The live in ceremony is the greatest gift we can give ourselves.

When I first started working with Shawn I hadn't meditated for over two years due to the constant negative chatter in my brain that I couldn't seem to shake. In that time I had been through some major shifts with work, multiple moves, and several blows to my relationship with myself and my significant other. I had lost confidence in mysel

When I first started working with Shawn I hadn't meditated for over two years due to the constant negative chatter in my brain that I couldn't seem to shake. In that time I had been through some major shifts with work, multiple moves, and several blows to my relationship with myself and my significant other. I had lost confidence in myself and was people-pleasing consistently. Since I started to work with Shawn, doing daily practices has helped me to stand my ground and love myself again. I am not willing to compromise myself and my needs. I am half-way through the program and I can finally sit in meditation without the whirling thoughts and I am more present for myself and my loved ones. Building this daily practice has really made a difference in how I show up.

“When I entered The Ninja Within, I didn’t fully know what to expect — but in the first four weeks alone, everything began to shift. I developed a consistent daily meditation and breathwork practice, and with it came a sense of self-trust I hadn’t felt in a long time. I began noticing how busy my mind really was and learned to slow down, 

“When I entered The Ninja Within, I didn’t fully know what to expect — but in the first four weeks alone, everything began to shift. I developed a consistent daily meditation and breathwork practice, and with it came a sense of self-trust I hadn’t felt in a long time. I began noticing how busy my mind really was and learned to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to soften into patience and self-love. I started feeling more of my feelings instead of running from them.

Diving into the masculine — especially the Warrior archetype — taught me strength and discernment. I learned to choose my battles, to prepare myself emotionally and spiritually, and to stay grounded through the simplest yet most powerful tool: deep belly breathing. Counting the breath quieted my mind and helped me feel rooted in my body.

Shawn and The Ninja Within created a truly safe space for me to explore my daily practice, my deep wounds, my unconscious patterns, and the parts of myself I had ignored. The brotherhood, the accountability, and the love I felt during these sessions were genuine and powerful. It launched a realization of how precious this life really is. I became more aware of my strengths and weaknesses, more willing to feel my emotions, and much more grateful for the life I’m living. I’m blessed to have been given this gift, and I want to become the man I know I can be.

As we moved into weeks 5–8, the practices helped me slow down even more — getting me out of my head and into my heart and body. I felt my confidence grow as I committed to my daily rituals and mantras. The Warrior and Child archetypes revealed clarity, boundaries, and my own love for play. I found myself welcoming my shadow, reconnecting with curiosity, and experiencing true wonderment. And yes — I plan to continue these practices. They help me create space within myself, allowing everything I feel to be witnessed, honored, and transformed.

By the time we entered the final four weeks, I could feel how much The Ninja Within had reshaped my life. I gained alignment in my day-to-day world, in my relationships, and in my pursuit of the life of my dreams. The full 12 weeks gave me discipline, structure, and a toolkit that made my life feel more spacious, grounded, and supported.

Working through the Warrior, Child, Sage, and eventually stepping into the King, I discovered gifts and power within myself that I hadn’t seen clearly before. I also saw the immature versions of these archetypes — the parts of myself that needed responsibility, reflection, and integration. This gave me both positive and challenging aspects of myself to explore and appreciate.

The support I received from Shawn throughout the entire journey — especially in moments of urgency — was calm, genuine, and full of presence. Having that kind of support felt like having a true brother on the path with me. His guidance, curiosity, tools, and grounded presence held me in the moments I needed it most. I am forever grateful.

As we closed the container through the Sage and into the embodiment of the King, I began seeing life not as coincidence, but as coinciding — intentionally aligning. I felt a deeper commitment to my life, my relationships, and my purpose. I now feel more spacious, more creative, and more grounded in becoming a man who serves, transforms, loves, dreams, plays, and holds deep acceptance for himself and others.”

— Johnse
Graduate of The Ninja Within