Transformative series of weekend retreats where I gained self knowledge and made lasting social connections. Definitely recommend.

Life Changing. I'm now 84 and so, so glad I found HAI and their workshops in the 1970's! HAI opened the world to me.

HAI Global's series of workshops on love, intimacy, and sexuality have been instrumental in my life in dismantling shame and opening me up to a world of love and acceptance. Their expert facilitators and skilled assistants create an atmosphere of safety and support to spread your wings and venture out of your comfort zone to create an authentic life and relationships. My life is so much richer because of HAI! read more

Amazing workshops where you can learn and practice acceptance for yourself and others, intimate sharing and listening, foundational skills for intimacy and love. If you've struggled to accept yourself, you'll be amazed at what you can fail from a single weekend. It's worth YEARS of therapy! read more

I have participated in most of the high workshops. They have changed my life. I have become a much more caring, open and effective communicator. I have moved through much of my trauma in the past, and my relationship with my wife is wonderful. The of other has given me lots of practice in living with my new skills. I cannot recommend this enough to anyone looking for more love and serenity in their life. read more

I love this organization so much! No other organizations offers what the Human Awareness Institute offers. It has become an integral part of my life, so much so that I volunteer (and pay to do so) to be on the assistants team for workshops. I love that I can help make people feel warm, safe and loved while they are learning about themselves and relating to others. There is so much profound healing, learning and growth in the room that I am amazed every single time. And when I go back and re-do the Level 1 - its amazing how much you can get from a workshop you are repeating. I am different each time, I am in a different place in my life and have had different experiences. The facilitators are truly world class and super down to earth and human right there with you. the food is delish, the retreat centers are wooded and beautiful, the hot tub is warm and welcoming and the people who show up - people who want to do better, to be better. The transformation is beautiful every single time! read more

HAI Global - The creek at Mandala Springs retreat center where I chose to take my break - right in the middle of the creek. - Adult Education Near Me - Santa Rosa, California

The workshop experiences, exercises and authentic conversations at Hai workshops are excellent. These experiences and skills helped me 'create the life I've wanted' by enabling me to know my deepest truths and to risk revealing them to close friends. I've witnessed levels of transparency here that have repeatedly warmed my heart and indirectly developed my abilities to listen and be empathetic at many levels of relationship. You are welcomed as you are. read more

I have been involved with HAI for many years - I am always impressed by the integrity, honesty, caring & kindness of the facilitators & the team that produces the workshops. Most of my friends have also attended HAI workshops. It gives us a common language, experience & understanding of sex, communication & good listening. read more

I've taken several weekend workshops with HAI Global, and each one has been a truly transformative experience. The facilitators create an atmosphere of deep emotional safety, allowing participants to explore, grow, and connect in meaningful ways. The attention to consent conversations as strong and people are really supported in whatever decision decisions they make for their personal journey and emotional safety. Through these workshops, I've gained lasting insights that have helped me cultivate closer, more loving relationships with my spouse, my children, and many people in my community. I'm deeply grateful for what I've learned, and I warmly recommend these workshops to anyone seeking genuine personal growth. read more

I have participated at numerous HAI workshops over the years, and those experiences have enriched my life deeply in many ways. That said, if I had to choose my single most profound and wonderful HAI workshop experience, I would choose the time I participated in a HAI "Level 1" workshop with my father who was 80 years old at the time. My father had always been a kind and loving father, but (presumably due to his upbringing) he never said the words "I love you" to me - nor had I learned to say those words to him. Then, during one of the Level 1 exercises, we were encouraged to see what it felt like to say "I love you" to our partner, and for the first time my father said those words to me and I said them to him. We discovered that it really felt good to express our love for one another out loud. So after the workshop ended, we decided to continue saying "I love you" to one another when we got together. Even more profoundly, a few years later when my father's Parkinson's disease got to the point that his memory was not so great and his memory loss was causing him frustration and grief, I could say to him "Dad, there are only two things you have to remember." And his face would light up and he would say "I remember: I love you and you love me." And that's the kind of gift that I received (and that I saw so many other participants receive in different ways) by participating in a HAI workshop. read more

