The Comeback

A queer retreat in Sedona

January 9 - 13 2027

Come back to your senses.
Come back to nature.
Come back to community.
Come back to play.
Come back to yourself.

Come back to life.

I'm already in!

It’s time to come home, babe.

It's easy to get caught up in the routines, screens, responsibilities, and patterns of everyday life.

And then you realize you've been spending a lot of time managing around your life instead of actually being in it.

The Comeback is five days in Sedona designed to bring you back into contact with the things that make life feel good:

Your body.
Nature.
Other people.
Curiosity.
Pleasure.
Play.

We'll spend time outside, share good food, have real conversations, explore Sedona, laugh, rest, move, and let ourselves experience something special for a few days.

This isn’t another healing container.

You're not coming here because you're broken.

We're not going to spend five days analyzing your childhood or trying to fix every part of your life.

There will be depth. There will be honest conversations. There will be moments that move you.

But there will also be hiking, cold water, ridiculous conversations, good food, massages, games, fires, stars, and a lot of laughing.

The point isn't to become someone new.

It's to come back to the person who's already in there.

The energy

Fun. Sacred. Irreverent. Real.

Not serious but not shallow either.

This is the kind of space where something meaningful can happen in the middle of laughing your ass off.

I'll be there as your host and guide, holding the container, leading the experiences, and paying attention to what the group needs.

And Osito will be there too.

He's very good at his job - energy worker.

The journey

SUNDAY: ARRIVE

You land. The house is gorgeous. Just around golden hour and the light is divine.

Drop your bags and pour something delicious. Step outside and let the red rocks remind you that your problems are very, very small.

A chef prepared dinner is waiting for you. You didn't have to do a thing. That's the whole point. We sit together around the table for the first time. We open the container and we land together.

MONDAY: THE LAND

Coffee. Morning circle, movement and breath. Then we go to Oak Creek. Bare feet in cold water. The kind of reset that no amount of therapy can replicate. We hike. We plunge.

We let the land perform it’s alchemy.

Back to the house. Lunch. Rest. Then the massage therapist arrives. Bodywork because you deserve to be taken care of from every angle.

Evening circle. Dinner and stargazing. The real conversations start happening, the ones you didn't plan to have.

TUESDAY: THE VORTEX

We start slow. Morning circle. Breakfast. Then we go into the vortexes. If you've never experienced Sedona's energy on the land with intention, prepare yourself.

This isn't sightseeing. This is an activation. Our guide knows these lands intimately. She will take us on a meditative journey that tourists never get.

Back to the house. Rest. More massage time.

Evening, we go out for dinner. The whole crew. Good food, good laughs, real conversation. The kind of night that reminds you being alive is actually a privilege.

WEDNESDAY: THE DEPTH

We'll spend some time going deeper together with a Heart Circle and guided breath journey.

Afternoon - Lunch out together. A beautiful Sedona afternoon.

Come back to the house for an expertly guided sound journey that brings it all home. We rest, chill out… Then dinner, the fire, the stars and a perfect closing ceremony.

THURSDAY: THE COMEBACK

Morning coffee, our closing circle and breakfast together before our sweet goodbyes.

And then you head back into your life carrying whatever came alive while you were here.

This is for you if:

  • You've done the healing work and you're ready to actually live the results

  • You've been the responsible one for so long you've forgotten what fun feels like

  • You know there's more in you than what you've been showing

  • You want real brotherhood where no performance is required

  • You're ready to be the main character for a few days and see what that feels like

This is not for you if:

  • You want to be comfortable the whole time

  • You're looking for a vacation with some light inspiration sprinkled in

  • You're not ready to be seen

Schedule your application call

What’s included:

  • 4 nights lodging in a stunning private Sedona house

  • Chef prepared arrival dinner plus 3 additional chef meals - Daily breakfast and lunch

  • One group dinner out on the town

  • One group lunch out

  • Vortex tour and meditation journey with expert guide

  • Immersive sound journey with a potent channeler

  • Massage by in-house therapist

  • Surprise goodies

  • Virtual group connection call 1 week prior and group integration call 2 weeks after

  • All facilitated experiences with me - morning circles, coaching, heart circle, breathwork

  • Time on Sedona's land - Oak Creek, red rocks, silence, movement

  • Stargazing and fire nights

  • My dog, Osito, the energy worker

    NOT INCLUDED:

  • Flights

  • Transportation to and from Sedona (On our call I’ll recommend the shuttle service from the Phoenix airport - they will drop you directly at the house.)

ROOMS + INVESTMENT

All spots include four nights lodging, all meals, all retreat experiences, excursions, massage, and gift bag.

Payment plans available. Spots are limited and claimed in the order deposits are received.‍ ‍

VORTEX - Master King Private room. King bed. Two vanity en suite bathroom. Fireplace nook. Deck access. $3,500 THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

PORTAL - Lower King Private room. King bed. En suite shower bathroom. Direct patio access. Early bird: $3,100 | Regular: $3,300 THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

MESA - Upper King Private room. King bed. Shared bathroom. Early bird: $2,500 | Regular: $2,700 THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

CANYON - Upper Queen Private room. Queen bed. Shared bathroom. Early bird: $2,300 | Regular: $2,500 THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

RED ROCK - Lower Queen Private room. Queen bed. Shared bathroom. Early bird: $2,300 | Regular: $2,500 THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

DESERT MOON - Lower Twin Shared room. Two twin beds. En suite shower bathroom. Direct patio access. Available as a king conversion by request: $2,200 per person THIS ROOM HAS ONE SPOT LEFT

OAK CREEK - Upper Twin Shared room. Two twin beds. Shared bathroom. Shared patio with master. Regular: $2,000 per person THIS ROOM IS RESERVED

Early bird pricing available for the first two weeks of enrollment only. Shared king conversion available in any king room for two friends or a couple booking together at the shared twin rate.

