Name: MovNat Immersion: The Ultimate Natural Movement® Challenge (REVIEW) | John Sifferman
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MovNat Immersion: The Ultimate Natural Movement® Challenge (REVIEW) | John Sifferman

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Skip to content“Those of you who are still wearing your shirts, take them off…and your shorts and shoes, too.”It had been nearly five hours of continuous movement through the woods – climbing and jumping from trees, balancing at heights where a fall could seriously injure you, running sprints on gnarly trails (some of us barefoot), carrying huge logs, sneaking through the woods, climbing ropes up a cliff, crawling uphill…backwards. And doing non-stop Get Ups when we were “resting.”At this point, everyone was filthy. Most were weary. Some in the group were a little banged up. A few folks had dropped out.&nbsp;But those who remained were “all-in”- loving every minute of it – and ready for whatever came next.So, we stripped down, not knowing what was in store for us next. After another brisk run through fields and down hills, we found ourselves on the edge of a giant mud pit.“You’ve all earned this. Whatever I do, you do.”Then into the mud pit we went.But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.This Summer, I journeyed deep into the Green Mountains of beautiful Vermont – to the middle of nowhere – to spend a weekend at a MovNat Immersion event. MovNat calls this “the ultimate Natural Movement challenge” and this was the very first inaugural event of this type – where the focus wasn’t so much on learning new Natural Movement skills as it was on pushing your limits using the skills you’ve already acquired. It was a “trial by fire” of sorts, which is what perked my interest. Their website described it as a “Strong to be Helpful Rite of Passage.”They also warned us that:“This event is NOT for beginners, and you should be prepared to take on intense challenges that may push you beyond your perceived limits. We highly recommend obtaining sign-off from your doctor certifying that you are fit enough to engage in three days of strenuous exercise.”Sign me up!Not to spoil the end of the story, but I felt adequately challenged at this event. I had moments of doubt, faced very rational fears, and got dirtier than I have been in a long time (see photo below). I did things I’ve never attempted before, that literally days before, I thought I couldn’t possibly do – like making a roughly 10 foot broad jump to a wall that’s the same distance off the ground. I’ve never done anything like that before in my life! I took one look at that gap and said, “no way.” But when it came time to do it, I trusted my body, my training, and my teachers. I made a leap of faith, stuck the landing, and then did it six more times just for funsies.That was one of many “little victories” at this event.This 3-day MovNat Immersion challenge was one of the highlights of my year, and I’m thrilled to share the story with you. I hope you’ll be inspired to challenge yourself in some way, too – and maybe try a MovNat event like this someday. They have many different types of events for all skill levels, from beginners to crazy people, and everyone in between.First, a little background. I’ve been a MovNat enthusiast since I first attended a 5-Day Retreat with MovNat Founder, Erwan Le Corre, in 2009 (click here for my review of that retreat). This was one of the very first MovNat events in the USA – and it rocked my world, challenged my paradigms, and gave me a whole new perspective on health, fitness, movement, and other aspects of training and life.Since then, MovNat has always been a part of my training routine, in some form or another. And this year, I got my Level 1 and Level 2 MovNat certification (in January and August, respectively). I’ve also got my sights on the Level 3 cert in 2019, which is known for being quite difficult.&nbsp;I learned that nobody passed the Level 3 MovNat cert this year, which means I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me.Since MovNat has been a part of my training and life for awhile now, when I learned they’d be hosting a “challenge-type” event close to home, I decided it was time to pressure-test some of these skills I’ve been practicing all these years.They said the plan was to camp out on a farm, eat good food, and train outside all day, presumably with really cool people. Sounds like a dream vacation to me!But apart from the vague synopsis on the website, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into.In fact, one of my favorite aspects of this event was the mystery that surrounded it. All of the participants went into the event pretty blind. Even the assistant instructor, Danny Clark (i.e. the COO and Performance Director for MovNat), didn’t know many of the details. It was all in Erwan’s head.Yes, we knew Erwan would be teaching it, and that it would be all outdoor training, mostly in a natural environment (i.e. forest surrounding a farm), and that there would be a challenge on the third and last day. And also that it would be pretty hard. But we didn’t know what kinds of things we would be doing, where we’d be going, how long it would last, or if we would last, for that matter. It was this ever-present suspense that really added to the whole experience.Now, if you don’t know Erwan Le Corre – he’s a tall, lean, and muscular almost 50-year old Frenchman who moves like water. He’s been described as a modern day Tarzan, “the fittest man on Earth,” and an example of what humans are supposed to be able to do. His physical appearance is eclipsed by his love for teaching, compassion for others, and a rich life philosophy that permeates everything he does (and teaches).Well, we started the same way most MovNat events do – with the basics. After introductions, we gathered in a picturesque grassy field and spent a nice long session practicing ground movement. We did this, in part, to get warmed up and prepped for the work ahead, but Erwan was also evaluating our performance to see what kind of movers he was working with. This is also when he started dropping philosophical bombs on us, which continued all throughout the event. It’s his style. We’d be going through the movements, and he’d whip out this one-liner, and…*mind blown*After