men’s mental health: a campaign

The men in our Pa’lante community recently came together for International Men’s Day, creating an Instagram campaign to raise awareness for mental health. This 38-second video prompted many deep, challenging, and transformative conversations. Ultimately, this was the intention of the campaign - helping to de-stigmatize men’s mental health and to harmonize the masculine with the feminine.
It's important for me, as a female business owner and yoga teacher, that men feel a sense of belonging with Pa’lante Yoga.

I think about the greatest things that have ever happened to me and how so many of those doors were opened with the help of men - men who were a few steps ahead of me, who had a voice where I did not, and in spaces where I was not yet represented.

They met my trailblazing spirit with advocacy and support. If I wanted something badly enough, they were willing to help. Never did they tell me, “do it on your own.”

I thank my Costa Rican "brothers" who opened up the world to me, gave me my first job abroad, and empowered me to follow my heart.

I thank my male bosses who paid me what I proved that I was worth. And gave me positions of leadership in male-dominated fields.

I thank the men in the surfing community who block for me to drop in on double-overhead waves, when they're sitting deeper. Who encourage me to paddle out on scary days. And who give me pointers to go harder.

I thank my guy friends who consistently tell me to get up, dream bigger, and rub some dirt on it. Who push me beyond my comfort zone.

The masculine energy in my life has fostered my sense of adventure, grit, abundance, and true belief that anything is possible. So I feel called to pay it back... honoring the softness in them, too. Life is sweeter when there is balance both ways.

Abrazos,
Jax