The Art of Embodiment for Men: Using the ANI Framework and Daily Practices to Tame Anxiety, Heal Trauma, and Conquer Your Nice Guy Tendencies

by GS Youngblood

Tens of thousands of men worldwide have been impacted by the ground-breaking book The Masculine in Relationship. It presented the Masculine Blueprint, a three-part framework that supports men in building their own Masculine core.

Now acclaimed author GS Youngblood turns his attention to one of the most important tools men can use on this embodiment practice. This book is the handbook to his popular online companion course, The Art of Embodiment.

For men who are looking to become more grounded and powerful in both love and work, this book makes a very bold statement to

A daily embodiment practice will change your life.

It is the number one thing that men can do to build their Masculine core. The practices are designed to ground and settle you at the nervous system level, where trauma and anxiety reside. When this happens, your reactivity - in the form of defensiveness, withdrawal, hiding, and blame - begins to subside. You are freed up to live life as a more powerful, relational man. One whose relationship has more loving, more sexuality, and more respect, with less fighting, criticism, and angst.

Embodiment is a field of practice that incorporates elements of meditation, movement, visualization, breathing, and intensity. It is different than meditation because, rather than learning to use the conscious mind to “let go” of thoughts, practitioners focus almost exclusively on physical sensation in the body. In that state, thoughts are naturally crowded out, without even trying to let go of anything. It takes diligent practice, but with the right guidance and dedication, its benefits can be yours.

170 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2022

Reviews

[Charles Brewton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when seemingly unrelated books mesh together in complementary ways. It’s just another joy that reading brings every day. I’ll give an example, but first the review.

This is the companion book to the life-changing, relationship-blessing Masculine in Relationship by the same author, which I read right before this one. Both books’ unbelievably simple but difficult premise is that the #1 thing a man can do to build up his masculine core (which when lacking creates all kinds of relational issues with his woman) is to create an embodiment practice that fortifies his nervous system. When he can maintain control over his reactions in an emotional situation (eg hearing his woman’s pain or anger) he has the ability to respond and LEAD a loving interaction from his HEART and not his brain or nervous system. This companion book is almost exclusively full of breathing methods, meditation methods, and grounding methods for men to practice. PRACTICE being the key word, because you don’t just read a book and then have mastery over them. You build them into your daily routine to improve. You don’t just read a book about lifting weights, you have to go to the gym every day to get stronger.

One really interesting concept - that by exposing your body to discomfort daily during practice sessions through breath holding, stretching, cold showers, and intentional stillness of mind and body, you will increase your tolerance for discomfort and be able to remain in your heart in a real-life stressful time like when your woman is upset.

Another - that by being intentional with EVERYTHING you do including inhaling, exhaling, thoughts, even scratching an itch, you become “master of your domain” to borrow from Seinfeld. Meaning you as a masculine man will be unflappable in the face of feminine emotions. You will be able to resist acting in non-loving, non-masculine ways because you will have total control of your body and mind. Gold.

Now for the complementary meshing. The primary purpose of this book is to help men with their strong, feminine women. But it occurred to me how close these practices come to helping someone get into the “vortex”. I recently read The Vortex by Abraham-Hicks, which talks about the importance of staying loving and positive as much as possible. But I found the Vortex book, and even some of the A-H YouTube clips lacking in instruction. Guys - and gals too - THIS book gives you that instruction in such practical, easy to understand methods. I had already been practicing some of what’s in here due to previous reading, but it’s very nice to have a structured framework to expand on and understand why it all works.

Control your mind, control your body, and your life will improve so incredibly much.