PRIME Retreat
4-DAY SCIENCE-BASED SOMATIC TRAINING FOR MEN
February 27 – March 2, 2025
Joshua Tree, CA
Tap into your natural Motivation & Resilience
Overcome Stress, Blocks, & Burnout
Reconnect with Purpose and Authenticity
The paradigm for men is stuck in the past. How long are we going to maintain a model that doesn’t reflect where we want to go and who we need to be?
Bold claim, but it’s true. It’s why even the most successful men struggle with:
Feeling Unfulfilled & Unsatisfied
Anxiety, Overwhelm, Tension
Unhealthy Relationships
Loneliness & Isolation
Men are not the problem – the model is the problem. The model is keeping men mired in an outdated paradigm where strength means standing alone and vulnerability is weakness.
Isn’t it time for something new?
A Motivated and Resilient Man Creates a Better World
MELD is a men’s health and education resource. We use a simple and approachable framework to help men safely and effectively address what’s been building below the surface – allowing you to live a more satisfying life. We’ve distilled over seven decades of research into a proven technique that will enable you to reconnect with your innate somatic knowledge.
Embark on a restorative journey, becoming the architect of your best self, rediscovering your natural awareness and resilience. Embody greater vitality, more fire to take on life’s challenges, and deeper connection in your daily life – with yourself and the world around you.
Immerse yourself in a brotherhood of driven, accomplished men who will challenge and support you to reach new levels of personal fulfillment.
Unplug from the grind of daily life and reconnect with your instincts and the wisdom of your body.
Why PRIME?
The PRIME Retreat offers something fundamentally different from all other men's programs:
Our science-based somatic approach bypasses traditional methods to access deeper wisdom held within your body – resonating with men's tendency towards action and physicality
Practical tools to build resilience against stress, burnout, and isolation and build meaningful relationships
Join a driven group of accomplished men who, like you, are ready to transcend the blueprint they've outgrown
Develop lasting bonds in a carefully designed environment that fosters connection and growth
What makes PRIME different is an integrated somatic approach that draws on many lineages, to create something unique and proven effective. Rather than intellectualizing about change, we help you access and release what's been building underneath – the stored experiences, tensions, and patterns that have been interrupting your natural biology.
This isn't another self-help program; it's a transformative experience that creates lasting change by working with the body's innate wisdom.
THE VENUE:
TWO TREASURES OF THE MOJAVE DESERT
THE CAMPBELL HOUSE & 29 PALMS INN
Experience the magic of the high desert of southern California, just as Bill and Elizabeth Campbell did. After the First World War, the couple were sent to the high desert because of Bill’s declining health from exposure to mustard gas. The warm, dry environment and clean air improved Bill’s health and they decided to make the desert Home. The Campbell’s homestead a tract of land near the Oasis of Mara and built a cottage which formed the nucleus of their beautiful home, completed in 1925.
"The desert beckons us as if it were the oasis."
- Rumi
Translation by author, Ari Honarvar
The High Desert
The massive granite monoliths that dot the landscape are a testament to geological forces at work over eons. Sunrises and sunsets paint the horizon in breathtaking arrays of color. Renowned for some of the best stargazing in the US, on a clear night, the Milky Way stretches across the sky in a band so bright it can cast shadows. The area’s namesake, the Joshua Tree, have a unique, almost whimsical appearance, their twisted, spiky forms creating quirky and captivating silhouettes against the sky.
THE TEAM
Owen Marcus
Owen Marcus, a pioneer in men's emotional wellness, brings over four decades of groundbreaking experience to guide individuals toward profound personal growth and emotional resilience.
Christian "Dr. G" Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez holds a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine, a passion for helping people optimize their health, and mission to prevent chronic disease on a global scale.
Mike Sagun
Mike Sagun is an educator, SEP, and somatic men's coach. in the last 18 years, Mike has helped hundreds of men worldwide transform their lives through coaching, retreats, and online programs.
Duncan Rich
Duncan Rich is a father, husband, and somatic men's coach. Driven by a people-centric view of sustainability, Duncan believes that by raising emotionally resilient children, we are able to shape the future.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Arrive 3PM Thursday February 27th
Depart 4PM Sunday March 2nd
DAY 1
Awaken Awareness
Immerse yourself in a series of targeted somatic exercises designed to sharpen your body's sensory acuity. Learn to recognize and interpret subtle physical signals, enhancing your ability to respond to your body's needs. This foundational session sets the stage for deep, embodied self-discovery throughout the retreat.
DAY 2
Unleashing Transformative Potential
Immerse yourself in a series of targeted somatic exercises designed to sharpen your body's sensory acuity. Learn to recognize and interpret subtle physical signals, enhancing your ability to respond to your body's needs. This foundational session sets the stage for deep, embodied self-discovery throughout the retreat.
Delve into the complexities of your autonomic nervous system. Gain practical skills to identify and manage fight, flight, or freeze responses in yourself and others, to connect more deeply with yourself and the world around you. Experience the power of somatic embodiment and parts work. Journey through your personal history with expert guidance, unlocking rapid growth and transformation. Confront long-held patterns and beliefs, paving the way for profound personal breakthroughs.