I first experienced the "Love, Intimacy and Sexuality" workshops offered by the Human Awareness Institute in 1985. I learned a lot about choice - how we can choose and change choices at any time. I learned not only to accept other's choices for themselves but to honor them and enjoy them (even when their choices were different than my own). I learned to listen - to listen so well that my listening could heal myself and others. I experienced sexuality in ways that were no longer seemingly at war with religious doctrine or societal standards - but were honoring, guilt-free, beautiful, healing, and expansive. I felt more included, respected and understood by those who led the workshops and by most every participant. Over and over again, I experienced the richness of people revealing themselves in body and spirit in HAI's workshops. I loved particularly when I had judgements about someone, heard them speak from their deep and riveting experiences, and replaced my judgements with empathy and lasting respect. Everywhere in the world I have met people who have experienced those workshops. I found instant and very satisfying community because we had all learned to share ourselves more deeply and clearly. And make no mistake about it, I also learned to appreciate everyone else's journey in life much better than I would have been able to do before. Before diversity, equity, and inclusion became appreciated by many and greatly misunderstood by others, I experienced race, gender, sexual preference, body attributes, and very different backgrounds with refreshing and strengthening acceptance. Incredible to behold, to take in. And these workshops have never been a fixed entity. They have grown and changed right alongside new ways of thinking in the world. I would recommend these workshops to most anyone. I cannot think of any facet of my life which has not been positively affected by what I have experienced and learned in these workshops. read more

This title should be Human Sexual Institute. The activities at these retreats, meetings, social events have very little to do with "human awareness" and everything to do with sexuality between men and women, including polyamory. If you enjoy touching breasts, massaging in various places on your body by perfect strangers, always naked or semi naked, hugging and caressing in the name of "love" that has nothing to do with "love" except for sexual encounters, this group is for you. But beware. It truly is a cult. You must sign an agreement when you enter this "club" that you will not reveal the occurrences at the gatherings. That only those who have been initiated in their first encounter retreat can be a part of the group or their activities. Being clothed at these events is looked down upon. It is an amazing group, but a sexual club nonetheless! read more

3 1/2 Stars Where to begin . . . I do like the Human Awareness Institute [HAI] and the 9 primary workshops they offer called Love, Intimacy, and Sexuality [LIS] Levels 1-9. The founder, Stan Dale, was a tremendous visionary to have created these workshops in 1968. The Mission Statement: "The Human Awareness Institute [HAI] empowers individuals to be potent, loving, contributing human beings. HAI promotes personal growth and social evolution by replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love." "HAI aims to create a world where people live together in dignity, respect, understanding, trust, kindness, compassion, reverence, honesty, and love. The Human Awareness Institute is committed to creating a world where everyone wins." After completing LIS Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, I can unequivocally say the workshops themselves goes a long way to helping individual participants achieve alignment with HAI's stated mission. All the LIS workshops for Northern California are conducted at the Conference Center on the grounds of the Harbin Hot Springs Resort in Middletown, California (north of Napa County). HAI is an international organization that conducts LIS workshops throughout the U.S. and around the world. HAI workshops are not for the faint of heart, nor are they for shy people. LIS levels challenge your notion of self awareness. I think LIS largely are forums and a fervent medium for personal traumas, beliefs, and fears to be aired out and dealt with if you are brave enough. Whatever issue or psychology you may have surrounding Love, Intimacy, and Sexuality, there are numerous chances to work to resolve them in the various exercises and social interactions designed into the courses. As I personally have spent my entire lifetime developing my awareness and consciousness to cosmic heights and beyond, I had hoped in a vanguard socially progressive organization like HAI, there would be lofty souls of the spiritual ilk as well. There are in fact a few individuals that are; But, for the most part, I find the organization and community ONLY socially and sexually progressive. The HAI support community is riddled with individuals who have many conflicting patterns of double standards and reflect their limitations onto others, just like in the real world. The beautiful bubble of emotional safety and love created in every LIS workshop is not practiced in the "business operations" behind the scenes I have found. Just like in the outside world, there are individuals with power in HAI who can only make decisions with what skills and abilities they possess. Unfortunately, these mostly volunteer positions are filled with people who fall prey to the very ignorance that the HAI mission statement aims to rise above from. Another very positive part of HAI is their front office staff; The people who answer the phones, the people who really are the "Face of HAI" for first impressions. KerryAnn Laufer has always been friendly, kind, professional, and a very special person. If you call the Northern California office you will likely be fortunate to speak with KerryAnn. The HAI Global Headquarters/Northern California Office is in Petaluma, California, just next door to my home. HAI LIS Workshops -- 4 1/2 Stars Harbin Conference Center & Food -- 4 Stars HAI Facilitators -- 3 1/2 Stars HAI Assistant Community -- 1 1/2 Stars HAI Office -- 4 1/2 Stars What I do find exceptional about most HAI people and particularly about the HAI Facilitators (LIS Leaders and Directors of HAI) is their willingness to love and to express love. If there is one thing that I absolutely appreciate from anyone, it is affection, whether it be with words, eyes, touch, or action. There are no shortage of hugs at HAI . . . and I'm happy to get some of those. Review 0115 read more

