Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Gentile
Hi Jason, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Where I am today:
I create communities within my organization”Art of Waking Up”, that empower individuals to build resilience, deepen self-awareness, and cultivate presence, helping them live as their best selves. My most popular offering lately is a hybrid zoom and in-person men’s group designed to break participants free from the “lone wolf” mindset and limiting patterns. Together, we foster accountability, authenticity, and constructive confrontation, supporting each man in bridging the gap between his intentions and his results.
The most recent iteration called “The Summit” wrapped up in November on a snowy weekend in Blackhawk, CO that I co-hosted with my colleagues from an organization called “Remarkable Men’s Practice”. I run ongoing groups that meet weekly on zoom and have another in person weekend event called “The Mountain” coming up in March.
I got involved with men’s work in 2015 at a weekend in Santa Barbara, California which helped me stop isolating from other men and see the value of the African Proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” Since that weekend, I’ve helped facilitate more than 700 men through their own weekend adventure rite of passage.
I’ve been on a path of inner exploration and personal growth since a powerful experience I had in 2007 which made me question everything about how I was living my life, how I show up in the world and my role in creating positive change for those around me.
Over the years I’ve learned a variety of modalities and disciplines that I weave into my programs like yoga, rock climbing, functional botanicals and superfoods, breathwork and other modalities to expand awareness, stoic philosophy, IFS, integral & transpersonal psychology to name a few.
I’ve trained under various mentors, traveled extensively, hold a degree in psychology, certifications in yoga and self-leadership coaching and see myself as a forever student. I resonate with the approach of the late Ram Dass who said “We’re all just walking each other home”. I’m a father of 3 children and celebrated a decade of married life last summer. My spouse runs a community acupuncture clinic in Longmont and specializes in women’s health.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course life is never a smooth road. For years I was struggling personally with feeling deep down that I was too weird and probably broken. That I had to repeatedly prove my worth to be “enough”. I held onto a story of imposter syndrome littered with fear and shame, under a mask of “It’s all good”. Through some twists and turns, eventually I was able to let all that nonsense go and embrace an unshakable self love and courage that is possible for everyone with good support.
Some other struggles included:
-Patching together multiple odd jobs to pay my rent and eat in the early days of moving to Los Angeles
-Balancing the building of a brand in the natural food industry with my passion work “side hustle” before I had enough momentum
-Balancing becoming a husband and father while still pursuing career dreams
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My organization’s mission is to become a preferred community partner in the coaching industry by developing sustainable group and 1:1 programs that deliver meaningful and measurable value to clients. Programs model a path, practices and support to foster joyful presence and accountability aligned with clients journey of stepping fully into the life they want.
I’m most known for my Masculine Alchemy Programs which aim to give men a space to be seen, be heard, be present and be in brotherhood. The cohorts act as a practice space to help participants be more authentic, accountable and supportable. These spaces deepen our ability to support each other, stand for ourselves, listen, honor our emotions, get clear about what we want and what is standing in the way of us acting on it, navigate confrontation and simplify. These programs emphasize dropping the “lone wolf” mindset and help participants to trust each other rather than feel that they need to compete with one another.
I’m proud to be a part of the movement which is redefining masculinity and aiding in bettering the lives of all participants and hopefully their web of relationships.
www.artofwakingup.com
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Getting out in nature with my siblings and other neighborhood kids at a creek near my house.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artofwakingup.com
- Instagram: @artofwakingup
Image Credits
Sara Zaruba
