#82: Simon Thakur: Ancestral Movement - Physical Culture and the Human Evolution

Simon Thakur, founder of Ancestral Movement (@ancestralmovement, www.ancestralmovement.com) is on the Passive Hang! Ancestral Movement is Simon’s life work, practices and studies of human development through the lens of evolutionary biology, anthropology, comparative anatomy, neuroscience and whatever Simon has digested. And Simon has digested a lot! Originally from New Zealand, Simon has spent time all over the world learning different practices not only in the physical realm but also in many others, including, in his own words - “weird fantastic Druid cults”.

Simon runs Ancestral Movement camps, which I attended in April this year. It was a profoundly deep experience which affected my perspective and ability to, actually experience. I felt this sense of wonder of being alive, in a very connected way. Set in a forest beside a river nestled in a valley, with no sound of modern civilisation, we practised for 7 days with no distractions. I was exposed to many subjects, from barefoot walking and running technique to freestyle wrestling to African drumming to elemental contemplation practices. It was wild.

I had many notes from my journal, and in this podcast I ask Simon about some key ideas from the experience - aimed at both his material presented, but also - the way Simon presents - his teaching methodology. Key ideas which I continue referring to, for example are the concepts of “relaxing the mental fist”, and “silk reeling”, and inhabiting the “worm/fish body”.

For anyone interested in embodied practice, Simon is a must to learn from.

Check his material out at @ancestralmovement, www.ancestralmovement.com or on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/AncestralMovement - many great video explanations there!

#ancestralmovement #movement #movementculture #thepassivehang