Frank Forencich's Exuberant AnimalTo be strong to be useful and no more?
To be strong to be useful like a cog in the machine?
“Be strong to be useful” said Methode Naturelle’s motto and morals. But wait a minute, do you mean “useful” like a tool is useful, a cog in the machine is useful? Who or what should decide my own agenda, if not myself?
Isn’t there more to living one’s life to the fullest than just being strong, or even healthy? Isn’t it also important, maybe even more important, to be happy and free? How about “Be strong to be free” for instance?
In order to to be helpful to oneself, to others and to the world, wouldn’t it be a very relevant and fantastic thing to make oneself a strong, healthy, happy and free individual? How about a more comprehensive and probably more inspiring motto that would say “To be strong, healthy, happy and free”? And since I strongly believe it is our true nature to be strong, healthy, happy and free, how about a simpler motto, that would sound more like a positive invitation, like: “Explore Your True Nature”?
A different orientation for a different predicament
MovNat holds a unique philosophy called “True Nature” that is the foundation of the overall MovNat approach and orientation and that addresses major global issues that were almost unknown to Hebert, i.e., the Zoo Human predicament.
The philosophy behind MovNat is embodied in the motto: “Explore Your True Nature“.
The world changes ever more rapidly and indeed it has tremendously changed in the last century, and so have people, not in nature, but in lifestyle, mindsets and expectations as well as physical condition.
Spiritual Suffering
Mental Suffering
Physical Suffering
We’re not in 1905 anymore. More than a century later, we all face the massive, ongoing and increasing influence of the “Zoo” and it is a saddening thing to observe that more and more of us are turned into Zoo humans becoming weak, sick, depressed and conditioned. Unquestionably, we have become a pathetic version of what Nature had generously and intelligently designed us to be, or of what the human species itself, as a whole, had evolved to become until now.
It is a destructive predicament, and it would clearly be an ostrich attitude to deny or minimize it. Softly destroying your true nature, it also progressively destroys the nature that is around you and that is the real source of your life and health.
Or devolution?
Evolution???
Contact with nature is vital, but so is natural movement and natural eating
It is all connected actually. Painkiller anyone?
Is it really a fate we cannot do anything about?
It is not easy to deal with this predicament indeed. We were all born in the Zoo and being true to our nature is an amazing challenge. There is no ideal, perfect or ultimate one-size-fits-all solution and there is also certainly no easy one. You still can choose to go for coping mechanisms like watching more DVDs, playing more video games, eating more ice-cream and drinking more soda or beer. Or take a chill-pill?
Kid disconnected from his true nature and trying to cope with his physical and mental suffering
You can also go for quick-fixes: run on a treadmill or buy a Wiifit and swallow loads of laboratory-made supplements. But that’s treating the symptoms, not the causes. The truth is that it takes genuine dedication and often a tremendous courage to seriously and durably commit to a positive change in one’s own life.
“Nature deficit disorder”
The real priority issue is to battle a “nature deficit disorder”.
Nature Deficit Disorder – a great term coined by Richard Louv in 2005 and it refers to the alleged modern trend that both today’s children and adults are spending less time outdoors, resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems.
But when I say “nature deficit disorder”, I am not only talking about a lack of direct contact with nature in modern children, but a chronic lack of understanding, respect, experience and expression of the very nature that lies within us.
I believe that movement is our nature, and that it is actually natural movement that suits us best, all simply because it suits best the fundamental, universal, evolutionary and biological human nature which I call our “True Nature”.
Movement in nature is best, but above all, it is natural movement that matters first, natural movement that can re-awaken the need to be in touch with the nature around us. This quote by Pascal illustrates this viewpoint perfectly: “Our nature lies in movement, in complete calm is death.” It is actually more than a personal, subjective viewpoint. In fact, no animal, including the human animal, can thrive and maintain health and vitality when deprived from movement.
There are very effective solutions though, that are natural and healthy, free or quite inexpensive, but again it is all about being committed to apply them in real-life. Your real-life. It has to be a life-affirming orientation, and more than a concept: it must be an experience, a reality.
MovNat, in this regard, is actually much more than fitness and can as well be more than just the Natural Movement Training System. It is also an education program designed to rehabilitate the “Zoo human” with its unique “True Nature” philosophy that affirms that it is our universal birthright to be strong, healthy, happy and free.
It addresses much more than just the hypothetical promise and the limited objective of obtaining an ideal body shape. It actually guarantees something actually invaluable and priceless, which is that you will learn how to experience your true nature again, without having to go back to life in huts or caves, while still having the possibility to enjoy the best of modern life.
