INTO THE HEART OF THE OCEAN V

Men’s Retreat - April 2nd - 8th 2027

Finca Victoria, Vieques. Puerto Rico

This Is Where You Meet Yourself

April 2nd - 8th, 2027

7 days / 6 nights

Join us for a powerful and transformative experience as we gather for the fifth year of this work, bringing men together in the untouched beauty of the Caribbean.

There is something that has been building over these years. This retreat has taken on a life force of its own. It is growing, evolving, shaping itself through every man who steps into it. What we are stepping into in year five is not something new, it is something that has been developing, deepening, and refining. This feels like a monumental moment in that evolution.

Together, we come with a shared intention to embody the healthy masculine in a real and grounded way. Supported by the ocean, the land, and the elements, we step into an initiatory process that asks something of us. A rite of passage that invites us to meet ourselves more honestly, to shed what no longer serves, and to remember what is true.

This is a space to reconnect with your strength, your heart, your clarity, and your purpose. To stand with other men who are committed to the same path. And to return to your life more aligned, more present, and more rooted in who you are.

This is year five. And it carries something special.

I can emphatically say this was the single most therapeutic experience of my entire life. I have about 30 new best friends because of the experience, and I am intentional in a way I have never been able to access."

— Sean French, COO / Managing Partner

What’s included
in the Retreat

Over the course of seven powerful days, we will engage in a variety of transformative practices designed to deepen our connection to ourselves and each other. Our journey will include: 

Our Intention

This work is an invitation to step in fully and meet yourself without distraction. To strip away what is no longer true, to face what is there, and to stand in it with honesty.

This is not about becoming someone new. It is about remembering who you are beneath the layers, and having the courage to live from that place.

Through this process, relationships begin to shift. With yourself first, and from there with your family, your partner, your community, and the world around you. You begin to move with more clarity, more presence, and a deeper sense of responsibility for how you show up.

You will leave with more than insight. You will leave with lived experience, with tools you can return to, and with a brotherhood that continues beyond the time we spend together. Men who have seen you, stood with you, and walk the path alongside you.

If you feel the call, trust it.

We welcome the men who are ready to go all in.

Into the Heart of the Ocean.

Itinerary

Sacred Plant Meditation Ceremony

Two nights of sacred plant medicine ceremony sit at the heart of this week.

This work is ancient. The tradition I carry comes from more than a decade of study with Shipibo healers in the Peruvian Amazon, where this medicine has been worked with for generations as a tool for healing and remembering who we are.

In ceremony, you are not escaping. You are meeting yourself. Grandmother plant is a diagnostic tool — she shows you what has been held in the body, what is ready to move, and what is asking to be seen. The work that comes is honest. Sometimes it is emotional release. Sometimes it is clarity. Sometimes it is simply rest.

The container is held. I lead the space through Icaros — the ancient chants given by the plants — supported by a skilled team whose role is to make sure you are safe, seen, and free to go as deep as you need to go.

You do not need to have done this before. You do not need to know what to expect. What you need is an open heart and a willingness to trust the process. We will prepare you in the weeks leading up, so that by the time you arrive, you are ready.

Embodiment & Somatic Practices

To cultivate a healthy relationship with ourselves as men, we must step into embodiment, supported by the presence and honest reflection of our brothers. In this space, as we open, we not only nourish those around us, we invite insight and real growth into our own lives. This is where deep connection is built and lasting bonds are formed.

During the retreat, you will be part of a community of men committed to showing up fully, supporting one another without expectation. In this environment, vulnerability becomes strength, and we are given the space to meet ourselves with honesty and courage.

Together, we move through practices that bring us into deeper awareness, working with both masculine and feminine energies in a grounded and embodied way. Each day is guided by intentional work drawn from traditions such as Tibetan Tantra, Deity Yoga, Shamanism, Breathwork, and embodiment practices.

These experiences are designed to challenge you, open you, and support real movement. From breath to body, from stillness to expression, the work meets you where you are and invites you forward.

This is an opportunity to step into your potential, build real brotherhood, and live from a place that is more aligned with who you truly are.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Flow

BJJ is a full-body embodiment practice. Two men on the mat, moving together, meeting pressure, learning to stay present when things get uncomfortable.

