🌿 Rediscover the Wild Ways Within
In a world that often pulls us away from our roots, Wild Ways is an invitation to return - to the body, to nature, to the deep well of vitality that lives within us all.
Together with Roots of Play, I’m excited to offer a retreat that isn’t just about movement, but about reclaiming our birthright as curious, adaptable, and deeply connected beings.
Why Wild Ways?
Movement as the Antidote to Disconnection
Pause for a moment:
What were we naturally selected to do?
What are we actually doing?
And on a daily basis, how do we compensate for not living as we were designed?
We live in times of profound disconnection - a “meaning crisis,” as John Vervaeke calls it, or the “human predicament,” in Frank Forencich’s words. Our ancient hardware - our bodies and playful spirits - struggle to interface with the alien environment of modern life. This “mismatch hypothesis” is at the root of so much of our longing and unease, and it’s a universal human challenge.
Meaning isn’t just in our heads; as Mark Johnson reminds us, it emerges through the interactions of our bodies with the structured world around us. When we lose this connection, we lose a vital sense of purpose and belonging.
Wild Ways is a response to this crisis. Here, movement becomes a path back to purpose, belonging, and vitality. We draw on the wisdom that meaning arises not from isolated effort, but from an ecology of practices - a rich web of movement, mindfulness, nature connection, dialogue, and community. We’ll explore not just new movements, but new ways of knowing (participatory, perspectival, procedural, and propositional), and seek those moments of flow where you feel utterly at home in your body and the world.
Inspired by the Evolve Move Play approach, Wild Ways helps you reconnect with the Five Fundamental Relationships:
Self: Finding internal harmony - body, mind, spirit, emotion.
Environment: Moving through the world with curiosity and adaptability.
Objects: Engaging skillfully and playfully with your surroundings.
Others: Building trust, empathy, and community through shared experience.
The Transcendent: Touching something larger - through awe, flow, or a sense of belonging to the web of life.
What You’ll Experience
At Wild Ways, we honour both the gentle and the wild, the reflective and the adventurous. Our retreat weaves together Yin and Yang practices - each designed to help you reconnect, recharge, and rediscover your full human potential.
Explore our practices (expand the plus signs):
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Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku):
Immerse yourself in the forest, connecting deeply with nature through all your senses, promoting relaxation and well-being.Exploring Nature and Ecology:
Dive into the local ecology, tree phenology, and regenerative practices, while learning about access rights.Ecosomatic Research:
Blend ecological and body awareness, fostering deeper connection through movement, exploration, and mindfulness in nature.Human and Landscape Art:
Integrate your form into the landscape through creative art practices.Mindfulness and Meditation:
Take time for inner reflection with guided mindfulness and meditation sessions.Somatic Exploration:
Journey into your inner world with somatic practices.Contact Improvisation:
Explore spontaneous, physical movement with others - balance, weight-sharing, and creative connection.Tuning into Listening:
Attune yourself to the trees, the land, and one another.Effortless Movement:
Discover how to move with minimal effort and maximum joy.Communication Skills:
Enhance your ability to navigate adversity and conflict with compassionate communication.Live Music and Campfire Time:
Gather around the fire for music, games, and connection under the stars.
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Natural Parkour:
Play with the elements and skills of natural parkour.Gorge Scrambling & Waterfall Jumping:
Climb through river gorges and leap into wild pools - challenge your limits and feel the thrill of freedom.Underwater Exploration:
Dive in and experience how your body interacts with the underwater world.Tree Movement:
Learn to move through the trees with skill and creativity.Martial Arts & Physical Contact:
Explore martial arts for strong hearts, deeper connections, and healthy boundaries.Fireside Ecstatic Dance:
Dance wildly by the fire - let yourself be moved by the woods.Climbing & Exploring Heights:
Test your limits in the heights of trees and cliffs.
The Wanderer: A Journey of Renewal
Wild Ways isn’t just an event - it’s a call to adventure. Here, you’re invited to step into the role of The Wanderer, embracing life’s collisions and transitions as invitations to grow and transform. This is a space for curiosity, experimentation, and community - a place to empty the box, refill it with what nourishes you, and set out anew.
The Embodied Path Forward
The challenges of modern life are real, but so is our capacity for renewal. By intentionally engaging in practices that align with our evolutionary design, we move from merely surviving in an alien world to thriving - cultivating a more meaningful, connected, and authentically human life.
Wild Ways is your invitation to rediscover your innate vitality, to fall more deeply in love with being human, and to write new stories of connection and possibility.
How to Join Us
Ready to begin?
Choose your ticket below—you’ll be taken to Roots of Play to complete your booking:
early-bird Pricing
All payments and booking details are handled by Roots of Play. For full event info and FAQs, check out the official Wild Ways page.
Questions or Just Curious?
Drop me a message if you want to chat, need more details, or just want to share what’s calling you to the wild.
Let’s wander together.
🌱
Ben