the warmup, we went into the woods and started playing on some unique structures that were built out of tree trunk lengths that had been lashed to standing trees (for balancing and climbing high above the ground). Think of it as a primitive jungle gym – with logs of various widths, textures, elevations, and slopes – lot’s of different variables to adapt to.So, we practiced hanging, swing ups, pop ups, balance walking, and other natural movements – moving quickly from one activity to the next except when a little more time was necessary on a certain movement.The second day of training followed a very similar format, except we worked on a lot more skills – lots of jumping, balancing, crawling, and climbing, among others, which I won’t get into details about. Because I think what you really want to hear about is the big mysterious challenge itself, which is what the whole event was leading up to.The morning of the challenge, everyone could sense the anxiety among the group. Nobody knew what was about to go down. An amazing breakfast was served (more on the food below), which served as a good distraction. Shortly after, we gathered around for Erwan to give us an idea of what we were in for.We learned we’d be performing a “follow the leader” course for “about 2-4 hours.” Some of it was planned (i.e. Erwan had picked out the spots and activities to occur there), and other parts would be improvised as we moved through nature. But it would involve a lot of diverse movements – some we had practiced, others we had not. No one would be left behind, but all of us would be pushed physically and mentally.Erwan told us that he had been “nice” for the first two days of the event, but that he might be a little more serious and firm during the challenge.He also made a point that he doesn’t care how well we perform, or whether we keep up with him (i.e. near the front of the pack), or if we fall behind. What mattered to him was that we pushed ourselves at whatever level we could, and that this was a very personal decision. He cautioned us to guard against the temptation of going easy, whenever the opportunity presented itself.In that spirit, I decided to run the course barefoot, which, to be honest, made even me a little nervous because I wasn’t sure what kind of terrain we’d be moving through. I had already decided to fast that day because that’s what we did at the retreat in 2009 (although, I did have a sip of water about halfway through). I also decided in advance that whenever I could push myself with relative safety, I would. That I wouldn’t merely try to survive it. But to really see what I’m made of out there, at least as much as I was able to.Erwan also gave us some rules to follow, one of which was that there would be no talking or “chit chat” during the challenge, unless Erwan prompted it. Otherwise, we were to move quietly, respectfully. To honor what was about to take place. This was unusual, but I found it added a very nice touch to the experience as a whole.Once the pep talk was over, we began by walking to the top of a hill, and following Erwan’s lead – we all rolled. The. Whole. Way. Down. I don’t think I’ve ever been that dizzy in my life. At the bottom, I could not walk in a straight line. Couldn’t do it. Heck, I could barely stand.And then we started running.What followed over the next 5 hours was almost non-stop movement in nature. We ran through the woods, crawled under low brush, and through dense vegetation. We climbed trees, balanced on trees, jumped from trees, vaulted over fallen trees. We even carried a tree. And we ran some more.Told ya.Suffice to say, we moved. A lot. Sometimes fast. Sometimes slow. But always mindfully, adaptively, and as efficiently as possible.Which brings us back to the mud pit around the 5-hour mark. After all that work, we were happier than pigs rolling around in that muck. Then we rubbed it all over full-body facial style. Because why not? Some people pay big bucks for stuff like this. And that officially concluded the challenge.After a swim in the pond to clean up, another hearty meal, and some heartfelt goodbyes, we returned to our normal lives – changed. Enlightened, inspired, empowered. Stronger. More aware. And with a new perspective. Of our true nature. Of what’s possible.For me, the highlight of this 3-day MovNat Immersion event was the final challenge itself. Not just the accomplishment of completing it, but literally every moment of it being akin to a flow-like experience. And not in some esoteric way – just simply being present and mindful of my environment, my friends, my body, and most importantly – my thoughts.I felt truly immersed in this experience 100%.Yes, there were definitely moments of difficulty – well beyond the usual burning muscles and being out of breath. I remember feeling a very tangible (and rational) fear during a couple of the jumps – when a mistake could be injurious. I had never made jumps like some of the ones we did that day until that day. So, like I said in the beginning, I felt adequately challenged, but not totally beat down. Really, the hardest part of this whole event was the suspense leading up to it.Physically, I was most challenged by some of the faster trail running. I wasn’t used to running that fast on technical trails while barefoot (and fatigued, etc.). So, I got pretty winded, and my vision went a little blurry at times. So, the risk of hurting a foot or ankle climbed a bit for awhile there because I was literally running faster than I could see, at times – up and down leaf-covered, rock-strewn trails and not-really-trails in the woods.The best part of the whole event was learning through experience how capable I truly am – not just in theory. Knowing the things I’m skilled at and other things I need to work on.My biggest takeaway was that we are capable of so much more than we think we are (if we’d only believe it!), which is something I’ve known for a long time, but got to experience first-hand in a big way.And therein lies the value of a course like this. Apart from the expert instruction, amazing venue, beautiful nature, wonderful people, gourmet food, and one-of-a-kind training opportunities, you learn all about yourself. Your abilities, your fears, your strengths and weaknesses, among other things.One of my biggest takeaways was that how we