You do not need experience. Most men who come through this retreat have never rolled before. MJ leads these sessions — a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt with 20 years of martial arts practice behind him — and the way we holds it is not about competition or technique. It is about dropping the ego, staying in your body, and learning what your nervous system does under pressure.

Some of the most honest work we do happens here. The mat does not lie. What comes up: fear, stubbornness, tenderness, real strength…is all part of the practice.

Soul Forge Drumming

Drumming has been part of men gathering together since the beginning of our history. When we drum in a circle, something happens that words cannot reach.

MJ leads these sessions. Forty years of drumming behind him, and a real understanding of how rhythm moves through the body and through a group of men. We are not performing. We are not learning patterns. We pick up the drums and we find the pulse together.

Some nights the drumming is grounding. Some nights it gets loud and wild. Either way, it moves something. It is one of the simplest and most powerful practices on the retreat.

Yoga & Kriyas (with Sylvia)

Yoga is an important part of the experience we create within this retreat. Through Sylvia’s unique approach, the practice becomes more than just movement. It is a way to come back into the body, to slow down, to feel, and to reconnect.

Her work weaves together asana, breath, and awareness in a way that supports both the physical and emotional body. It builds strength, flexibility, and balance, while also creating space for release, for softening, and for what is held beneath the surface to begin to move.

Within the container, these sessions become a space where men can drop out of the mind and into direct experience. A space where vulnerability can be met, where the nervous system can settle, and where a deeper connection to self can begin to take root.

Sylvia also guides the Kyras ceremony, a powerful and intentional space that brings together movement, breath, and music. It opens the body in a different way, allowing energy to move freely, supporting expression, release, and connection within the group. It is both grounding and expansive, and often becomes a key moment in the arc of the retreat.

Through these practices, men not only experience something in the moment, but begin to develop tools they can return to. Simple, embodied ways to regulate, to connect, and to stay grounded in their lives.

This is not about performance. It is about connection. To the body, to the breath, and to what is real

Ocean Excursion

This is the excursion the retreat is named for.

We make our way around Vieques: Big sand, hidden coves, open water. We swim. We move. We do embodiment practice in the water. The ocean holds us in a way that nothing else can.

For me, the ocean is one of the most honest teachers. She reflects you back to yourself. She asks you to surrender, and she reminds you that you are part of something much bigger than your own story.

This is the day men often point to when they talk about what stayed with them.

Bio Bay Sunset Experience

During our time together, we will explore the natural rhythm of the island, including a guided kayak journey into Mosquito Bay, one of the most powerful bioluminescent ecosystems in the world.

This experience is deeply connected to the phases of the moon. As we move through the retreat, we stay in relationship with the sky and the light it offers. We will enter the water at sunset, paddling out as the day softens into night, allowing the experience to unfold in a natural and organic way.

When the moon is high, the bay carries a different kind of beauty, still, reflective, and expansive. And when the moon is low or hidden, the waters come alive in a way that feels almost unreal. With each movement of your paddle or hand, the bioluminescence begins to glow, lighting up the water around you.

We will learn, feel, and experience the nature of this magical place together. Moving with it, rather than trying to control it. Letting it reveal itself in its own time.

An experience that stays with you.

The Facilitators

Ayurvedic Meals

Ayurveda is an ancient healing system from India with more than 5,000 years of tradition behind it. At its heart is a simple idea: food is medicine, and what we eat either supports or depletes the body.

At Finca Victoria, every meal is prepared with that in mind. Clean, nourishing, thoughtfully spiced, and easy on the digestive system so your body is not working overtime during a week of deep practice. You will feel lighter. Clearer. More open to the work.

The menu weaves Ayurvedic principles with tropical ingredients grown on the land and the richness of Puerto Rican cooking. Expect flavors you have not tasted before and meals that leave you feeling genuinely well.

Finca Victoria & Lodging

Finca Victoria is a holistic wellness center built around the principles of Ayurvedic medicine, set on a three-acre tropical oasis on one of the highest points in Vieques. The views are expansive. The land is alive.

The retreat space is anchored by two open-air structures:

The Pavilion is the communal heart — lounging areas, dining tables, a freshwater pool, and an open kitchen where the chefs craft each meal in front of you.

