Men healing – Round 2
After last year’s unforgettable experience in Vermont for the first-ever Men’s Health Retreat, I knew this second gathering would be something special. But what I didn’t anticipate was how much deeper it would take root in my soil and fertilize my curious seed, not only as an attendee, but this time, as a facilitator of a workshop.
This year, I didn’t just come to participate. I came to pour in — leading a workshop and offering restorative healing Manhood Yoga to a room full of powerful men of color. These weren’t just strangers. These were familiar faces and new souls alike, brothers who greet with hugs, dap, and that shared understanding. That kind of quiet knowing that only comes when you’ve been through some things and grown because of it.
The energy hits different when you walk into a space and see men you’re proud to stand beside. As I scanned the room, I smiled, because some of these incredible men will soon be guests on my podcast, Shades of a Man. That’s legacy in motion. That’s what happens when iron sharpens iron.
One of the moments that filled me the most was reconnecting with Malik Champlain a leader and author whose book I’m currently reading. I was hyped not just to tell him I was reading it, but to have him sign my copy personally. That’s the thing… it’s beautiful to become a fan of your peers. Not out of celebrity, but out of respect. Out of shared purpose. Out of love for the work and the healing journey we’re all on.
That first night set the tone at dinner, check-ins, laughter, new connections. But what made it especially meaningful for me was having my younger cousin, Selwyn, there with us. At just 23 years old, he was the youngest in the space stepping into something most don’t find until much later in life. Watching him absorb it all reminded me how vital it is to pass this down. To open doors. To let the next generation of men witness healing early.
Day Two — now that was something special.
We started with breakfast after a few of us went for a long walk and a brief check-in. From there, we eased into sound healing. A sacred moment to still the noise inside and out. It was the perfect beginning spiritual, grounding, restorative.
Then I led Manhood Yoga. A space to stretch not just the body, but the soul. To breathe into places we don’t often touch. And to do it together, unapologetically as men of color.
After lunch, we entered one of the most powerful sessions I’ve ever witnessed: Talk Life Into a Brother. One by one, voices rose. Not to correct. Not to critique. But to uplift. Everyone had something to give and we gave it. With our chests. With our hearts. With intention.
Then came the drumming circle led by Mr. Epps. No instructions. No sheet music. Just rhythm. Just spirit. Just sound. We sat down, picked up our drums, and spoke without speaking. And what came out wasn’t noise. It was healing. It was a heartbeat. It was us connected in one unified rhythm, without needing a single word.
To close out the evening, we held Manhood Monologues. Raw. Vulnerable. Unfiltered. Some wrote brand new monologues on the spot. Others brought back old pieces that still held weight. I performed both a new piece and a familiar one. And every man who stood up… he brought a truth with him that couldn’t be denied.
The night ended with game time dominoes, spades, UNO. But I didn’t have it in me. Not because I wasn’t invited. But because I was full emotionally full in the best way. I needed quiet. I needed stillness. I needed to honor the space I had just walked through.
I’m already looking forward to what comes next. The follow-up gatherings. The next annual retreat. The continued conversations. And if you’re reading this and you’re curious don’t wait. Reach out. Join us. Be a part of something that feeds the spirit and heals what the world too often tells us to hide.
Because this conference? This movement?
It doesn’t just help men.
It heals men.
And every single one of us could use a little more healing.