A Prescription for Men's Health - ManKind Style
Bill Stech

Men’s health.  There are magazines, books, documentaries, commercials, infomercials –  volumes and volumes dedicated to this topic.  They typically involve nutrition, style, exercise (with images of six pack abs, muscles, tread mills, running shoes), healthy prostates, free flowing urinary tracts (but not too free flowing!), and even enhanced/improved sexual function and performance.

And yet, there is another kind of men’s health that is often overlooked.  It is the health that occurs in a man when his head and his heart are connected, and he is in concert with himself and all that is around him.   It occurs when a man knows himself, knows his path, is accountable to himself and others, living a life of integrity, with his thoughts connected with his feelings.  Where can a man find this type of health?  One place to find it is in a men’s circle.

What is a men’s circle?  Safe to say it is not a circle of men sitting around telling jokes, passing gas, and drinking beer.  Nor is it a group of men who meet to gripe or whine about their troubles.   Rather, men’s circles are a time-honored tradition that honor authentic masculine energy, and empower men to leadership & positive action in the world.   They are a way to help each man connect head and heart, examine his life, step into his true power as a man, and create deeper, more powerful, and more joyful ways of living.

Men’s circles typically meet weekly or bi-monthly, depending on the needs of the group.  Meetings last two to three hours, and are structured in such a way as to create an unconditionally supportive environment.   A men’s circle will typically have four distinct segments, or “rounds”: a check in, accountability round, work round, and finally a blessing round.

The purpose of the check-in is for each man to get present, and to get in touch with any emotions or feelings that he may be sitting on.  Each man in the circle speaks about “where he is”.   As an example:  “I’m checking in with anger tonight.  It’s centered around an argument that I had with my son this morning”.   Knowing where a man is emotionally, helps to build trust within the group.

Accountability is done quickly.  Self-accountability comes from the place of the mature masculine.  A man knows what agreements he has made and whether he is keeping them or not.   When he’s not kept his agreements, he knows he is obligated to truthfully account for the choices he made and the consequences of his choices.  No one in the group needs to hold him accountable.  He holds himself accountable, as that is the kind of man he is.
The work round is where a man can choose to do his work.  He does not have to work every meeting.  This is the time/place where he can openly discuss, share, and better understand his thoughts and his feelings.  He can revisit old wounds, perhaps examine his fears, rage, joy, love, sadness, shame, passions, successes, failures, and his dreams.  This is also the time for him to be present to help other men do the same. 

The blessing round is the time for a man to honor himself or other men for their work.  It is common for a man to recognize a piece of “gold” that he has found in himself or another man in the circle – something that they can take back into their daily lives. 

So that is what you can expect to find in a men’s circle.  Men meeting regularly, helping other men become better fathers, partners, leaders, mentors, and elders.  Talk about Men’s Health! 

There are several groups like this in the Greensboro/ Winston-Salem area.  They are called I-groups.  These groups are sponsored by the ManKind Project (www.mkp.org or http://carolinas.mpk.org), and are open to all men 18 or older, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical challenges.   There is never a charge to attend an MKP I-group meeting.

If you’re interested in obtaining more information about the ManKind Project or MKP I-groups contact Bill Stech at 276-358-1600 or at bill113@hotmail.com.

Bill Stech is a Certified Natural Health Professional, and one of more than 600 MKP men that live in the local community (SC, NC, and Southwest VA), presently serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Carolinas ManKind Project.  He works full-time as a plant manager in Martinville, VA, is a husband for 31 yrs, father of two, grandfather of 1.  A concerned man wanting to make a difference.