Real People. Real Connection.
Authentic Dating.
From first dates to lasting relationships, learn the practices that foster trust, intimacy, and aliveness. The Authentic Dating Course guides you beyond the surface—into real, human, heart-opening connection.
The Authentic Dating Course: From Surface to Soul.
The Modern Dating World Is Broken
If dating has felt frustrating, disheartening, or like a constant cycle of disappointment… you’re far from alone. All of my dating coaching clients have been there — slogging through one flat, soul-less date after another, trying to stay hopeful while secretly wondering if something’s just wrong — with themselves, their dates, or the whole dating culture itself.
When we start our work together, I can see the despair in their eyes. I hear the same questions again and again: “Why does it feel so hard to meet someone who I can really connect with?” “Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?” “Where are all the people who want something real?”
The truth is — you deserve real connection. You're not broken, and you’re not asking for too much by wanting something meaningful.
What’s broken is the way the modern dating world has been set up — the assessing/interviewing mindset, the false promise of infinite choices, being sold on the idea that the perfect partner is out there, the endless swiping and ghosting that leaves you more disconnected than when you started.
Most people are dating from a place of disconnection — from themselves and from each other. But it doesn't, and shouldn't, have to be this way. We're actually all craving something real, something deeper than the surface that defines so many dates these days. We know it's possible, we know there is a better way.Â
And I'm here to show you that there absolutely is, and it's called Authentic Dating.
You’re Craving Something Real
Deep down, I'm guessing that you’re not just looking for someone to date — that you’re longing to meet someone with whom you can share real presence, intimacy, trust, and aliveness. The feeling of each of you being met in your full humanity, where both of you show up as your authentic selves — not some curated version you think will get a second date.
You’re ready for dating to feel like living, not performing. The Authentic Dating Course teaches you how.Â
This course teaches you how to ask the deeper questions, how to be fully seen and see others, how to navigate moments of tension with grace, how to bring more aliveness and depth to every step of connection — from the first message all the way to long-term relationship.
There’s a Different Way — and It Works
The Authentic Dating Course is a pathway back to your true, real, vulnerable self — and from that place, into dates and relationships where you can both feel truly seen and met.
You'll learn the skills, tools, and inner capacities that allow connection to grow and deepen naturally, in a way that is timeless and true to being human — not just once in a while, but consistently and intentionally.
You'll build trust, intimacy, and joy from the inside out — while also learning how to navigate rejection, misalignment, and heartbreak with integrity and self-respect.
And you’ll discover that dating can actually be enjoyable again — even magical — when you learn how to show up fully, and invite others to do the same.
You Are Already Ready for Real Relationship
This course is not about developing strategies or giving you tips and tricks. It is about becoming and trusting your own beautiful self, and inviting others to do the same.Â
Because dating isn’t about finding the “perfect” person — that person doesn't exist except in fantasies. It’s about discovering how to relate authentically, moment by moment, with the whole, real, already perfectly imperfect human that you and others are, so you can create relationships that are grounded, alive, and real.
If that speaks to you, then welcome... there's so much I want to share with you!
Meet Your Guide - Ryel Kestano
As the co-founder and ex-CEO of ART International, the world's largest authentic relating training company, a master workshop facilitator, and a dating and relationship coach for over 15 years, I’ve worked with thousands of individuals, couples, teams, and communities to guide them into deeper intimacy, better communication, and more trustable relationships.
I’ve spent years on the front lines of the authentic relating movement — teaching tools and practices that transform how people relate, connect, and fall in love. What really lights me up more than anything is helping people find connection in a way that feels like home to who they really are — not through performance or strategy, but through authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability.
My book, Authentic Relating: A Guide to Rich, Meaningful, Nourishing Relationships, has sold many thousands of copies around the world, and the nonprofit I co-founded, The Realness Project, continues its mission of bringing these life-changing tools and skills to inmates in prisons and jails. I hope you can tell that I am utterly dedicated to this work, and to bringing it to as many people in as many walks of life as possible.
This course is the culmination of everything I’ve learned about creating meaningful connection — through my own journey, through coaching, and through thousands of hours in workshops, circles, relationships, and real-life moments of heartbreak, transformation, and awe.
If you’re ready to step into a new way of dating — one rooted in truth, trust, and emotional aliveness — I’d be honored to guide you along this beautiful, life-changing path.
Ryel leading the first authentic relating training for inmates at the Boulder County Jail
Bonus Offering
Included in the Course: Monthly Live Q&A Calls with Ryel
Every month, I host a live Q&A call for all course members — this is a chance to bring your real questions, challenges, and insights into a shared space where we can slow down, unpack what's alive, and explore together.
These calls are interactive, educational, and community-oriented. I'll be sharing some specific skills and tools, responding to your questions, and facilitating the occasional exercise to further deepen your engagement with the practices.
Whether you're feeling stuck, confused, inspired, or just want to be in community with others walking the same path, these calls are a place to land, be heard, and feel connected. You can ask me anything, hear from others, and get live support to help you integrate what you’re learning into your actual dating life.
