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Every boy carries a story his body remembers—long before he has the words to tell it. For some, the search for identity began not in adolescence, but in infancy—during those early years when they needed to be held, seen, and felt. When that need wasn’t met, something foundational was left unfinished.

In many boys, that missing experience resurfaces in adolescence: not with words, but with confusion, resistance, aggression, withdrawal, or the desperate urge to prove themselves. These are not “bad behaviors”—they are echoes. Cries from a time when they were still learning who they were.

The Temazcal as a Return to the Womb

In our Initiated summer program for teenage boys, we close with a sacred rite of passage inside the temazcal, an ancestral sweat lodge used by many Indigenous cultures for physical, emotional, and spiritual purification. But for us, it’s more than tradition—it’s a return.

The temazcal represents the womb of the Earth. It is warm, dark, and sacred. Inside, there is no phone, no mask, no posturing—only breath, sweat, prayers, and presence. It’s in this ancient cocoon where the boys are guided to surrender, to release what is not theirs, and to meet what has long been waiting inside: their truest selves.

Healing What Was Missed

For the teenage boy who was never held as a toddler, the temazcal becomes a surrogate experience of containment. It offers what he may have missed:

• A sense of being held by the Earth
• A safe space for emotional release without judgment
• The presence of elders guiding him, not fixing him
• A deep experience of belonging to something ancient and real

As the steam rises and the drums echo, the boys breathe into the parts of themselves that never got to cry. That never got to be angry. That never got to ask: Who am I, really?

From Separation to Integration

This isn’t just symbolic. It’s physiological. The heat softens. The darkness holds. The songs activate memory. The breath creates safety. And through it all, the teenage nervous system begins to settle—maybe for the first time.

Inside the temazcal, the boy no longer has to perform. He gets to feel. He gets to shed. And eventually, he emerges not as someone else, but as more of himself—closer to wholeness.

A Rite of Passage Worth Remembering

Our boys are not broken. They’re underheld, overstimulated, and deeply hungry for meaning. This is why we close the Initiated program with the temazcal. It’s not a gimmick. It’s not for show. It’s a sacred return—to the body, to the breath, to the origin, and to the question that’s been there all along:

If I am not who the world told me to be, then who am I?

And inside that sacred steam, the answer doesn’t always come in words. Sometimes it comes in tears, in laughter, in silence, or in the way their shoulders finally relax for the first time.

That’s when we know: the boy has been held.

And from that moment on, he can begin the journey of becoming a man—not because we pushed him there, but because we supported his return to self.

Armando Hart

INITIATED — A Summer Mentorship Program for Teen Boys (14–18)

📅 July 7–11 | 🕘 9AM–1PM | 📍Long Beach, CA

Give your son the space to grow, heal, and step into his power.

Rites of passage. Brotherhood. Breathwork. Temazcal.

⚡Limited spots available. 
Register below.

https://armandohart.com/initiated-summer-mentorship-program-for-teen-boys/

There’s a quiet ache many parents feel — the ache of watching their son drift farther away from his essence. Not because he’s broken, but because the world is loud.

Between the endless scroll of social media, the pressure to conform to social expectations, and the confusion of navigating politics and identity, young boys today are growing up in a storm. And somewhere in that storm, many of them forget who they are. They lose touch with their wild, curious, fearless selves — their essence.

For years, I’ve been asked:
“When are you going to create a space for boys?”
“Can you create something like what you do for adults, but for teens?”
“Can you mentor my son?”

I’ve heard these questions from friends, parents, and even strangers who’ve come across my work. Until recently, the timing didn’t feel right. But now, something in me has shifted. The call has become too loud to ignore. And Initiated was born — not as a program, but as a rite of passage. A return.

This isn’t about fixing boys.
It’s about remembering.

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My Own Journey Back

I didn’t come to this work because I had it all figured out. I came to it because I didn’t.

My self-awareness didn’t arrive wrapped in clarity or wisdom. It arrived through trauma. Like many boys, I didn’t have the tools or the support to process that trauma at the time. I buried it. And for years, I chased identity through achievements — in sport, in success, in perfection. But underneath it all was a boy who had never been held through his pain. A boy who had never been seen.