DAY 3
Liberating Dormant Energy & Reimagining Your Narrative
Under careful guidance, learn to embody and confront your internal blocks. Awaken and integrate dissociated parts of yourself, completing emotional cycles that may have been interrupted in the past. Reclaim your innate power and rediscover your life's purpose with renewed clarity and vigor. Explore the multifaceted nature of your life experiences. Uncover hidden meanings and alternative perspectives that can reshape your personal narrative. Through guided exercises, learn to rewrite the felt story of pivotal experiences, bringing previously disconnected aspects of yourself into harmony with your whole being.
DAY 4
Embracing Your Integration
Under careful guidance, learn to embody and confront your internal blocks. Awaken and integrate dissociated parts of yourself, completing emotional cycles that may have been interrupted in the past. Reclaim your innate power and rediscover your life's purpose with renewed clarity and vigor. Explore the multifaceted nature of your life experiences. Uncover hidden meanings and alternative perspectives that can reshape your personal narrative. Through guided exercises, learn to rewrite the felt story of pivotal experiences, bringing previously disconnected aspects of yourself into harmony with your whole being.
Honor the journey you've undergone. Reflect on your experiences and new insights gained throughout the retreat. Acquire and practice sustainable tools and resources designed to support your continued growth and evolution long after the retreat concludes. Leave with a renewed sense of purpose and a practical roadmap for ongoing personal development.
Testimonials
"Initially I was resistant and even angry with myself for making the commitment to participate for a weekend. Upon arriving and fully immersing myself in the process, led by facilitators and supported by a group of powerful men, I confronted past traumatic experiences and subsequently I was able to heal chronic physical pain that had manifested in my body. Thank you for guiding me toward a better way of living. I highly recommend the training."
- B. L.
"The power is in its simplicity and how it impacts each man in a very unique way. To say I highly recommend it would be an understatement!"
- B. G.
"After the training I have more clarity in how I operate on a mental, physical, and emotional level. It has helped me to at least start to understand the process of living a healthy lifestyle and handling hardships in a good way. I understand that this will be a lifelong journey for me, but the two days got me on the right path."
- G. P.
Therapists & Coaches
We know men can be reluctant to fully engage with their own personal development. Many men don't have experience with feeling the kind of safety that is necessary for them to truly let their guard down and address what is going on underneath. Yet men regularly report moving more energy and making more progress in a weekend with us than they have in years of therapy.
At PRIME you will learn to harness the MELD Method, an integrated somatic technique you can incorporate into your practice.
MELD’s groups and programs are a perfect complement professional therapy. We are not therapists; we are facilitators who create spaces for men to develop and practice new skills. Our method, grounded in the science of emotional physiology and, promotes authentic connections and resilience.
Based on the work of many researchers and therapy innovators, such as Peter Levine, Esther Perel, Stephen Porges, and Sue Johnson, we have crafted a new approach to working with men.
It's difficult to lead a man to a depth within himself that you yourself have not experienced. That's why all of our trainings are experiential, which means you will learn by doing, and by receiving. The Prime Retreat is a training opportunity to embody a new skill. Add the MELD Method, proven effective over decades practice, as a tool to your arsenal for working with with men.
Qualify for MELD Certification
MELD Prime Retreat & Training is a recommended prerequisite training to qualify for MELD’s Integrated Training, a 6-month personal development and professional certification program for therapists and coaches.
WHAT'S INCLUDED AND WHAT'S NOT
The registration fee covers all working sessions and group events of the training.
The registration fee covers three meals per day of the retreat, beginning with dinner Thursday evening, and ending with lunch on Sunday.
You are responsible for your travel expenses including airfare, your ground transportation getting to and from the venue, any incidentals at the venue, and any excursions.
You will want to fly into PSP (closest), LAX (largest), or ONT (closer than LAX) airports. Be sure to arrive to the venue between 3pm-4pm for check in.
The retreat will conclude at 4pm on Sunday March 2nd. Plan any return flights accordingly.
The retreat is for anyone who identifies as a man. We ask you do not bring any +1’s to the retreat venue, unless they have also paid the registration fee.
The retreat is for individuals, family members (father/son, brothers, etc.), and men’s groups. Discounted registration is available when 3 or more members of your men’s group attend the retreat together. Contact info@meld.community to arrange your package.
Corporate teams are welcome. You may bring as many (male) members of your team as you wish. Contact info@meld.community to arrange your package.
Payment plans (6 months / 12 months) are available via Afterpay and Klarna at checkout. Contact info@meld.community with any questions.
There is no consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or other recreational mood-altering substances permitted at the retreat.
Our retreats are designed to be a safe space to work on yourself and/or your practice. No drama.
Additional night’s stay at the venue is available for those arriving early or staying on after the retreat. Arrangements will be made after retreat registration.
When you're ready to let your body do what it knows how to do, MELD is ready to help.
AWAKEN YOUR INNATE CAPACITY FOR CONNECTION AND VITALITY.
Great change begins with a solitary action.
Enroll now and join us.
Copyright 2024 MELD Community Inc.
Men’s Emotional Leadership Development
MELD utilizes the latest research on stress, trauma, polyvagal theory, and attachment theory to take advantage of an untapped asset: our physiology. Rather than ignore our physiological and emotional responses, we develop the skills that make them our allies.