These calls are just one example of how committed I am to supporting you on your journey toward relational mastery and the full embodiment of these life-changing skills and tools.Â
What the The Authentic Dating Course Includes
The Authentic Dating Course is a self-paced journey through five carefully designed modules, each one building on the last to take you deeper into the art of relational connection.
Whether you’re new to dating, returning after time away, or ready to transform old patterns into deep and fulfilling relationships, this course meets you where you are — and guides you into lasting change.
Inside the course, you’ll get:
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23 immersive video lessons that build core skills and emotional fluency
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Practical exercises you can bring directly into your dates and conversations
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Guided meditations to cultivate presence, deep learning, and embodied awareness
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Downloadable resources and integration tools
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Monthly live Q&A calls with Ryel just for members
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A logical, intuitive flow that mirrors the natural arc of authentic connection
You’ll start by grounding into the foundations — slowing down, connecting to self, and understanding the flow of conversation — before diving into the five core practices of authentic dating. From there, you’ll explore key relational skills, advanced dynamics like polarity, boundaries, and shadow, and finally, how to transition into lasting, meaningful partnership. This is more than a dating course — it’s a path toward deeper connection, with yourself and with others. Come ready to grow, to stretch, and to experience dating in a whole new way.
Module 1
Module 1: Foundations of Authentic Dating
Lay the groundwork for authentic dating by learning how to slow down, connect to yourself, and create meaningful conversations and connections from the very first interaction.
Module 2
Module 2: The Five Practices of Authentic Dating
Explore the five essential practices that will transform the way you date and relate — from inner awareness to courageous communication.
Module 3
Module 3: Basic Skills of Authentic Dating
Build the fundamental relational skills that support deeper connection — presence, reflection, curiosity, context-setting, and more.
Module 4
Module 4: Advanced Skills of Authentic Dating
Expand your capacity to navigate the complex terrain of intimacy, conflict, transitions, polarity, and boundaries with grace and depth.
Module 5
Module 5: Conclusion
Celebrate your growth and chart the path forward into dating life fully equipped with transformational tools and embodied confidence.
Who This Course Is For:
This course is for you if...
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You’re tired of the merry-go-round of surface-level dating and want to go deeper into connection, intimacy, and aliveness
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You’re ready to build and embody real relationship skills that help you show up with more clarity, confidence, and heart
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You long for connection that feels authentic, where you can be fully seen, known, and loved, and invited others to experience the same
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You’re open to looking at your patterns and shadows — with compassion — and are willing to face what's there with courage
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You’re single, dating, or even in a relationship, and want to bring more intention, skill, and intimacy into your conversations and interactions
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You’re done with dating games and want to meet people who value honesty, growth, and emotional intelligence and maturity
And Who It's Not For:
This course might not be for you if...
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You’re looking for scripts, pickup lines, or manipulative strategies to "get" someone
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You want quick dating hacks instead of real change
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You’re not ready or willing to reflect on your part in your relationship dynamics
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You’re more interested in performing than in actually connecting
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You don’t believe that deep, nourishing, healthy love is possible (yet)
Wherever you are in your dating journey, you're welcome here.
I created this course to provide real value for everyone — all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. After sharing the essence of this work with many thousands of people from all walks of life, I have the utmost confidence that it will meet you right where you are — and guide you down a path of real transformation and meaningful impact.
If you're even a little curious, I encourage you to check out the free lesson and feel into whether this path is for you. There's no pressure — just an invitation.
Try a Free Lesson: Revealing and Curiosity
Get a taste of what the course has to offer with one of its most powerful lessons. In this free lesson on Revealing and Curiosity, you’ll learn the two core skills that unlock authentic connection and create deeper, more meaningful interactions — both on dates and in everyday life.
Try a Free LessonTestimonials
Read what previous and existing students and coaching clients have to say about my work and impact.
Corinne Dove, Holistic Therapist
Ryel’s teachings help break down communication and connection into tangible tools. I find myself coming back to the essential ingredients of slowing down, curiosity, and present moment contact time after time with my partner of seven years. We often find ourselves using his maps to help regain an understanding of where we are in a conversation and how to discover a new path forward together. This work facilitates my own experience of sovereignty and awareness, impacting every aspect of my relational life.
I have given Ryel's book to many of my friends who have been in all sorts of dating and relationships, from polyamory to monogamy and beyond. They often tell me that Ryel’s work has been instrumental in navigating their unique dynamics and cultivating deeper intimacy.
We all experience challenges in embodying authenticity and experiencing belonging in our relationships as adults. Ryel's work can be a critical guide in supporting you to build relationships where you feel free, expressed, alive, seen, and secure.
Kelby L. Kupersmid, Executive Coach
It's almost cliche that modern dating is awful--but it doesn't have to be. The Conscious Dating course offers a simple framework that has helped me have enriching conversations on dates, leading to an experience of intimacy & connection in what might otherwise have been dull encounters. Ryel's program is a great entry point to the principles of Authentic Relating in a dating context. I recommend it to anyone who is looking to experience more depth in their relationships -- romantic or otherwise.
