Conscious Men’s Retreat with Chi Gong in Mendocino, Northern California
A Conscious Container in the Redwoods
Consciousness, at its essence, is not abstract. It’s the felt experience of being awake to your life—to your breath, your choices, your truth.
This conscious men’s retreat near mendocino, held January 15–19, 2026, at Spirit Camp in Mendocino County, Northern California, invites men in their late 30s and beyond to gather for an embodied exploration of presence, power, and brotherhood.
Guided by Travis Streb, this five-day immersion opens the 2025/26 Not Done Yet cohort, while also welcoming a limited number of stand-alone participants ready for authentic self-inquiry. Through movement, meditation, and conversation, men cultivate awareness that doesn’t stop at the mind—but breathes through the whole body.
This is consciousness made human. Depth balanced with humor. Intensity softened by friendship.
Learn more and apply via the Not Done Yet retreat page, or browse additional offerings on the Spirit Camp retreat calendar.
Chi Gong in Context
Among the many practices woven through this chi gong men’s retreat california, Chi Gong (or “Qigong”) plays a subtle but profound role. It’s not the centerpiece—it’s a pillar within a broader embodied curriculum that includes breathwork, archetypal men’s work, and meditation.
Chi Gong, an ancient art of cultivating internal energy through movement and breath, teaches how to harmonize effort with ease. In the context of men’s work, it becomes a mirror: how do you move energy through the body without force, and meet challenge with grace?
Daily sessions at Spirit Camp unfold in the Sanctuary or outdoors under redwoods, depending on weather. Participants are guided through standing postures and slow, rhythmic sequences that awaken internal flow, grounding presence in the body.
Here, Chi Gong supports nervous system regulation and emotional steadiness—helping men hold more of life’s complexity without shutting down. It complements the retreat’s other modalities beautifully, reinforcing the rhythm of action and rest that defines conscious living.
For background on the benefits of mindful movement for emotional regulation, see this overview from the Frontiers in Psychology Journal.
Photo of Deer Haven, one of the our many unique cabin spaces. This cabin has three beds. Cabins have between 1 to 8 beds each and provide several different sleeping arrangements for conscious men’s retreat near Mendocino. All cabin spaces are included in mindful men’s retreat northern California.
Photo of Group Glamping Tents Setup in Sunset Meadow. We have 10 Glamping Structures that can be added with 1to 3 beds each. This can increase bed capacity of campus to 50 guests across 20 unique accommodation spaces.
Facilitator — Travis Streb
Travis Streb brings over a decade of experience leading men’s retreats, leadership intensives, and coaching programs across North America. As co-leader of the Embodied Men’s Leadership Training with John Wineland, he is known for blending humor with depth, and structure with soul.
At this conscious men’s retreat mendocino county, Travis holds a space that’s equal parts grounded and devotional. His facilitation style encourages authenticity over performance—reminding men that consciousness is built not through perfection, but through presence.
A professional coach by training, he guides participants into direct experience: feeling rather than theorizing. His blend of somatic practice, archetypal inquiry, and group dialogue helps men rediscover both softness and strength—the twin anchors of mature awareness.
With only 18 participants accepted, intimacy is the design. Every conversation, movement, and silence becomes part of the field of awakening.
The Feel of Spirit Camp
Set amid towering redwoods just north of the historic town of Mendocino, Spirit Camp is more than a location—it’s an atmosphere. This spirit camp conscious men experience unfolds across wood, firelight, and fog—a winter haven for introspection and camaraderie.
The Sanctuary, a round structure with a copper roof and skylight, glows with natural light during morning practice. The Redwood Lodge, filled with warmth from a wood-burning stove, becomes the heart of the retreat each evening—where laughter and reflection mingle over plant-forward meals.
January at Spirit Camp means cozy cabins and shared indoor lodging only, ensuring warmth and connection amid cool coastal air. The plant-based cuisine, sourced from local farms, nourishes both body and spirit—fueling long days of movement and insight.
The land itself carries a palpable calm: trails lined with ferns, meadows touched by mist, and quiet spaces for journaling or silent walks. For a deeper look at the property, visit the Spirit Camp homepage.
Location: In Mendocino, North of San Francisco
Spirit Camp rests in Mendocino, California, roughly 10–12 minutes from the town center and north of San Francisco—about a three-hour drive from SFO or OAK, and two hours from Sonoma County’s STS Airport.
This mindful men’s retreat northern california combines coastal beauty and forest depth. The journey north winds through redwood corridors and ocean bluffs before opening into the ridge-top calm of the retreat center.
The proximity to Mendocino village means access to coffee shops, galleries, and coastal viewpoints while maintaining complete immersion in nature. Explore full retreat listings on the Spirit Camp retreat calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get there?
Most guests drive or carpool from the Bay Area. The closest airports are San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and Sonoma County (STS).Will I have cell service or Wi-Fi?
Cell service varies by carrier, and Wi-Fi is available in the Lodge for essential communication. We encourage participants to unplug from digital life and replug into direct experience.Are dietary needs accommodated?
Yes. Meals are vegetarian and vegan-friendly, with gluten-free and allergy accommodations available upon request. The Spirit Camp kitchen team is skilled at creating delicious, balanced meals that support full days of practice.
Nearby Experiences
Glass Beach – Fort Bragg
Once a dumping site, now transformed by time, this beach shimmers with multicolored sea glass smoothed by the Pacific. Walking here is a meditation on transformation—how brokenness becomes beauty.
Mendocino Art Center
A hub for creative exploration since 1959, the Mendocino Art Center offers exhibits and workshops that celebrate local artistry. It’s a perfect stop before or after the retreat to extend your reflective mood through visual expression.
Conscious Living as Practice
This redwood men’s immersion north of san francisco is less about learning something new and more about remembering what’s already within. Here, consciousness is cultivated not in theory but in practice—through breath, laughter, stillness, and shared humanity.
Men in their late 30s or over 30 often arrive carrying decades of doing; this retreat invites a few days of being. Under redwoods and rainlight, they rediscover spaciousness—the pause between stimulus and response where life actually happens.
Consciousness, it turns out, isn’t rare. It’s just often forgotten.
Step Into Awareness
If you’re ready to trade busyness for presence, and surface success for soulful truth—this retreat is for you.
Step into awareness. Step into brotherhood. Step into yourself.
Apply for Not Done Yet or view all upcoming Spirit Camp programs on the retreat calendar.
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