace.

Who is this men’s weekend workshop for?

This workshop is for men who are navigating chronic stress, burnout, emotional overload, relationship strain, or a sense of disconnection from their bodies. Many participants are thoughtful, self-aware men who live busy lives and want practical tools to feel more grounded, regulated, and present.

What if I feel shut down, numb, or unsure about my emotions?

That’s completely welcome here. Many men arrive feeling stressed, contracted, or disconnected and unsure how to describe what they’re feeling. You are not expected to be expressive, open, or emotionally fluent. The work meets you where you are and focuses on awareness rather than performance.

Is this workshop only for men?

Yes. SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men is a men-only, closed container. The structure is intentionally designed to support safety, honesty, and connection among men without pressure or comparison.

How is this different from a meditation retreat or yoga retreat?

This is not a silent retreat or a physical yoga retreat. While yoga and breathwork are part of the weekend, the primary focus is somatic education and nervous system awareness. The emphasis is on understanding how stress and emotion live in the body and developing practical skills you can use in daily life.

How does this weekend relate to SHIFT Men’s Retreat?

This workshop is a shorter, introductory experience that shares the same somatic foundations as SHIFT Men’s Retreat. SHIFT Men’s Retreat is a longer, immersive retreat that allows for deeper exploration and integration. Many men choose to attend the retreat after this weekend, but there is no expectation to do so.

What outcomes can I realistically expect from this weekend?

Most men report feeling more settled in their bodies, clearer about how stress affects them, and better able to notice when they are moving into contraction and how to support regulation. This is not about dramatic breakthroughs, but about building awareness, capacity, and trust in your own experience.

Where is this somatic men’s workshop held?

This is an in-person workshop held in the Bay Area. Exact location details are shared with registered participants.

What are the dates and schedule?

• Saturday, April 4: 8:00am–4:00pm
  
  

• Sunday, April 5: 8:00am–12:00pm
  
  

Both days begin at 8:00am and balance movement, education, experiential practices, and integration time.

Is this workshop suitable if I’m dealing with stress or burnout from work?

Yes. Many men attend because of work-related stress, burnout, or pressure, especially in high-demand professional environments. The practices focus on nervous system regulation and embodiment, which can support resilience, clarity, and sustainability in daily life.

Is this a spiritual or religious event?

No. This workshop is grounded in somatic education and nervous system awareness. It is not affiliated with any religion or spiritual tradition.

Is this workshop inclusive of gay, bi, trans, and queer men?

Yes. SHIFT: A Somatic Weekend for Men is inclusive of gay, bi, trans, and queer men. The workshop is facilitated by Mike Sagun, who identifies as gay, and the container is intentionally designed to be respectful, affirming, and welcoming of men across sexual orientations and gender expressions.

This is not a space that assumes a single experience of masculinity. The focus is on embodiment, nervous system regulation, and emotional awareness in a way that honors difference without requiring explanation or disclosure.

We understand that plans can change. At the same time, this is a small, in-person workshop with significant venue and staffing costs, so our cancellation policy reflects the commitments required to hold this container.

• Full refund (minus processing fees) for cancellations made 21 days or more before the event start date.

• 50% refund for cancellations made 14–20 days before the event.

• No refunds for cancellations made within 14 days of the event, including no-shows.

Because of the limited size and venue costs, we are unable to offer refunds for late cancellations.

However, registrations may be transferred to another person with prior approval, or applied as credit toward a future SHIFT event, at our discretion.

If you have questions or special circumstances, please reach out. We aim to handle these situations with care and integrity.