Sophy Love, Professional Matchmaker
Ryel’s Authentic Dating Course is truly transformative. It offers a clear, grounded, and deeply human approach to dating that helps people show up authentically, feel seen and heard, and create real, nourishing connections.
As someone who has spent 15 years matchmaking and date coaching, I immediately recognized the depth and power of this work. After experiencing its impact in my own life, I invited Ryel to join my team as our lead relational and dating coach. Since then, his wisdom, heart, and skill have not only transformed my own relationships, but have reshaped the way my clients experience dating.
This practice is the antidote to what’s broken in modern dating. I can’t recommend Ryel's Authentic Dating Course highly enough. It won’t just change the way you date — it will change the way you show up for yourself and everyone in your life, with love, grace, and true authenticity.
Samantha Tang
As someone who craves deep, meaningful connection, I used to feel stuck trying to find love in today’s dating world just like everyone else. Ryel’s course completely shifted how I view intimacy, not just with others, but with myself. It helped me uncover the real roots of my desires, patterns, and blocks. That awareness was a game changer and was a catalyst for many of the healing and growth I have done. I stopped repeating the same painful cycles and started showing up with more clarity and confidence. This course didn’t just change my dating life. it sparked a much deeper journey of self discovery and expansion that continues to unfold every day
Anja Simic
My experience of Ryel as my coach was absolutely great. Ryel's teachings left me with a sense of ease, a soothed nervous system, and re-inspired for new pathways and endeavors that my heart's been calling for, but my mind's been getting in the way of.
I felt always encouraged to live and engage from a more authentic place, which helped me empower my relationship with myself and others. Ryel's work also taught me how to slow down more and move through discomfort more easily, gently and courageously and actually grasp the value of that practice.
The skills and tools of this practice helped me implement more transparent expression into my relationships, which always resulted in more intimacy, as well as more awareness about what I actually want and need and how to ask for it, and that made it always so much easier to perceive possibilities for more growth and depth instead of obstacles.
Ryel is an extremely empathic, supportive, genuine and amazing human being, who's full of precious insight, tools and has the ability to make one feel seen and heard. That's a huge gift.
Andrew Clarke
I’ve been fortunate to work with Ryel as a coach and guide in the world of relating over the last few years. Over time I’ve come to know that deeper relating are skills that can be learned; and Ryel is perhaps the most foremost teacher out there of these skills.
He is incredibly insightful, knowledgeable, and has a keen ability to see what others miss. Dating is more challenging than ever, with many of us craving a depth of connection that seems unavailable in our modern culture of apps and swiping.
Authentic Dating provides a roadmap to higher quality connection with potential partners, making dating far more enriching, rewarding and fun. These practices have shown me how to know potential partners—and myself—at a deeper level, creating a level of trust, intimacy and clarity that was absent in my previous relationships. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly.
Make Every Date Enlivening, Meaningful, and Deeply Nourishing
You're here because you're tired of small talk, surface-level conversations, and endless swiping that leads nowhere. You know there is something more, richer, deeper possible. And I'm here to tell you that there is absolutely is.
This course is your invitation into a whole new world of connection and intimacy — a new way to date that feels real, embodied, and alive.
You’ll learn how to connect with confidence, communicate authentically, and create relationships that are grounded in trust and intimacy, from the first date all the way through to lasting relationship.
Whether you're just starting to date again or seeking deeper connection in an existing relationship, this is the work that changes everything, that brings us from the surface and down to our soul.
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
I want you to feel 100% confident in enrolling. That’s why I'm offering a 30-day money-back guarantee — that's how much I believe in this work, and the impact it will have on your dating life.
If you complete the course and don’t feel like it made a meaningful difference in your dating life, just email me at
[email protected] for a full refund — no questions asked.
FAQs
What exactly is the Authentic Dating course?
Who is this course for?
Is this course for men, women, or couples?
Do I have to be using dating apps for this to be relevant?
How is the course structured?
How long does the course take to complete?
What if I don’t like it? Do you offer refunds?
Is this a live course? Do I get access to Ryel?
I’m nervous about being more vulnerable. Is this course going to push me too far out of my comfort zone?
I'm not ready to commit yet, is there a way to sample the course?
Closing Thoughts...
Dating isn’t just about finding the right person. It’s about becoming the version of you who can show up fully, love bravely, speak truthfully, and invite others to do the same while staying connected through it all.
If you’ve made it this far down the page, I imagine some part of you is longing for more — more depth, more ease, more honesty, more you in your dating life. That longing is sacred and I trust that it's brought you here for a reason.
The Authentic Dating course is here to honor that longing. To give you tools and practices that are real, grounded, and human. To help you move through the world — and into every date and on into the relationship beyond — with clarity, confidence, and open-hearted presence.
I created this course because I believe that every single one of us is capable of extraordinary connection, and that the world is better when we show up with more integrity, courage, and care.Â
If you’re ready to begin, I’d be honored to walk this path with you.
With love and trust in your journey,
— Ryel
