Ancestral Movement

A two day intensive focusing on principles of intelligent movement: body awareness, whole-body connection, balance and stability, three-dimensional movement, injury rehab and antifragility, elasticity, spatial skills, ground mobility, intelligent strength, relaxation under pressure, “flow”, creativity, sensitivity and communication.

All topics will be explored with a range of solo movement practices, partner exercises and games. There will be a small amount of basic theory covering important practical elements of anatomy and physiology, the neuroscience of body awareness and pain, and evolutionary biology.

COST: $400 full/$300 concession

Half-price for anyone who has attended a full Ancestral Movement retreat or workshop with me in the last year (or who is booked into the upcoming retreat in January). Further concessions and/or payment plans are available by negotiation for anyone who needs them.

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL, spaces are limited: To book a spot, or make enquiries, please email simon.thakur@gmail.com

ABOUT ME (Simon Thakur):

I’m a teacher and practitioner of movement, long-time student of human biology and rehabilitation, meditator, general science nerd and evolutionary biology nut. I have a degree in Rehabilitation Science, an advanced diploma in Myotherapy, diplomas in remedial massage and Shiatsu/traditional Chinese medical massage, and a pile of certificates in all sorts of bodywork and physical training. I’ve studied Yoga, Chinese “internal” martial arts, and Capoeira Angola for years with some of the world’s best teachers, lived for close to ten years in Asia learning local languages and practicing full-time with the best teachers I could find, and am currently living in Canberra teaching a bit, working on a graduate degree in evolutionary biology and ecology, and studying Brazilian jujitsu in whatever spare time I get. I also run retreats in the bush in southeastern NSW where we do all sorts of nature-based movement and meditation type stuff and mix it up with bushcraft, basic wilderness survival, and other activities which might have something to do with “nature connection”, “rewilding”, “deep ecology” and so on.

A link to the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/212376346328323/

More information can be found at http://ancestralmovement.com/about/ or you can check out the facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/954751214582008/

Photo (by Heike Qualitz) is from our retreat a few years back with visiting guest teacher Shira Yaziv of Athletic Playground in Oakland, California.

JANUARY 19-27th. Eight days of camping in the beautiful forest in the Araluen valley, southeast NSW, next to the Deua river and Deua national park. A bit of time out to come back home to our bodies, to sink back into the landscape, learn all sorts of amazing physical and practical skills, meditate and maybe think a little bit about how we all got here and what we want to do with our lives.

As always we will have a basic schedule two or three full movement sessions together every day, as well as a 2-3 hour wilderness skills, arts and crafts session every afternoon, and some night time activities as well. Evolutionary movements, breathing and pranayama, jungle gym practice, capoeira parkour contact improv tai chi wrestling climbing tumbling balancing rock lifting juggling strength training injury rehabilitation acrobatics massage internal organ work martial arts meditation qigong and so forth will all be happening, and in the craft space and bushcraft times there’ll be wood carving, weaving, ceramics, tracking, making and throwing spears, archery, learning and finding edible and medicinal plants, fire-by-friction, making paints and dyes with plants clay rocks and ash, maybe some hide tanning or leather working, knife sharpening and safe effective knife usage workshops, wood chopping (lots of wood chopping) and all sorts of nature awareness activities.

Yes we really do do a lot of activities! but also everything is optional, there is plenty of time for rest, a little retreat library with lots of amazing books, hammocks, beautiful nature to explore and walk in, various activities of different intensities happening daily, and a general vibe of encouragement for doing things at your own pace. There’s also a beautiful river to swim in and a couple of bathtubs next to the river which we can light fires under, which is nice.

Other exciting news is that Craig Mallett (AKA “Craig”) is finally returning from overseas and Sydney adventures to be our guest teacher! So he’ll presumably be sharing awesome Daoist internal and external practices as well as natural parkour and various other made up stuff. Plus Janet Ranken and Harry Townsend will be doing things in the craft lands, one or two other guest teachers of movement and crafty stuff are still to be confirmed, and of course lots of the regular amazing crew will be there with all of their wealth of knowledge, skill, and good vibes.

Cost is $1200 (this does not include food). $900 for regulars or concessions, and again there will be several half-price ($600) spaces available for volunteers. Further concessions are available by negotiation for people who really need them, and also payment plans are totally fine for people who need to pay in instalments over time.

$400 deposits are required to save a spot. Numbers are strictly limited, and the last few have all booked out quite quickly and I had to turn a bunch of people away which was a bit sad, so don’t leave it to the last minute if you really want to come.

Great. For further enquiries or to book a spot please email me (Simon) at simon.thakur@gmail.com.

and of course you can check out some other stuff here on my website:
http://ancestralmovement.com/
http://ancestralmovement.com/about/
http://ancestralmovement.com/photo-gallery/

and the facebook event page, and ancestral movement facebook group if you’re not already there:

https://www.facebook.com/events/314099639431108/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/954751214582008/

Sweet as.

Spring Retreat 2018!

Yep, it’s that time again! Eight days of immersive practice and connection in the lush bush of southern NSW, by the river next to the national park full of wombats, kangaroos, birds and goannas, no phones, no clocks, all of the activities and lots of time to sink in, train hard, and deeply relax.

Movement practice, everything we can pack in, for every body type and every fitness level. From subtle body awareness to natural parkour, dance, games, wrestling, exploring evolutionary anatomy and movement to discover our inner monkeys lizards cats worms and fish, whole body mobility and strength to become just a little bit more like an octopus-gorilla, wrestling, contact improvisation, acrobalance, capoeira, acrobatics, martial arts from around the world, exercise rehabilitation for every part of the body, massage, rock lifting, climbing and balancing.

Internal awareness and meditation, traditional practices from various cultures, in-depth breathing practices, qigong, sensory awareness exercises, visualisation and contemplation methods to awaken and heal the body, supercharge our physical practices, transform the sense of self, embody four billion years of ancestry and reconnect with the natural world.

Anyone who is interested will have the opportunity to learn and participate in a range of “rewilding” nature connection practices and ancestral skills: making fire with friction, foraging for bush tucker, making tools or special objects with stone bone and wood, working hides, rope making and basket weaving using natural fibres, primitive pottery, primitive metallurgy on Harry’s bush forge, spear making and throwing, archery, tracking and stalking, natural camouflage, bird language, exploring the bush, and whatever else we can come up with.

Cost: $1200, $900 for concessions/regulars. There will also be a few $600 spots available for volunteer-participants, involving a small amount of extra responsibility for work and organising around the camp.

CONCESSIONS: Payment plans and further concessions are always available to people who genuinely need them, so that this beautiful event can remain accessible to people from all backgrounds at any level of income. Please note, this concession policy is not here so that people can simply “pay as they feel”, it is specifically for people on low incomes: students, artists, young families, people with disabilities or health issues, or others who need it. Please respect this policy, but also if you would love to come and need a concession please ask!

This is a minimal camping event with very little infrastructure (ie no electricity, no buildings, showers etc), and it is a drug and alcohol free event.

This retreat will fill up quickly! Bookings are essential, and a $400 deposit is required to reserve a spot.

For bookings and inquiries please contact simon.thakur@gmail.com

Here is the facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/403523093476317/

Also check the facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/954751214582008/
and for more about the training methods and philosophy check out the ancestral movement website: http://ancestralmovement.com/about/