The HAI level 1 workshop I attended was quite extra-ordinary in its ability to provide a space of Love and open people's hearts. I found the container very safe and respectful of people's boundaries. I am personally in a committed relationship, i.e. married, and never felt pushed in any way to go beyond agreements with my partner (who sent me but wasn't there). Most importantly, it was a space of Love and very well led. Immediately when I got there before the course even started I felt very positive, which surprised me because I had had a particularly hard day. The exercises are very thorough and everyone did them at the own comfort level. It is an intense experience; it is a Love fest... which can be challenging. I can honestly say it was one of the most powerful experiences in my life and I couldn't recommend it enough! read more

I'm in my 26th year with HAI and its been a haven of growth, love and connection. My mantra entering each weekend has been 'more than I can possibly imagine'. Now, I will add that gifts come in ALL kinds of experiences. Knowing I asked for the growth keeps me grounded and responsible for what been gifted me before, during and after the workshop. HAI has been an extraordinary experience I could have only gotten here. I'm so grateful to have known and loved Stan and Helen Dale. I miss them deeply. read more

This review requires nuance, reflecting the extreme benefit and extreme harm I have experienced within the Human Awareness' Institute's container: Within the Workshops: Quite frankly, I don't know of a better environment in the world to learn about and practice a number of the more important skills and habits needed for healthy relationships to work. The skill at facilitation, sensitivity and service of the team is unparalleled, to my knowledge. I recommend that everyone consider taking a level one workshop and assess the value for them. Workshop Preparation: I recommend that you visit a participant resource area I have created prior to attending the workshops. This is what would have helped me. If it helps you, great: www.HumanAwarenessInstitute.org Working with the Facilitators Outside of Workshop: My relationships in "therapy" with Peter Sandhill and other facilitators attempting to heal the wounds created in that work is difficult to categorize because of the depth of it's impact. I trusted them to hold the most painful, scary, traumatic moments of my life. I learned what trauma was (I always thought it was a war-time phenomena and did not apply to me) by finding myself in a life-threatening situation of not being able to drive safely induced by Peter Sandhill's handling and negligence of my first psychedelic experience, which was amplified as every HAI facilitator went into self-preservation mode at my expense when I really needed professionals in the arena of trauma, win-win and relationship. Unable to find effective western therapy for this terrain, I find myself on a very deep dive into the domains of trauma, understanding, psychology and advocacy for the many people who are suffering without support within the terrain this experience has opened up. Having created more than 300 hours of video footage to both witness and honor this terrain with understanding, I've put a few hours of the more significant footage here, based on what I would have found most helpful for me personally before I took my first workshop or worked with the facilitators one-on-one: www.HumanAwarenessInstitute.org This site is my own volunteer effort which I've created specifically to help prepare you for a more rewarding relationship with HAI and it contains material the facilitators have gone to some lengths to keep secret, which is very unhealthy for a trauma survivor who needs to rely more on stable community and relationships. I give the workshops a 4.5 rating and the facilitators a 2 rating for their ethics, skills and choices to betray their roles as teachers, therapists, community leaders and facilitators in areas where short-term personal interests conflicted with the actions that any organization with HAI's mission requires of it's top people. Thank you for taking the time to learn more and stay safe! read more

This organization pays meticulous attention to quality. The weekend workshops offer opportunities to reflect on one's life at a pace that is gentle and depth that is challenging. Right from the start and on each weekend I have experienced, I have been impressed with the repeated teaching of consent asking, stating and boundary choices. A lot of other organizations could benefit from this level of awareness and reinforcement. In addition, the communication skills, self awareness skills, and other awareness skills that are woven into the weekends have benefitted me both personally and professionally. read more

I have attended HAI's in-person weekend residential workshops since 2003 and it remains some of the most potent and powerfully life changing work I have ever done. My healthy relationship to my body, to my sexuality, and to the concept of intimacy in general is largely due to the work I have done in the 7 levels of workshops over the years. I remain active in the HAI community and became a volunteer with them after witnessing how many people's lives were changed in profound ways - over the course of a 48 hour workshop! HAI workshops are for anyone that wants to shift away from shame, to acceptance and away from fear/judgement to love. read more