The Maloca is the ceremonial space — energetically held and dedicated entirely to the inner work. It hosts our ceremonies, embodiment practices, integration circles, and morning yoga.

Around these two central structures are fifteen cabins, treehouses, and suites, each uniquely designed and set within the natural landscape of the property. Whatever room category you choose, you will be deeply comfortable and surrounded by nature.

Room Categories

We provide three thoughtfully designed room categories to cater to your unique preferences and needs during your stay.

For those who value privacy and solitude, our private accommodations offer a serene and peaceful retreat, allowing you to unwind in your own space. If you’re looking to share your experience with a travel companion or make new connections in a cozier setting, our shared double rooms provide a comfortable and welcoming option.

Additionally, for guests who enjoy a more communal atmosphere and the opportunity to engage with fellow participants, we offer dorm-style rooms, which can comfortably accommodate 3-4 individuals. These shared spaces are perfect for fostering meaningful connections and building a sense of community while immersing yourself in the experience.

Our Rates

All tiers include 7 days / 6 nights lodging, all Ayurvedic meals, ceremonies, facilitated practices, excursions, and integration. Prices in USD.

Private Oasis — $5,666

• Private room

• Private bathroom

• Queen bed

• 6 spaces

Shared Sanctuary — $4,999

• Large shared room

• Shared bathroom

• 2 separate beds (full or single)

• 12 spaces

Brotherhood Haven — $4,333

• Dorm-style room

• Shared bathroom

• 3–4 single beds

• 4 spaces

Deposit & Payment

• 25% deposit secures your space
Monthly payment plans available on request

Cancellation Policy

• Cancel 90+ days before start: full refund minus $500 admin fee
• Cancel inside 90 days: full payment charged
• Exception: if we fill your spot, we refund you (minus fees). Not guaranteed.

Not Included

• Flights to Vieques
• Travel insurance
• Optional add-ons (massage, etc.)

Who is this for?

This retreat is for the man who:

  • Feels the call and doesn't need to be convinced

  • Is ready to meet himself honestly

  • Wants to do the work in the company of other men

  • Has space in his life to integrate what comes up

  • Trusts the container and is willing to follow it

This retreat is not for:

  • The man looking for a wellness vacation

  • Anyone on medication that isn't compatible with plant medicine (we'll screen for this)

  • The man who wants to be fixed without doing the work

  • Anyone not willing to set aside their phone and be present for the full week

If you aren't sure, that's okay. Fill and application and we’ll schedule a call.
We'll talk honestly, and you'll know.

Vieques

Vieques is a small island off the east coast of Puerto Rico. Turquoise water, wild vegetation, year-round warm weather. Two thousand wild horses roam the island freely. The beaches are some of the most pristine in the Caribbean.

You can reach it by a short flight from San Juan or by ferry from Ceiba. However you arrive, something shifts the moment you land. The pace slows. The noise drops. The island does its work on you before the retreat even begins.

— Zane

Intro the Heart of the Ocean 2026

Testimonials

— SJ , Marketing CEO

The men's retreat was fantastic. I loved the people, the activities, and all the facilities. Kano was a really experienced leader. He kept the schedule exciting and fun but yet not too tight. The size of the group was about right. The food was delicious, which was especially impressive considering all the dieting restrictions. The embodiment practice was exactly what I was looking for. Aided by powerful ceremonies, I not only had gained clear insights into my own life but also built new friendships with a group of extraordinary brave men who I feel honored to call spiritual brothers. I felt so much more healthy and wholesome after the short week! I am considering coming back for this retreat in future years.

— Christopher H.- Musician

A life changing experience. Had the opportunity to sit with Kano at a 7 day mens retreat in July 2023. Kano asked us to write about our experience, which I was going to do immediately after, but decided to wait a few months to see how the experience survived time. It’s November now, and I can honestly say that it was life changing. I had never heard of mens embodiment practices, before this retreat, but I entered with an open if not a skeptical mind. Kano holds himself in manor which is both egoless and yet commanding, creating a container which gives you permission to let go. It was also an opportunity to create a bond with the other men on the retreat, a shared experience that has proved to be lasting. We have maintained the connection within the group, which in turn has allowed the lessons learned to live on. I have new friends now, friends who I can call upon when the going gets rough, which of course it does. But you cant underestimate the value of having a support network born of shared experience. What has also remained has been the insights gleaned, new habits have formed, healthy habits that have enabled me to integrate what was seen and felt. Kano has integrity, you know he wants to help, this is felt on a deep level, and for that I am truly grateful.

