I Help Men Heal Stress, Trauma, and Burnout—Through the Body
Somatic coaching, nervous system tools, and transformational retreats.
About Mike Sagun, SEP, CPCC
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
Men’s Work Facilitator
Teacher
Hi, I’m Mike Sagun—a certified Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, trauma-informed coach, and founder of SHIFT Men’s Retreat, a somatic retreat for men ready to heal from the inside out.
I help high-performing men regulate their nervous systems, reconnect with their emotions, and finally feel at peace in their bodies.
Because here’s the truth: you can’t think your way out of stress, burnout, or emotional disconnection.
You have to feel your way through it. Safely. Somatically. In your own time, and in your own body.
That’s where I come in.
You’ve done the mindset work. But something still feels… off.
I know that space well.
The one where you’ve read all the books, done the therapy, maybe even started meditating—but your body still feels tense, reactive, shut down.
You’re not broken. You’re braced.
And what you need isn’t more thinking.
You need safety. Slowness. A way to feel again.
That’s what I help men do—regulate their nervous systems, reconnect to their bodies, and finally feel like themselves again.
As a somatic coach for men, I work with clients who are:
Burned out from years of pushing and over-performing
Struggling with anxiety, chronic stress, or emotional numbness
Feeling disconnected in their relationships
Curious about trauma-informed healing, but unsure where to start
Ready for something deeper than traditional talk therapy
Whether through 1:1 somatic coaching or immersive experiences like my SHIFT Men’s Retreat in Baja California Sur, my work focuses on one thing: Helping men return to themselves.
Through the breath, body awareness, nervous system education, and deep emotional attunement, I guide men into the parts of themselves they’ve long avoided.
This isn’t about fixing you.
This is about helping you feel again—safely, fully, and without shame.
My Approach: Trauma-Informed, Nervous System Based, Heart-Led
I combine two decades of experience in men’s work, group facilitation, coaching, and teaching to help men heal at the level of the body—not just the mind.
My approach includes:
Somatic Experiencing® to support trauma release and resilience
Polyvagal-informed practices for safety and connection
Mindfulness and movement to build emotional capacity
Real, honest connection—because healing doesn’t happen in isolation
If you’ve tried therapy, read the books, done the mindset work—and still feel stuck—somatic healing might be the missing piece.
How I Support Men Like You
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SHIFT Men's Retreat
6 days in Baja California Sur. Reset your nervous system and reconnect with yourself.
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1:1 Somatic Coaching
Somatic Experiencing Trauma-informed support for high-functioning men ready for real change.
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SHIFT Newsletter
Weekly-ish reflections, somatic tools, and stories straight to your inbox.
About Me: The Human Behind the Work
I’m originally from the SF Bay Area and I now live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with my husband of 13 years and our beloved rescue pit bull.
I’m a nature lover, a former performer, and a lifelong student of what it means to feel safe, seen, and alive in your body.
I’ve coached hundreds of men, led transformational retreats across the U.S. and Mexico, and co-founded organizations like The Unshakable Man and MELD Men. I’ve been a senior facilitator and lead teacher at EVRYMAN. And companies like Google X, LinkedIn, The Steve Fund, and Men’s Health Magazine have hired me to create programming and run retreats.
But more importantly? I’ve walked this path myself.
I know what it’s like to feel anxious, unfulfilled, and emotionally shut down—even when life looks “good” on the outside.
This work changed my life.
And now, it’s changing the lives of the men I work with every day.
Real Words from Real Men
You’re Not Too Much. You’re Not Too Late. You’re Right On Time.
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Somatic coaching is a body-centered approach to trauma healing that helps men reconnect with their bodies and process stored trauma. The Greek word for "body" is "soma." Somatic coaching includes various somatic healing practices like breathwork, Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), the Hakomi Method, and Somatic Experiencing.
The model of somatic therapies I practice is rooted in Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal Theory, IFS (Internal Family Systems), Somatic Mindfulness, and the MELD Method. I also infuse other body-based modalities, such as intuitive movement and breathwork, to tailor the experience to each client’s needs.
Read more about somatic trauma healing here.
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Common signs of unresolved trauma include anger, emotional numbness, withdrawal from relationships, and chronic stress or burnout. If you resonate with any of these symptoms, chances are you’re dealing with unresolved trauma.
Unhealed trauma often leads to men’s emotional disconnection and can show up in the body as tension or pain, which somatic coaching helps release.
Read more about the signs of trauma in men here.
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Trauma often feels like a persistent, overwhelming weight, even after the initial stressor is gone. If you notice patterns of avoidance, dissociation, or deep-seated emotional reactions, it’s likely trauma. The somatic approach helps you identify whether it’s stress or trauma by focusing on how your body holds onto the experience.
Read more about how to tell the difference between trauma and stress here.
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In traditional talk therapy like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the focus is on reframing negative thoughts and changing behavior patterns. It's a top-down approach—working from the mind to the body.
Somatic coaching, however, is a bottom-up approach, meaning the focus is on the body first. Through body-centered trauma healing, we drop awareness into the body, noticing sensations and feelings before attributing meaning to them. Releasing trauma becomes a physiological process rather than just a psychological one, helping men truly heal trauma stored in the body.Read more about the difference between somatic coaching and regular or traditional therapy here.
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It’s all about chemistry. In somatic trauma coaching, feeling safe, seen, and heard is crucial. We’ll hop on a call to assess if we’re a good fit. If you feel both a bit nervous and hopeful during our initial interaction, that’s a great sign. Feeling emotional safety during this process is key to successful somatic healing.
Remember, the worst-case scenario is that we’re not a match, and that’s perfectly okay. -
I work with clients virtually, 3 times a month, for a minimum of 6 months. Each session lasts 60 minutes. We start by developing your somatic intelligence and learning the language of your body. This includes nervous system regulation techniques to help you manage stress and overwhelm effectively.
Over time, we’ll address specific topics in your life, helping you gain a new perspective and take conscious action. The goal is to slowly and intentionally guide you through healing trauma and achieving the transformation you desire.
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The timeline for results varies. Some men experience significant breakthroughs after a few sessions, while others need more time depending on the depth of their trauma. Somatic trauma healing is a gradual process of reconnecting with your body and building emotional resilience.
Read more about the process here.
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Childhood trauma often creates patterns of emotional suppression that last well into adulthood. Somatic coaching for childhood trauma helps men break free from these lifelong patterns by reconnecting them with their bodies, allowing them to safely process unresolved emotional wounds.
Read more about how somatic coaching addresses childhood trauma in men here.
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Emotional Trauma
Physical Trauma
Sexual Trauma
Acute and Complex Trauma
PTSD and cPTSD
Marriage/Partnership
Separation/Divorce
Confidence and Motivation
Behavior Modification and Habit Training
Somatic Embodiment
Emotional Awareness and Intelligence
Conflict Resolution and Communication
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Most clients work with me for 1.5 to 2 years. There’s a minimum 6-month commitment to ensure that somatic healing has time to take root and create lasting change.
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I have a BA in Education, and I spent years teaching young people across Northern California. Now, I’m a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), a Certified Co-Active Coach (CPCC), and ICF Certified, with specialized tr
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In our sessions, you'll experience a combination of techniques from Somatic Experiencing, IFS (Internal Family Systems), Inner Child Work, movement therapy, breathwork, and mindfulness. These modalities work together to help you heal from trauma, reconnect with your body, and regain control of your life.