Healing didn’t happen overnight. It happened through movement, stillness, grief, community, and eventually, a reconnection with the very essence I had once abandoned.

That journey changed everything — not only how I move through the world, but how I guide others.

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Why Boys Need a Different Space

As parents, we offer love. We give advice. We try to teach. But often, our sons don’t hear us. Not because they’re stubborn, but because our words come from the same place they’re trying to grow away from — home.

Sometimes, that same advice needs to be heard in a circle of peers, from a mentor who isn’t their father or mother, in an environment that feels new — but ancient.
That’s where Initiated comes in.

This is not a camp.
This is a container for remembering.

Through conscious movement, breathwork, nature, fire, sweat, storytelling, and sacred brotherhood, we peel back the layers that have formed around these boys. The ones telling them who they should be. What they should look like. How they should act.

We’re not teaching anything new.
We’re simply reminding them of what they already are.

Their essence never left. It’s just been buried under the noise.

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A New Chapter in My Purpose

I’ve coached Olympians, professionals, and everyday warriors. But Initiated is different. It’s deeply personal. It feels like a continuation of my own healing — and a chance to offer what I wish I had when I was 14, 15, 16…

This is my purpose now. To guide boys into their own self-awareness before the world molds them too far away from it. To give them the tools I had to find the hard way. To remind them that strength comes from presence. And that manhood isn’t something you earn — it’s something you embody when you return to your essence.

If you’re reading this as a parent, mentor, or seeker — know this: the time is now. For our boys, for our future, for the sacred return.

Let’s initiate the next generation — not with pressure, but with presence.

– Armando Hart

Reconnecting with the Power of Putting Your Foot Down:

In a world that often seems to move faster than we can keep up with, it’s easy to lose sight of our innate abilities. One such ability we often overlook is the simple yet powerful act of “putting our foot down.” This act not only reflects self-ownership but also has a grounding effect, creates personal boundaries, and even contributes to the generation of speed in athletes. At its core, this act is the awareness point of the first maxim of the Hart Method.

The Simplicity and Power of “Putting Your Foot Down”

“Putting your foot down” isn’t just about making decisions or standing up for yourself, although it encompasses these aspects. It’s a profound acknowledgment of your presence and agency in the world. It’s a declaration that you are here, you matter, and your boundaries are to be respected.

This simple act is, in essence, an expression of self-love. It’s a reminder that you deserve to be treated with respect and kindness by others and yourself. It’s a reminder to honor your own needs and well-being.

The Grounding Effect

Grounding is often associated with feeling stable, balanced, and connected with the earth. When you “put your foot down,” you are quite literally grounding yourself. It’s a physical and psychological connection to the world around you. It’s a reminder that you are firmly rooted in the present moment.

This simple act can bring us back to ourselves in a fast-paced world where we can feel overwhelmed and disconnected. It helps us regain our sense of presence and find our balance in the chaos.

Creating Personal Boundaries

Personal boundaries are essential for maintaining healthy relationships and protecting your well-being. When you “put your foot down,” you set a clear limit. You’re signaling what you will and will not tolerate and communicating your needs.

This act is an act of self-assertion and self-care. It’s about ensuring you’re treated respectfully, and your needs are acknowledged.

Speed Generation in Athletics

But “putting your foot down” isn’t just about psychological and emotional empowerment; it also has tangible benefits in sports and athletics. Forcefully striking the ground with your foot is critical to generating speed and power.

In the world of sports, speed is often the differentiator between the good and the great. Athletes who can efficiently transfer energy into the ground by “putting their foot down” propel themselves forward with greater force and speed. It’s a fundamental skill that can significantly impact an athlete’s performance.

The First Maxim of the Hart Method

This act of “putting your foot down” is not just a random occurrence; it’s the awareness point of the first maxim of the Hart Method. This maxim is the foundation of my up-and-coming “Life in Motion” online program. It’s about understanding the power of grounding, self-ownership, and personal boundaries in sports and life as a whole.