move affects how we think, and it reveals a lot about ourselves. We can walk, run, or even stand up with ease, with tension, like a warrior, or like a victim. Our body language affects not only how other people perceive us, but also our subconscious thoughts. Erwan did this thing where he demonstrated different ways of getting up from the ground and walking. First, he did it like your typical American would – straining, with poor posture, etc. Then he did it in a very relaxed, effortless way. Then he did what he calls the “Samurai” demo, where he looks like he’s going to war, evoking discipline and resolve. He gave other examples, too. But the point, or rather, ONE of the points, was that our movement literally shapes who we are.Another thing that stood out was that if you can control your breathing, you can control so many other things about your body (e.g. relaxation, stress response, recovery, etc.). That was probably the biggest difference in terms of my performance at this event compared to the one 9 years ago. My breath awareness and skill have improved a lot since then, and I definitely noticed during this course – making it a much more endurable and enjoyable experience.Another lesson was that you have to commit 100% to those things that are important to you. You need to be “all in.” About four hours into the challenge, Erwan told those of us who remained – in a simple, matter-of-fact way, with a straight face – that we were only halfway done. He seemed dead serious. And here we were expecting to be ALMOST done, about to head back for lunch, because he originally told us 2-4 hours. A long moment passed, and he said, “or maybe not.” But he encouraged us to confront the thoughts and feelings that came over us when faced with the possibility of continuing long after we originally planned for – after we were tired, dirty, hungry, and thirsty, etc. That in-and-of-itself was a valuable lesson. Are you willing to do what it takes, when it matters – no matter what – or aren’t you?One of the coolest aspects of this event (and of all 5 MovNat events I’ve attended to date) were the people who showed up. Students hailed from all over the USA, Canada, and Europe. I think there were actually just as many Europeans as there were local New Englanders. Everyone came from a different background, with different skill levels, but we were all there for the same reason – to challenge ourselves, learn, grow, experience something new, and get better. There was an instant bond among the group.Before we wrap up, I need to mention some things that really made this experience special. First of all, Erwan brought his A-game to this course. He was in his element. And while he was already a good teacher back in 2009, he’s become a truly great teacher since then. He delivered an abundance of down-to-Earth, practical advice and also much deeper, more profound wisdom for living what he calls a “high energy life.” An experience like this is about so much more than just movement or fitness or increasing your physical capability, and he made sure we all knew it.Another thing worth mentioning: MovNat did a wonderful job planning this event. It was run at a beautiful permaculture farm in Vermont. And when I say “farm,” I’m not sure that does it justice. We were in a slice of paradise. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of fields, forest, with mountain views, ponds, and all kinds of edible plants, which we were welcome to enjoy (e.g. apples, sea berries, etc.). The venue couldn’t have been better, and the hosts were tremendous. They made us feel right at home and took really good care of us (Thank you Ben and family!).The view where we stayed wasn’t too shabby either.Obviously, there’s a lot more that happened over the course of these three days. I haven’t even mentioned the campfire discussions that went real deep real fast, or the gourmet, locally sourced, all-natural and exquisitely prepared food, or many other things that made this event so special.I’ve intentionally left out many details about this incredible experience, out of respect to the mystery surrounding this event.And honestly, having gone through this challenge, I felt the same way after the retreat I attended in 2009. There’s no way to communicate to people what an experience like this is really like. A review like this doesn’t do it justice. You really have to experience it for yourself.And so, if this kind of thing perks your interest, I’d encourage you to commit to one.This was one of the highlights of my year. Yet another life-changing experience thanks to MovNat and the amazing people it attracts.MovNat does events like this every once in awhile, in various climates, and for people of different skill levels. This was more of an advanced level course, but they also have beginner level courses, too. There happens to be a retreat coming up in Mexico this January – just south of Cancun. This one is geared for beginners (i.e. nowhere near as challenging as the one I attended). It’s basically a movement-oriented vacation on the beach. You can take a look-see at the link below. Highly recommended!Click here to learn more about the next MovNat Immersion event.Thanks for reading!John SiffermanHealth-First Fitness CoachMovNat Certified TrainerP.S. Here’s the group photo (missing several folks, including some ladies who participated). I’m the guy with mud on his face.Disclaimer: Natural Movement and MovNat are registered trademarks of Erwan Le Corre. All photos provided courtesy of MovNat.Related Postswelcome backI have missed your articles. Very nice.

Skip to content“Those of you who are still wearing your shirts, take them off…and your shorts and shoes, too.”It had been nearly five hours of continuous movement through the woods – climbing and jumping from trees, balancing at heights where a fall could seriously injure you, running sprints on gnarly trails (some of us barefoot), carrying huge logs, sneaking through the woods, climbing ropes up a cliff, crawling uphill…backwards. And doing non-stop Get Ups when we were “resting.”At this point, everyone was filthy. Most were weary. Some in the group were a little banged up. A few folks had...

MovNat Immersion: The Ultimate Natural Movement® Challenge (REVIEW) | John Sifferman

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