Generally a fun group of people to hang out with but after going to a few of their workshops I find that I enjoy sex and my sexuality a lot less than I did before. Before I went to HAI, sex was really fun and playful for me, but so many weird and inappropriate things happened at their workshops that now I find myself not enjoying sex and being timid and reserved even with my loving, gentle long-term partner. HAI seems great in theory but I'm not sure it's actually helping people much in practice. read more

I am beyond grateful for the transformation that has occurred inside me and in my life as a result of the deep personal growth work that I've done with the Human Awareness Institute (HAI). When I walked into my first HAI workshop, I felt, as I had always felt, very small, very disempowered, to be honest, pretty lonely, and, in general, at a loss as to what I wanted for myself, and certainly how to make it happen. There is so much warmth and loving energy at the workshops, so much support and attention paid, the facilitators are all incredibly skilled, such that it feels very safe in that environment to explore our patterns; the way we think about things; the way we connect with other people; and, most importantly, our relationship with ourselves. Having now participated in all nine levels of the workshops, I hardly recognize myself from the person who walked in that first day. It is nothing short of miraculous that I now feel confident, joyful, in touch with who I really am and what's important to me ... that I've learned to open my heart so that I can now truly love and I have the willingness to receive love in a way that seemed impossible to me before. I've learned how to stand up for myself, to state and honor my boundaries, to make conscious choices, and to allow myself to feel and express my true self with freedom and passion. The workshops are also a lot of fun, full of exercises that allow us to feel, on an experiential level, what respect is; what it's like to be treated with compassion, without judgment; to listen to each other and to be heard; to use communication styles that are effective, honoring and loving. I have met incredibly wonderful people in these workshops, because most people who attend are there to learn how to feel better in the world and, in turn, make the world a better place, one interaction after another. The facilitators of the workshops are masterful, wise, compassionate and loving. They have and continue to be my greatest teachers. The support team (those who help out at workshops) is solid and acutely present. The food is fabulous. The venues sit amid staggering natural beauty. I have made life long friends and continue to discover my potential. I can't recommend enough the workshops of the Human Awareness Institute. I feel blessed to have found them. read more

These workshops completely changed my life! This was the California I came to find. I learned more about myself in them than I ever have anywhere else. The communication skills I have learned changed my personal relationships and my business relationships. I am a 100% better person because of these new insights. And I met my new life partner here! Workshops are located throughout the SF Bay Area and throughout the world. Update 10/16/2006: I just came back from the most amazing workshop! Learning to clearly speak my mind, to recognize which parts of my mind were self-limitng and which parts were open to new growth, learning to relate to other people in an open, loving, nonjudgemental way, remembering to see the divinity in everyone, were some of the lessons and reminders I drew from the experience. The workshops have helped me communicate, have changed my way of looking at myself and other people, and have given me confidence and serenity. I am feeling full of praise and gratitude today! read more

The Human Awareness Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization originally founded by Stan Dale in 1968. Ever since, HAI has been honing, practising and communicating a rich curriculum of life skills centered on love, intimacy and sexuality, in warmly, safe, beautiful, relaxing environments all over the world, now centered on its main site at Harbin Hot Springs in northern California. The format of the workshops are week-end retreats spanning Friday night through Sunday night, with many participants choosing to stay over to have breakfast together, off-workshop, on Monday morning too. As a former startup geek surfacing in Silicon Valley, I see HAI as one of its best kept secrets, a rich gem in its crown and a recipe for disrupting lacking foundational beliefs of western society at large. The scope and agenda of HAI is well captured by its mission statement, without being daunting to you as a workshop participant - to the extent it does change the world, it does so one person at a time - through that person's own growth, at choice: "The Human Awareness Institute (HAI) empowers individuals to be potent, loving, contributing human beings. HAI promotes personal growth and social evolution by replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love. HAI aims to create a world where people live together in dignity, respect, understanding, trust, kindness, compassion, reverence, honesty and love. The Human Awareness Institute is committed to creating a world where everyone wins." HAI is a magnet for those emotionally affluent who invest in their beliefs, emotions, and humanity, interested in the power of connecting at all levels, provides, models and conveys the tools - and community - for doing so at deeper levels. In a perhaps-unwise move, the community calls its by now a dozen workshops "levels", incidentally - which I believe, combined with the working and well-reasoned asks of protecting the integrity of other participants, and the detailed content of the workshops, sometimes lends them an air of being a sect to outsiders. Little could be further from the truth. There is an art to replacing ignorance and fear with awareness and love, and having done all nine Love, Intimacy and Sexuality workshops, their two couples workshops and a tenth not-yet-in-the-series one, I would say that not having false beliefs about understanding what the contents are, how I would react to it, or if I could embrace, integrate and achieve any of it in my life or on site is core to making it work for everybody. Not even needing to know what that ignorance and fear was in myself upfront is a mere side bonus. Over the years since I discovered HAI in 2009, HAI has been a go-to zero-planning-overhead kind of recurring vacation I recharge my batteries in, whenever I need to fill up and feel like surrounding myself with sufi wisdom, love, and really attuned people. The only logistics I need to figure out are freeing up a weekend, getting myself there and back, and through the generosity and helpfulness of the community, the latter two can often be bridged fairly easy, joining other participants or even workshop assistants for the ride, whether I have my own means of transportation or not. I can trace notable parts of my core life skills of today to the loving temporary autonomous zone all the HAI workshops establish for growth and life apprenticeship, and with everyone I care about the same opportunity. read more

