This Contact Improvisation* retreat is infused with Ryuta’s life research, SOTAI(祖体) “Ancestral Body” where you will be guided through embodiment practices of sensing, moving and resting your body as well as journaling, drawing, and vocalization.
SOTAI is a state of being that illuminates and honors “us” instead of “me”. “Us” may represent our human ancestors in our lineages and/or non-human ancestors such as fish, bacteria or nature. It is a liminal state that welcomes magic and the unknown which can decentralize our over-scrutinizing, analytical minds and radically reorient us into an experiential state.
SOTAI values deep rest. Flavored with subtle Japanese nuances and cultural concepts, this retreat will center resting to say goodbye to the western approach of “the more, the merrier”. Ryuta grew up in Japan, surrounded by the concept of MA(間) which is “pauses or the in-between spaces” in Japanese. From pauses between conversations to spaces created for nature to exist and speak, Ryuta’s facilitation will incorporate MA to counter our productivity-driven society.
Each day, we will have “integration time” which is designed for you to integrate your learning from our collective practices with your personal practice. What is it like to bring this awareness and sensibility into walking in the forest? How do you integrate remembering your non-human ancestors with your yoga practice? Can you rest as if you were an ancient rock that has been resting for millions of years? WildHeart is located on 45-acres of land including forest, fields, and a private lake. You are welcome to enjoy this abundance of the natural environment for your integration time as well as the rest of the retreat.
This offering is not limited to movers/dancers. Anyone can benefit from ancestral deep rest, which prepares you to show up to the world with more YOYUU(余裕), a Japanese word for “ease and spaciousness of the self”.
* “Contact Improvisation is an open-ended exploration of the kinaesthetic possibilities of bodies moving through contact. Sometimes wild and athletic, sometimes quiet and meditative, it is a form open to all bodies and enquiring minds.”
– definition by Ray Chung from Contactquarterly.com