HOW TO JOIN

THERE is CURRENTLY 1 SPOTS LEFT.

If you’re feeling this, let’s have a call and make sure it’s the right fit.

If it is - you’re in!

Schedule your call here

Testimonials:

“Two months after our retreat, I've had the most amount of clarity that l've ever had in my life. There are habits that I never thought I would break that are broken. There are dreams that I never had the balls to dream that I'm actually living. God, things are fucking awesome!”

- Morgan R

“I'm not even sure how to put the power of this experience into words. This retreat came at an incredibly intense moment full of emotional life changes. I moved through things that I've carried with me nearly all of my adult life, with such grace and support from both Rio and my "new family". I literally feel like I can finally leave the shame and hurt behind me and truly have a fresh start.”

-Michael P

“Rio holds this work with a beautiful combination of experience, depth, and care. There’s a steadiness in how he leads. What stood out to me was how intentional, inclusive, and grounded the space was, while fully embracing the joy and complexity of being a gay man, with a sense of celebration woven throughout the experience alongside the deeper work. The container Rio created supported both individual reflection and a shared sense of brotherhood and deep connection rooted in our lived experiences as gay men. Every detail of the retreat was handled with thoughtfulness and respect, which made it easy to settle in and be fully present.”

-Jeff V

“This retreat honestly changed my life. To be in a space with other men who are also committed to getting uncomfortable, and supporting each other was profound. It was unlike any experience I have ever had in my healing journey, hands down. The energy that was shared was so sacred, profound, and something I didn’t realize I needed so much: Connection with other gay men! Connection that was rooted in deep sharing, vulnerability, and just pure joy. I felt my inner child playing with everyone else in this glorious gay metaphorical sand box so to speak. Alongside the playing, I also felt safe to confront some deep wounds that through the strength of our group I was able to build the capacity to heal. This was an investment in myself that completely changed the trajectory of my journey and I can’t recommend it enough.”

- Ryan C

Your host + guide

Hey. I'm Rio.

I'm a shame alchemist, a Sedona dweller, a Scorpio who loves go to the most real corners of a conversation without flinching, a breathwork guide, an intuitive who leads with his gut.

I've been guiding folks back to themselves for 16 years. Not from a place of having it all figured out but from a place of having been through it.

Dark nights of the soul, bankruptcy, sexual shame, starting over. Moments of standing in the middle of my life not knowing who I was anymore.

All of it alchemized and turned into medicine.

That's what I do. I sit with men in the places they've never let anyone else go with them. The stuff they've never said out loud. The shame they've been carrying so long it started to feel like personality.

And I help them see, with joy, with irreverence, with zero interest in making it heavier than it needs to be - that what they've been hiding is actually the most interesting and alive thing about them.

This retreat is that work, on the land, in the most energetically potent landscape I've ever lived in. With a small group of men who are done being guests in their own lives.

I'll be holding the container, leading the circles, moving through the vortexes with you, sitting by the fire, telling the truth maybe more than you expected, and making sure every single moment of these four days feels like it was made for you.

My dog, Osito will also be there contributing his own brand of medicine.

We can't wait to meet you in Sedona!

FAQ’S

  • Yes. This particular gathering is for gay men. The work I do around shame, sexual energy, and identity is deeply informed by the specific experience of being a gay man in the world. That shared context creates a level of intimacy and understanding in the room that wouldn't exist otherwise.

  • Yes. You don't need any prior experience with retreats, breathwork, somatic work or any of it. You just need to be willing to show up honestly. Everything else I'll guide you through.

  • Moderate. We move at a pace that serves the work not a pace that proves anything. You don't need to be an athlete. You need to be willing to put your feet on the land.

  • It's intuitive so I won't know exactly until we're in it together. Generally expect morning circles, breathwork, somatic practices, heart centered group work, guided inner journeys and a lot of time on the land.

    What I can promise is that it will be specific to the men in the room not a generic curriculum.

  • No. I'm not a therapist and this isn't therapy.

    This is experiential transformation work. If you're in an acute mental health crisis this isn't the right container for you.

    If you've done therapeutic work and you're ready to actually live the results this is exactly the right place.

  • Mostly, yes. This is a sober-ish container - meaning alcohol isn't part of the experience at any point during the retreat including our dinners out.

    At the end of each day I will offer some CBD product for those who want them.

    The reason is simple - the work we're doing together goes deeper when the nervous system is clear.

    You'll feel the difference.

  • A private chef prepares three dinners including your arrival dinner and one lunch.

    We go out together for one lunch and one dinner.

    The rest of the breakfasts and lunches are communal. We cook together and keep it simple but delicious. Dietary needs and allergies can be accommodated, just let me know when you book.

  • Yes - two options depending on when you book.

    Book by August 17th - 3 equal payments

    Payment 1: Due at booking

    Payment 2: Due 30 days later

    Payment 3: Due 60 days later

    Book by September 17th - 2 equal payments

    Payment 1: Due at booking

    Payment 2: Due 30 days later

    After September 17th — full payment due at booking

    Pay in full at any time and receive early bird pricing regardless of when you book.

    Reach out directly to get started.

  • Due to the nature of planning and reservations all payments are non-refundable.

    If something comes up and you can't attend, your spot is transferable to someone I approve.

    You won't lose your investment - you'll pass it to someone who's ready.

    Questions? Reach out. I'm here.

Ready to feel audaciously alive?

Let's talk!