Beyond Stereotypes
How can men navigate
We encourage you to bring an attitude.
of curiosity
playfulness
and
willingness to look wholeheartedly at yourself.
This will be supported by
a community atmosphere of trust
openness
and
an encouragement to recognize
the freedom of the heart
Here is what a participant said after being in one of my mens group for over a year
When a close friend suggested I join him on a weekend men’s retreat run Amaranatho, my knee-jerk response was an emphatic “Nah – not my thing.”
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I grudgingly relented, even though the thought of a dozen testosterone-fuelled men beating their chests, waving their willies and walking on coals filled me with horror. And these masculine archetypes: King! Warrior! Magician! Lover! – where was option 5: none of the above?
In the event, there was no chest beating, no walking on coals and not a whiff of testerone. Instead, through patient, skilled and empathetic listening, Amaranatho created a space of trust and support, where vulnerabilities, irrational fears and emotional pain can be expressed and ancient wounds healed.
“Valuing my privacy” and “Enjoying my own company” had been my code-words for fear of intimacy and avoiding commitment and engagement with the world. Self-reproach, self-criticism, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, inferiority – these were the voices tormenting me minute by minute, sucking the joy out of my life.
With gentle guidance, Amaranatho shows how unpleasant and insistent feelings can be neutralised, and that painful memories and fears do not have permanent rights of residency in our bodies.
We now meet weekly on Zoom as a proud, supportive group. Always one to sniff out a repressed emotion within the most innocuous of phrases, Amaranatho helps us to redraft the script of our lives and to identify, question and reject unhelpful and destructive thought patterns.
He shows there is strength in vulnerability and power in connection. Fluidity, not stagnation, gratitude not complaint, growth not “stuckness”: everything passes, everything changes, even the painful stuff. Acceptance is all.
Amaranatho is an accredited coaching supervisor and senior practitioner of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC).Drawing on his experiences as a former Buddhist monk and world explorer, he brings a deep understanding of solitude and uncertainty to his clients, helping them realise inner peace and clarity.
Whether you meet Amaranatho in a workshop, retreat or personally, his approach is to respond to the situation as it unfolds. He facilitates a safe space enabling you to recognize your own wisdom, through co-exploration, playfulness, and love. He is interested in finding ways of being authentic whilst recognizing that everything is already okay. By exploring the dynamics of the way we relate to each other, we can start to recognize the limitations we impose on ourselves and access more energy, abundance, peace and wisdom.
Over two decades he has facilitated many men’s retreat and has run weekly online mens group since 2020.
Currently, Amaranatho serves as the part-time Head of Faculty and Leadership for Blend Associates, which supports National Health Service executives in the United Kingdom, leaders, and teams in navigating complex, chaotic, and stressful environments.
Amaranatho is married to his dutch wife and lives in Lelystad.
You can find more about what he trained and about his background here
Amaranatho Approach to Mens groups
This group is based on co-exploration I consider myself a facilitator and so provide a space to help you explore who you really are. This includes sharing your own lived experiences with another person or with a large group (if you want to ) or listening to other people doing the same.
I normally included a guided meditation as part of the group, whether you have no meditation experience or lots , whether you are used to sharing your emotions in public or not, the space provided will accept you. The work is based on what I believe is a universal truth that you are innocent. Sometimes your beliefs will be actively challenged and this is held as best as possible in light of your innocence.
When I share into the group, they are reflective. That means that they are not about content but are more about how you receive them. The group uses various exercises to expand on your understanding of yourselves. Some may involve physical contact (by consent).
The focus is looking at process rather than content, looking at the way the mind works rather than what it produces (although sometimes I use it the other way round!).
The key method is to use mindfulness/awareness to centre ourselves in the present moment and to understand who we are.
The basic attitude is accepting and welcoming the way life is and allowing our natural wisdom to arise.
Amaranatho influences for the mens group
I have many influences, this includes
the seminal work of Robert Moore PHD rediscovering the archetypes of the mature masculine: king, warrior, magician, lover.
Interpersonal mindfulness
Shadow work
Adult development theory
Trauma theory
Breath work
Attachment theory
Pre and Perinatal Psychology
Brain spotting
Storytelling
Non-duality
Many hours of CPD
and life!
If you are not familiar with the archetypes of King Warrior Magician Lover – you can read an introductory article here.
What people say about working with me
Are you ready to register
I’d love to meet you
and find out about your life
Amaranatho
A safe and supportive space for men to explore
connection, purpose, and inner strength
without pressure or pretences.
Open to all men
seeking honest conversation
and
personal growth.
Where
The Investment
Cost
This group is by donation, you will be emailed details how to do this
Date
The mens group will be held in a residential house in a Almere
Where
First introduction session 14th May 7pm
And then once or twice a month depending on members
You can also register your interest if you cannot make this date
Is This For You?
This group is ideal for men who:
- Feel something’s missing despite “having it all”
- Are tired of carrying emotional weight alone
- Want deeper connection but don’t know where to start
- Are sceptical of traditional masculinity
- Are ready to grow in a supportive community