At this point, it sounds trite to say "HAI changed my life," but it did--utterly and completely. I went to HAI L1 at the request of my husband--I had been progressively withdrawing from him--from all touch, sexual activity, etc., and I really didn't know why. He had attended a L1 and thought it might help us reconnect. What an understatement! My first workshop blew my heart wide open--though it did take me 2.5 years to return--my feelings scared me! I have attended over 18 workshops since. What I learned through attending workshops was how I had stunted growth as a sexual person because I carried years of pain around unhealed childhood sex abuse and date rape; add being raised in a Catholic home, and my pain and shame were driving me away from the one person who loved and cherished me--and who wanted to connect with me. In attending workshops--first with my husband--then on my own, I began to heal. I learned that I could say "no" to an exercise and be honored, supported and valued for having the strength to stand in my "no." I could participate in exercises to whatever level I wanted and feel safe. HAI allowed me to see how much I really want connection and intimacy. It helped my husband and I rebuild our connectivity and passion. Most importantly, along with mindfulness meditation, it helped me learn how to stay present in my body when I am with my husband, and to be able to experience sexual pleasure--without the shame. I now define myself as a sex-positive sex abuse survivor, and have left a career in higher education administration to become a Certified Sex Coach, sex-positive educator, and blogger. I do public speaking engagements and am more grounded, authentic and strong than I ever have been. I could not have done this without HAI, its expert and compassionate facilitators, and its team of interns and assistants. read more

I previously gave HAI a one-star review about the level one I did in 2015. After much encouragement from HAI friends, I decided to try level two and WOW! I want to give kudos to the organization for a much greater awareness of consent and for revamping their exercises in light of the #metoo movement. I felt team members were much better trained and that there was a truly agape love that pervaded. The exercises were profound and moving and the facilitation by Peter and Felicia was not only skillful but open-hearted. Love truly prevailed all weekend and resulted in immediate changes in my life, including disconnecting from the poisonously divisive world of Facebook. I feel like I found my tribe and look forward to taking more workshops. NB: If you are disabled, do not hesitate to take care of yourself and let the leaders and other participants know if you need accommodations such as a chair. read more

HAI has changed my life in so many ways it's hard to recall them all. Let me begin though... I was very scared when I first went to HAI. I was hoping that I would grow and learn many new things. However, it meant that I would become someone I didn't know yet. Terrifying! It was true. I grew in ways I never knew I would: confidence, self-love, ease in relationships, communication skills, knowing who I am, making good choices for myself, saying No when I meant it, loving others without losing myself, and allowing others their path and choices! The only thing that didn't happen... I didn't become someone I couldn't love, couldn't like, or couldn't relate to like I had feared! I didn't become someone other couldn't love or like or relate to either like I had feared! Everyone's most basic desire is to be loved. When I learned that at HAI, in so many ways I became more lovable, relatable, and loved. A lot of this was my own work. However, HAI created a very very very safe, supportive, loving and inclusive environment. Every time I didn't know what to do... how to handle a situation at HAI, someone was there with me, loving me, accepting me where I was and asking me if they could be of service to me somehow. All my choices were respected even when I thought I would be difficult to accommodate. I had an awakening... I wasn't a difficult person. I just wanted to feel safe before I took a risk. The only thing missing for me to grow was that safe, supportive environment! I had all the guts, inner wisdom and power in the world to make the changes. So if you are ready to grow, or maybe you feel like there is something missing in your life or even you want something new, give HAI a go. read more

