AHS 2012 — Recap
August 14, 2012
This past weekend I attended the 2nd annual Ancestral Health Symposium at Harvard University. I noticed that it hasn’t progressed since last year. Well other than providing us with delicious catered lunches, vender tables with scrumptious organic chocolate and beef jerky:), awesome coffee from a local coffee shop around Harvard Square each day– as a health symposium it’s regressed compared to last years symposium. There are only a quarter amount of cavemen and women here compared to the 1st annual AHS, very few movement lectures and physical educaters, to much sitting and slouching and not enough interaction and movement. Health is about clean eating, physical activity, cooperative social interaction, a positive mindset… along with a list of other things. We had to move before we ate right?!
The AHS organization has the paleolithic eating down paf but it’s very repetitive. Everyone is very well spoken but I feel like they are preaching what they want to preach and not speaking about what we as people can relate to. There are some awesome plans for the future that Robb Wolf has about creating an insurance company… absolutely genius, google him:), find him on twitter and FOLLOW him! His subject was for the future and for we as the people. There were some speakers that simply were up there to promote their business and even just talk about themselves for 40 minutes to an hour.. Which lead to very few minutes of Q’s and A’s and minimal interaction and feedback. To be quite frank this symposium wasn’t very Paleo.
If this symposium is going to grow and influence, it needs range. There are very few physical educators here and a lot of foodies. Some “paleo” some not so much. Some claim they are “paleo” but don’t have a BMI that matches. A nutritionist that’s here isn’t “paleo” but looks like she would be– which means she MOVES. We’ve got a few of the top “fitness guru’s” here speaking, relating performance to what you eat.. which is totally awesome and I agree that it has a huge effect! You’ve got both… food and movement! Wait a minute though… do they practice what they preach? They don’t look like it. A friend and huge influence of mine is 60+ years young moves and has a much more attractive physique than these top trainers speaking. His name is Frank Forencich, he spoke about “tribe”, cooperativeness, and energy between us brother’s and sisters. His speech touched everyones soul in the room and it started with his famous “flutter kicks”. In the middle of his talk I got a wave of joy and a little teary eyed:)… Then I lost it when someone came up to the microphone and made the comment to him “Being here has touched my brain but I wanna’ thank you for touching my heart”.
I met some really cool peeps, got to play some basketball, and EAT a bunch of good food. In the future I’d like to see the Ancestral Health Symposium be what it’s capable of being. There should be discussions about movement and play, holistic approaches to healing, positive mindset, life-style, food, ACTIVITY, etc. Let’s interact as a tribe and express our like minded approaches of health and fitness through touch, feel, and sight so we are more integrated with one another. By doing so I think everyone would benefit and retain the symposium a lot easier and more efficient for a whole new level of idea’s for future ACTION.
-Brandon Sewall
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I almost sustained serious injury today jumping from tree to tree about fifteen feet off the ground in the woods at a nature preserve in Gainesville, FL. It had been raining and my grip couldn’t handle the wet tree bark on impact when I tried to secure myself and land the jump. Thanks to Brandon Sewall and Primitive Movement – I didn’t fall awkwardly and get injured, instead I instinctually focused on landing balanced, with a slight bend in the knees into a forward roll to break the fall. Luckily it worked out and I just popped up and kept moving unscathed. This is proof that with practice and focus, his approach builds a smart body and instinctual behaviors that will help one react to all of life’s everyday surprises. Whether you’re falling from a tree or about to get hit buy a bus in New York City, training with Brandon will equip you with the tools to build a strong intelligent body that will help you in lifes unexpected situations. Thank you Brandon and Primitive Movement. #primalallday
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Well said. I attended AHS ’12 and had similar observations. The event was pretty stocked with speakers and events which translated into sedentary action for most folks from 8:30-6. Although there were some “twitchy” peeps who stood up and stretched out during the talks, there was minimal physical activity.
The question that interests me is how this affects the response and the reaction of the community. Are folks more willing to engage, argue, and enlighten while sedentary? Where does that “activism” go? And although by the third day the group was becoming more vocal and organizational, could it have been catalyzed by more movement?
I think theres something to retention and activity. What I mean is that if there was more movement, sport, or god forbid, play, the response of the community, the “tribe” would have been more positive, more engaging, active and progressive.
Perhaps in the future, the event could be mobile. Instead of all in one place, maybe moving from one center to another would’ve been interesting and could’ve kept people more engaged. When I was going into the event, I had half a thought to propose a challenge to all cavemen and women to see who can hold the longest wall squat. Or maybe organize a pick up b-ball game before lunch? God knows we should earn that meat, and its truly in line with our physiology – Professor Lieberman himself explained the merit of physical exertion for food reward
The food was great for sure, but I was kind of hoping to get some seafood, considering Boston is on the coast, but there was none. For one thing, lunch both days were better than the barefoot banquet, which served the guests burger sliders with nice fat buns?! SO I took my GF and we peace’d, and had some great bone marrow and raw clams at the Russel House
I really enjoyed the event otherwise, meeting some of the founders and thinkers of the Paleo movement was great, and their down to earthness was much appreciated. Frank Forencich was the man and he really drove the nail home. I was very impressed and I felt like his talk and ideas completed the missing link in this movement.
Interesting idea’s Charlie… Little fun challenges and games would have mixed the “tribe of peep’s” up def. Having objects to lift, throw, and cary would be awesome not from a competitive perspective but just to get the blood flowing. I gotta snoop around for other recaps now and see what everyone else thought about the weekend. Also Charlie you may want to email the AHS with your suggestions. Seafood would have been great for lunch considering lobster meat is cheaper than hamburger;)
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What i don’t understood is if truth be told how you’re now not allcauty a lot more well-appreciated than you may be right now. You are so intelligent. You understand therefore significantly in terms of this matter, produced me for my part consider it from a lot of numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated unless it is one thing to do with Girl gaga! Your individual stuffs outstanding. Always care for it up!
Your comments about the fat fitness guru’s bugged me, and I think it’s a problem the personal trainer and fitness community needs to address. Just because someone is not the exemplar of fitness doesn’t mean they don’t have something to offer. There are also many fit-looking people who do not eat or exercise in a healthy way.
We should judge people by what they have to say and the help and results they are able to provide to their clients. You have no idea the genetic, lifestyle, and health challenges they might be facing and their current state might be a 1000% improvement from where they started. I think many clients would be very happy with progress like that, even if they don’t end up looking like a Shape magazine cover model.
I stopped Judging in the 9th grade.. Are you a doctor that smokes? I never said fat but I see you noticed that people weren’t the example of their own product. How can you not be?!
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You and Frank are spot on. For the social/tribal/sensory awareness aspect of this, check-in with Jon Young and the folks at Regenerative Design Institute or Mark Morey
At the Institute for Natural Learning. They’ve been consciously surfing the ancestral wave-break longer than anyone I’ve seen. Truly holistic and long-term in their approaches.
Both you and Frank sum up my opinion of these things perfectly. Which is why I didn’t go this year.
On a related note, when are you coming down to North Carolina for a visit and some training?
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