Autumn Retreat is happening in Araluen, May 18-25th.

Seven days camping, learning, training and relaxing in the beautiful forest by the Deua river and national park in southern NSW.

Two or three full facilitated movement sessions each day, plus constant impromptu small sessions happening whenever there is a spare moment, evolutionary movements to rediscover the inner animal powers, balance climbing parkour and games on the massive bush jungle gym, internal yogic practices for opening up and strengthening all of the deepest parts of the body, spinal waves, spinal breathing, whole-body breathing, pranayama and qigong, wrestling, capoeira, martial arts of all sorts, contact improvisation, juggling and acrobatics, strength mobility and agility work, injury-proofing and rehabilitation, massage, meditation and deep relaxation, exercises for the senses, and the imagination.

Infused throughout the movement sessions will be discussions of ecology and evolutionary biology, comparative anatomy and physiology, the science of pain, injury and rehabilitation, the practical neuroscience of meditation, memory, emotion, nonverbal communication and embodiment.

Bushcraft, wilderness skills and nature-art workshops every afternoon, and ongoing once people start their projects. These sessions could include fire-by-friction, basketry, wood carving, ceramics, learning edible and medicinal plants, tracking, stalking, archery or spear-throwing, hide tanning or leather working, nature awareness skills, making paints, eco-printing, all depending on the weather, what resources are available in the landscape, and people’s inclinations at the time.

Of course there is also beautiful bush to explore, the retreat library full of amazing books, hammocks, hot fire baths, a clear river to swim in, and plenty of time to really deeply chill. We have no clocks and no phone reception on retreat.

Our exciting guest teacher this time is Lalita Ramona Yagnik, coming up from Melbourne to share the Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu! Ramona has trained extensively in India for many years, and is one of the first and only teachers of this art in Australia, plus she’s also an Ayurveda practitioner and naturopath. I’m excited.

We will also have another visit with Patricia Ellis, a Yuin elder from Moruya, sharing knowledge and culture of the Yuin people who have lived on the country for countless thousands of years. Other guest teachers include Janet Ranken and Harry Townsend, both sharing amazing skills and knowledge in the bushcraft and skills sessions and holding things down in the craft space every day. Further special guests still TBC.

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

$400 deposits are required to save a spot. Numbers are strictly limited, the last few have all booked out quickly so don’t leave it to the last minute if you really want to come.

For further enquiries or to book a spot please email simon.thakur@gmail.com

http://ancestralmovement.com/about/
http://ancestralmovement.com/photo-gallery/

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

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

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.