By reconnecting with this innate ability and making it a conscious practice, we can unlock a world of possibilities, from increased self-respect and personal empowerment to better athletic performance. It’s a small act with a profound impact, and it’s time we recognize and harness its potential for a better life in motion.

Embrace the Vision: Transforming Athletes, Schools, and Beyond

At “Life in Motion,” we believe in a vision beyond the playing field. Our vision is to revolutionize how athletes, schools, and organizations engage with the fundamental drills that form the foundation of athletic performance. We’re here to inspire athletes and coaches to be more than just physically fit; we’re here to help them embody a higher degree of integrity, resilience, and personal power.

For Schools and Students, Imagine a world where school athletes excel in their chosen sport and emerge as individuals of unwavering integrity and resilience. Our vision includes integrating the “Life In Motion” program into school systems, empowering student-athletes to discover the profound purpose behind every movement. It’s about nurturing a generation that understands the importance of these fundamental drills, not just in sports but in life itself.

Our vision for Sports Organizations, Clubs, and Brands doesn’t stop at schools. We aim to extend the “Life In Motion” program to sports organizations, clubs, sports brands, and corporations that share our commitment to change the world through the fundamentals of movement in athletes. This is about building a community that believes in the transformative power of mindful movement, and we invite you to join us.

The Power of Connection and Grounding At the core of our vision is the belief that we’re all connected and grounded on this planet. We embrace eight principles – Ground, Gravity, Integrity, Joy, Harmony, Freedom, Action, and Now – that underpin every movement and every action we take. We aim for humanity to embody these principles daily, creating a more harmonious world.

Join Us in the Journey This is a call for action and collaboration. We’re inviting you to become part of a team that’s inspired to take action with us. Let’s work together to make a difference in sports, education, and beyond. Together, we can build a future where athletes, students, and individuals everywhere become masters of their movements, minds, and lives.

What are we looking for?

Marketing and Promotion, Program Development, Content Creation, Website Development and Maintenance, Customer Support, Administrative Tasks, Instructors/Coaches, Community Building, Technical Support, Legal and Compliance, Financial Management, Partnerships, Market Research, Evaluation and Measurement, Scaling Strategy, Social Responsibility and Inclusivity, Quality Control, Resouce Allocation, Technology Integration,

Join us on this transformative journey. Let’s create a team inspired to take action, make a change, and empower the world through the fundamentals of movement.

Yve and Armando Hart bring you “Sound and Space” at TOHA (Temple of Healing Arts.) 

CONNECTION + INTENTION

EXPERIENCE

RECEIVE

SOUND vibrations are one of the most powerful healing tools we have on the planet.  

Humanity is yearning for RE-CONNECTION.   

Give yourself permission to receive.

Sound was the first sense that we developed in the womb and it’s time that we reconnect and experience a rebirth through sound.  

“Immersing myself in the sound bath experience catapulted me into a new reality where I feel empowered and clear to own and harness my gifts as a coach, trainer, and healer.  It gave me the fortitude to stand firm in my capacity as a human to reconnect with my environment in a powerful way.”

Armando Hart

Sound heals, community heals, let’s fly together!

Saturday, June 25th

8:00 pm-9:30 pm

Temple of Healing Arts

Paypal link: https://paypal.me/armandohart88?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

This concept of going through the full range of motion is a part of the FREEDOM maxim of my training program, The Hart Method.  What’s happening in the world right now is a great opportunity to connect to this concept by not living in fear and reacting to the situation we may find ourselves in.  It’s easy to judge our situation and tell ourselves that we shouldn’t be going through this, but the reality is that we are. Going through the full range of motion with our responsibilities, our relationships, our work, and our emotions looks different for each and every one of us, but the opportunity is there.  I am starting small. I am starting by going through the full range of motion with the process of sleep and eating a cooked meal. Small changes can lead to huge leaps. Ask yourself, Where am I not going through the full range of motion? You can start there. Remember, that the goal is to optimize the outcome by going through the full range of motion in the moment.  

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Being locked down in your home has nothing to do with gaining weight or experiencing a low sense of well-being. Click below for my tips!