“I cannot thank Jon enough or even begin to sing the praises I have for him and his coaching. I encourage anyone on the fence (like I was) to get off and give Jon the chance to improve your overall life as he did mine. He will forever be my coach and friend.”
— Randy, 50, Buffalo, NY, Union Rep.
“The Bear Cuddle Party...it was a great to connect with other gay men in a non-sexual loving environment.
The atmosphere and the tone was friendly and welcoming. It was nice to explore connecting the body and spirit in a safe and caring way. They are an amazing group of men whom I enjoyed sharing a wonderful, and exceptional time.
It was great to meet and connect with everyone. And as it turns out, cuddling was exactly what I needed.”
— Anonymous, Cuddle Pile
"The cuddle pile is a relaxing & inclusive way to experience and share intimacy with other guys.
Jon takes the time to create a safe and welcoming space that allows everyone to relax and thoroughly enjoy the event. Will definitely be attending again!"
— Will, 30, NYC
"You'd be hard pressed to find a more supportive environment or better retreat leaders than the guys at Belly NYC.
Definitely worth the time and I highly recommend attending New Year, New Bear!"
— Tony, New Year New You
“A safe space. A loving space. Deeper connections.
This retreat was a great way for me to connect with other people, give and obtain support, and provide self-care and wellness. The facilitators were wonderful and skillful. I highly recommend this experience.”
— Ulises, 57, New Year New You
“The New Bear/New Year retreat was an amazing experience. The effort that Jon and Nirmal put towards creating and making this retreat possible was successful beyond my expectations.
My apprehension regarding group activities was appeased before the end of the first morning. Jon and Nirmal understand the role of touch for the process of healing and know how to carefully turn a group of strangers into a group of intimate acquaintances through a well arranged series of exercises, over the course of two days, that include, shared meals, yoga, meditation, sound therapy, large group and dyad discussions, cuddling, and exchanges of massage. Reflecting on our experiences, at the end of the retreat, one participant qualified his remarks by saying that he approached the end of his positive experience at New Bear/New Year with a sense of sadness. It was made clear by all participants that he spoke for the entire group, including Jon and Nirmal, who, I should add, know how to navigate the difficult terrain of being group leaders that are also participants in the retreat. “
— Manolo Estavillo, New Year New You
“Being a part of the Pawed NYC community & working with Coach Jon has been a game changer.
During the darker days of the COVID pandemic I came across the meditation group. This became my saving grace and brought light back into my heart. Being connected and supported daily in our Facebook community is a wonderful extension of group heart. Jon is a gifted leader/facilitator/friend. He’s created something special with the simple intention of making a difference. I can honestly say I’m a better person being a part of this ever growing den of love.”
— Jonhathan