HAI does incredible work around heart and sensuality. These are intense and beautiful workshops. They hold a very safe space and always honor the individual choice of the participants. I have benefited tremendously from the four workshops I have done with HAI. read more

I attended my first HAI workshop during a time of personal crisis. The subject matter of Love, Intimacy, and Sexuality fit the description of the areas in which I needed growth and guidance I attended a 2-hour mini-workshop to check them out. I highly recommend this. The exercises were different and challenging for me. I was out of my comfort zone. I felt awkward and out of place at what to me seemed like woo woo, touchy feely stuff. AND it felt like it was just what I wanted and needed at the time. The first weekend workshop I attended was very powerful and difficult. I found release, comfort, and support. I am thankful that I took a chance and attended as it started me on an exciting journey of growth, healing, and connection. I have now completed 5 weekend workshops. Each workshop was heart opening, mind opening, and challenging its own way. I had many wonderful experiences and a few difficult ones. There were some times when I felt like I had had enough. It is a lot like life in that way. There is always something to learn from every activity. Most of the people I interacted with during the workshop seemed to be the right person at the right time for me. I am still amazed at how that worked. The facilitators are very insightful. They provide very thoughtful guidance and support. HAI has made a positive and lasting impact on me. One of the greatest benefits is the close friendships based on love, compassion, and acceptance that I have co-created. read more

To put things in perspective, I have been a Clinical Psychologist for 24 years this December. Personal growth, and trying to undo the dysfunction that I experienced myself, growing-up in an alcoholic family, are my life mission. I had the privilege to work with the greatest of the great, I did workshops with Viktor Frankl, the Polsters, Alexander Lowen, Claudio Naranjo, Bob Ellis, Abraham Beck, Salvador Minuchin, and the list goes on, and on... (I have been extremely fortunate, and relentless in my search for knowledge, and growth!). H.A.I. has a context of respect, consent, and honesty. They create an environment in which unprecedented levels of self-acceptance, and empowerement can occur. Hearts truly DO open-up in the workshops, and a new relationship with our bodies, an area that I have found most personal development proposals tend to neglect. I absolutely recommend HAI, and I hope all my children do the workshops. I am too aware of the damage that my disowned parts inflicted, and I know HAI offers a wonderful opportunity for healing!! read more

I was an isolated wallflower until I went to the Human Awareness Institute workshops. Through that experience my life was transformed. I learned relationship skills that enriched both my personal and professional life. I was enabled to find and retain my life partner for over 20 years. Before taking the workshops I lived my life in black and white, whereas now I live it in color! read more

They have incredibly great workshops on love , sensuality and communication. I highly recommend them. Not only are they great workshops , but they are also safe and supportive. You can also sign up for a free mini-workshop of a few hours just to see what they are like. Just go to their web site "Human Awareness Institute". read more

Hug the world... make it a better place. That pretty much describes a Hai's single event. I came there because a girlfriend found her boyfriend there so was curious. I heard it was a bit new-agey and touchy feely, but was very interested and curious. What I found were 100 men and women, mostly women, very few men my age- 35 (I am no spring chicken!), most at least 15 years older. The exercises in the event asked for choosing a partner, sharing personal info to the degree you were comfortable and hugging and caressing faces and hair. Problem was, men the age of my father approached me all the time for a hug, and it gave me an unpleasant vibe. Yes you are aloud to say 'no' and in life and on the internet dating sites you can say so politely or just ignore these suitors, but in person and with a license to hug, I found myself dodging folks right left and center, and then feeling like I am the only prude in the room that doesn't want to hug people that don't attract me. (And I paid $25 for that?!) Guess I am not emotionally evolved enough... In short, the exercises are cool, it's not Hai's fault that some people with creepy vibes come. But it would be wise to divide these events by ages. I meet the same 55-60 year old single guys at every event, and I would really like to meet someone my own age, maximum a decade older, thanks. But... I know Hai will never divide people by ages, they don't think it matters and they have some couples among the organizers with staggering age differences as well (and I am truly happy for that, but it doesn't work for all). Anyway, learned something about myself, I don't have a reactive attachment disorder I don't want to hug indiscriminately; I think it's ok to be very selective and hug only those who I find attractive. And maybe that was worth the 25 bucks. read more