— Christian Pescatore, IT Executive

— Juan

Into the Heart of the Ocean 2026

Working with Kano was the first time coming into a place of connection to my own authenticity. Until then, the concept of standing in my own power to be of the highest service was more of a buzzphrase than what it is now as the central core to my life's work. What's most important for everyone to take from this is how tangible this gift is to anyone who wants to receive it, regardless of whether or not they are aware of it existence for themselves. My sessions with Kano can be best described as being the subject of a master craftsman whose trade is in unlocking a person's true potential. He starts with the foundational building blocks of who you are, what is serving you, and what isn't. Replacing bad habits with constructive routines, physical practice work along with meditation to help you identify those parts of you that are holding you back. Once you have identified those, you can now step into the growth aspects of your being which have been covered in shadow arriving at the true YOU that has always been there. Since I began my work, I've experienced weight loss, and levels of physical and mental energy I haven't felt in decades. The ailments that I have been inflicted with (gout) have all but subsided. I've been promoted at work and won the largest sales deal in my career. I have a deeper understanding and love of my partner and have emerged a King!!! Standing in a balanced state of the divine masculine and feminine energy that others commonly refer to as a "light" or "brightness" that I now emit.  In love and gratitude to my dear teacher Kano Mai.

— Sean French, COO / Managing Partner

I attended the "Heart of the Ocean" Men's Retreat at Finca Victoria in Vieques, March of 2024. It was facilitated by Kano Mai, Amir Khaligi, Mockingbird and the wonderful ownership and staff of the healing center. This was my second healing retreat with Kano Mai and my first "male specific" retreat I have ever been a part of. 

It's hard to put into words how profoundly important the work these men are doing, but I'll do my best:

As a man who has struggled with dopamine addiction, a total lack of self control, deep emotional baggage from my intimate relationships, psychological issues stemming from childhood and family trauma, rampant substance abuse and likely an undiagnosed case of lifelong depression; I can emphatically say this was the single most therapeutic experience of my entire life. I have spent many years (8) in therapy, a few stints in rehab, AA, different "self improvement" seminars, working with different healers, being hypnotized, becoming a certified NLP master, etc. You name it, I probably tried it. I did, as they say "all the fucking work". And I kept seeking more work because I could not seem to break the bonds of my unconscious mind. I knew in my subconscious the keys to my freedom were hiding. That subconscious programming led me to a lot of self hate and self destructive choices and patterns I couldn't seem to escape. 

The work these men did with us was powerful, cathartic, healing, loving and created real intention in all of us. They utilized somatic breathing, embodiment work, elemental work, janzu water therapy, ayurvedic dieting, sacred plant medicine, therapeutic sharing circles and perhaps most importantly, they connected us back to our own hearts. They helped us reidentify with our true selves. The men we had forgotten we were. They helped us create the pathways we needed to move forward in our lives. And I say "we" because all the men felt the same way when we were done. It was a group healing experience as much as it was "the" healing experience I needed personally. 

After living with so much pain and anguish for much of my adult life, I felt the shift inside me that I had been searching for. I felt moved. I felt different. I felt and still feel connected with my source. I understood my path and I learned respect for my body, my mind and my spirit in a way I couldn't before. I can't say enough how much this experience meant to me personally, as it brings me to tears when I recall the beauty and peace it brought to my mind. This is the work that all people need. 

And to put a bow on it: since I have returned I have changed my diet, my exercise cycle, my energy, the way I choose to spend my time each day. I am intentional in a way I have never been able to access. And top it off, I have about 30 new best friends because of the experience. I have nothing but pure gratitude for the time I spent with all these men and these amazing teachers, medicine men and all the loving souls at Finca.

Thank you gentlemen for creating the space for me to grow, learn and become who I needed to be. Ubuntu. 

FAQs