What parts of this are true?
In March, I’m off to caveman boot camp in Thailand. I’ll climb up trees, crawl through the jungle, sprint across the beach, and eat the Paleo diet to reclaim hunter/gather fitness. The organization, MovNat, that conducts these trainings intrigues me with their return-to-your-roots philosophy. This course could shift my training, the arch of my book, and my concept of movement. As I prepare for my trip, I have so many questions.
Do we want to recreate the past? Personally, I’m very attached to modern plumbing and would really miss my iPhone. Looking back may help us navigate forward but we can’t actually go back in time. How does the study of the past address our current health crisis?
MovNat’s videos and blog appear to define hunter/gather movements in neutral or masculine terms. The define three movement categories: locomotive, manipulative and combative. Prior to the agricultural age, I wonder if daily activities were strictly delineated according to gender. What about the category of the more female actions of caretaking and therapeutic touch? During the course, I doubt that I will be required to care for any grandchildren. That seems appropriate for thirty-something Neanderthal lady.
Most importantly, I wonder how I’ll do! What did cavewomen wear for sports bras? Which of the skills will I be good at? Will I feel like the pudgy girl in gym class? Will I realize that I’m best designed to hunt and gather at Whole Foods?
Expect a report when I return at the end of March.
