PRIME Retreat
4 DAY TRAINING RETREAT FOR MEN
February 27 – March 2, 2025
Joshua Tree, CA
Immerse yourself in a brotherhood of driven, accomplished men who will challenge and support you to reach new levels of personal growth.
"The desert beckons us as if it were the oasis."
- Rumi
Translation by author, Ari Honarvar
Embark on a transformative journey, becoming the architect of your best self and amplifying your impact in the world as we gather in the purifying expansiveness of the high desert in Joshua Tree, California.
On the historic grounds of the Campbell House the warm sun and gentle desert breezes will invigorate you, melting away the stresses of everyday life.
As we commune together you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of untapped potential and wholeness.
Embark on a transformative journey, becoming the architect of your best self and amplifying your impact in the world as we gather in the purifying expansiveness of the high desert in Joshua Tree, California.
On the historic grounds of the Campbell House the warm sun and gentle desert breezes will invigorate you, melting away the stresses of everyday life.
As we break bread together you’ll find yourself immersed in a world of untapped potential and purpose.
In the desolate and unspoiled landscape discover tools for deepening your sense of resilience.
Strengthen the connection to your body’s own signals and responses using somatic exercises that awaken your natural abilities. Under the vast horizon you’ll see beyond what is being said as you tap into the animal parts of your physiology.
Connect with your evolution. Learn to recognize your survival responses and track the subtle non-verbal cues that are all around you all the time.
Catalyze deep change amid the otherworldly terrain, a reminder of the immense forces that have shaped our landscape.
You’ll create rapid growth and transformation using somatic embodiment and parts work to elevate your Interoception, your ability to notice, recognize, and respond.
Dive deep into personal patterns and history, all while surrounded by the vast horizons and massive granite monoliths.
Catalyze deep change amid the otherworldly terrain, a reminder of the immense forces that have shaped our landscape.
You’ll create rapid growth and transformation using somatic embodiment and parts work to elevate your Interoception, your ability to notice, recognize, and respond.
Dive deep into personal patterns and history, all while surrounded by the vast horizons and massive granite monoliths.
Get lost in spectacular skyscapes; sunrises and sunsets paint the horizon in breathtaking arrays of color.
Our expert coaches will guide you through transformative exercises and sessions, helping you embody your dissociated parts and completing cycles that have been interrupted.
Reclaim your power and your purpose while allowing the wonders of nature to inspire and rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul.
...and this is just the beginning!
ARE YOU READY FOR SKILLS THAT WILL SERVE YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
A Training For Men
Beat Stress and Burnout
How would it feel to reconnect with your inner well of resilience and creativity?
Escape the endless loop of stress and exhaustion that so many men are stuck in. Using specially crafted somatic exercises and methodical practice you’ll develop a stronger understanding of your own patterns and behaviors, and uncover your path to achieving real contentment. Navigate your life with greater ease and grace, and embrace a renewed sense of vitality as you break free from burnout and rediscover the joy in your journey.
Strengthen Your Relationships
Can you imagine finally breaking free from self-limiting beliefs that have been holding you back from connecting more deeply?
Our expert facilitators will guide you through our powerful strategy designed to help you identify and release the blocks that have been preventing you from deeper relationships. As you take in the crystal-clear air of the high desert, you'll gain the clarity and confidence needed to shatter those limitations and step into your power and authenticity.
Discover Purpose Beyond Success
Wouldn't it be great to move beyond outer success to inner satisfaction?
During this retreat, you'll have the opportunity to dive deep within yourself and rediscover your deepest calling. Through hands-on training, group experiences, live demonstrations, and facilitated practice, you'll gain a clearer understanding of how to embody your authentic self. As you anchor your work in your deepest values and passions, you'll unlock a newfound sense of inspiration and flow that will propel you towards what really matters.
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, Owen, 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.
YOUR VENUE: TWO TREASURES OF THE MOJAVE DESERT
THE CAMPBELL HOUSE & 29 PALMS INN
Fall in love with 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 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.
A LAND THAT SPEAKS TO THE SOUL
As you step outside you'll be greeted by a world where time stretches and space bends.
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
You’ll find a trustworthy space where we’ll share our skills, knowledge, and methodology, embodying sustainable growth
EMPOWERING SPACES OF DISCOVERY
Take a journey deep into your true self with morning movement, group adventures, and relaxing time at the pool.
MAGICAL LOCATIONS AND SUNSETS
Campbell House is more than just a venue, it's a place where you can deepen your connection to yourself and your purpose.
WHAT WILL WE BE DOING ON THIS TRAINING EXCURSION TOGETHER?
HERE'S A SAMPLE OF WHAT'S IN STORE
OUR DAILY JOURNEY
ARRIVE 3PM THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27TH
DEPART 4PM SUNDAY MARCH 2ND
DAY 1
AWAKENING BODILY 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.
There's Something About These Men's Retreats...
We are social animals – for hundreds of thousands of years we lived in tribes, responsible for each other’s safety and survival. At Prime, you'll surround yourself with other driven, and accomplished men who will challenge and support you to reach new levels of personal growth in a stimulating, judgment-free setting. This is your opportunity to connect with other truly amazing men in a way that’s both powerful and enjoyable, forging bonds that will last a lifetime.
Prime won’t just make your life better — it's changing the world.
Beyond personal development, Prime is a commitment to collective progress. Surrounding yourself with men dedicated to their authenticity, and leaning into the fuller version of who you really are, this causes a welcome ripple-effect in the world around you. A healthy man creates a strong family, a thriving community, and a prospering planet.
THE CUTTING EDGE OF MEN'S HEALTH
Why MELD?
MELD is a health and education company using science-backed, experience-proven techniques to address the aspirations and challenges men face, from a man’s perspective. Our team of facilitators excels at helping men dive deep into their potential and clear obstacles in the way of growth. We do not engage in intimidation or bootcamp-style “tough guy” tactics, and we are not conjuring abstract or mystical concepts or theories. What we will be doing is walking you step-by-step through a grounded and compassionate practice that's been distilled from seven decades of research.
Owen Marcus
Mike Sagun
Christian "Dr. G" Gonzalez
Duncan Rich
Attention 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.
Esther Perel with MELD Co-Founder Owen Marcus
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.
SIGN UP. MEET US IN THE DESERT.
CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
AWAKEN YOUR INNATE CAPACITY FOR CONNECTION AND VITALITY.
Great change begins with a solitary action.
Enroll now and join us.
Your next step awaits.
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.