Getting back to a wild state is probably mission impossible, and actually not necessarily such a desirable ambition. However, being true to one’s nature is, with sufficient commitment, a very accessible goal that will positively transform your experience of life.
Young kids free and happy to explore their true nature
Where there is exuberant movement, there is strength, health, happiness and freedom.
So before you can actually be strong and may decide to be useful to others, I strongly advise that you start where it all starts…
…finally meet who you truly are. Explore your true nature!
Erwan Le Corre
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Cannot wait for that book Erwan
I’ll be first in line to buy it.
~Mickey
A fantastic article!
Great article, I really enjoyed reading this. I am really excited for the book too, the anticipation is killing me.
It is simple, get out and explore our natural movement in nature and experiencing our true nature. It is so true and sad how humans are heading in the direction of de-evolution or more like we hit our peak and have leveled off. Most children today have become shells, you can tell them about the outdoors and they don’t see a point in exploring nature or being active. We need to teach them and enlighten them since they are the future of the world and of Movnat. I don’t have children yet, but when i do i know i want them to enjoy life to the max and to be health, happy, and free.
We might be heading towards a “dark age” of fitness and of health. People do not realize how important it is to know about their body and to move. People want pills to fix their problems, no matter what the side effects might be. Much like anti-depressants that are addicitve and can cause sexual problems for men. Making the man feel worse because he can’t have sex and it snowballs and creates a cycle that feeds on itself. Not solving the problem but numbing your body and brain so you don’t feel down or for that matter ever feel happy(with a numb body how can you get aroused, it is no surprise). Don’t forget side effects that also include heart problems, liver and kidney failure, and addiction. You need to attack the root of the cause and your body will heal, your body is an amazing machine that can heal and maintain itself without the help of pills. How have humans been dealing with everything for millions of years?
Great article, Erwan! The funny thing for me is that since a few days I wanted to write a post on my blog about how natural training goes so much further than common fitness training, that it requires your whole attention, and the awareness that your whole life will (or should) change. To keep it short: I thought “beyond fitness” is a good title for such a post…
…and I agree with Mickey…
Go on with your inspiring work!
Mark
Extremely inspiring and motivational! Very well written article. I long for a possibility to practice MovNat where I live in Sweden. I have just begun to have a taste to natural training, but yet I can feel how good it makes me feel, and for me it is far superior to the options. I hope this becomes more widespread, hopefully gaining the interest of my fellow Swedes so I don’t have to train alone.
i just ran (literaly) down to my local gym and enrolled for swimming lessons!:D
I’m really excited about your book and i can’t wait for the training tips
thank you for inspiring me to explore my true nature!:)
The axiom “To be strong, healthy, happy and free” is fantastic, but what does that mean? We all instill happiness and freedom with our own meaning, that which is acquired over a lifetime of experience. So I see a real beauty in your motto to “explore your true nature” — I can’t help but be reminded of Socrates admonishment that “the unexamined life isn’t worth living.”
Exploring your true nature is examining your life critically and with purpose, with the end goal of bringing your own answer to life’s ultimate question — why am I here?
In other words, I appreciate how MovNat isn’t about prescribing some one-size-fits-all answer. If anything, true nature must always be a custom fit, evolving solution to each of us.
Thanks Erwan!
Erwan –
You are 100% correct. I spend every weekend taking my 3 sons outside and exploring the world around us. I can’t thank you enough for sharing your ideas!!
Be well!!!!
Don
Thank You Erwan,
Ever since i read your men’s health article i have been focused on getting away every weekend and to be in nature. So far it has been great for my soul. I also wanted to say that the more i am in nature the more i appreciate and the more my creativity is able to run free.
I can’t wait to train with you in WV
Thanks,
Daniel Spencer
@Chad, that’s good comments, but I think children are the future of the human species, not the ‘future of MovNat’. MovNat is a concept and a method that can lead to a more natural perception, experience or lifestyle, but in the end, it is indeed the perception, experience or lifestyle that matters for these future human beings, not whatever concept or method that leads them there.
“To be strong to be useful” to me is the role of objects, methods or tools and I wish MovNat to be strong and useful to people, not the other way around.
Dark ages of (mainstream) fitness: I don’t see how it could be any darker. Darker than that, what could it be? Seated, HGH-injected people on an “intensity” program moving fingers and toes while watching their favorite TV program, and of course under strict medical assistance?
Fortunately, an increasing number people and groups in this field are changing their approach and together we can all change the current predicament. It is important to focus your mental energy on what you want to see happen in the world, it leads to real actions and change while the opposite doesn’t.
@Timmy, the book I am working on now will indeed focus mainly on my approach of natural movement and the fundamental principles of the MovNat Natural Movement Training System, along with essential techniques and general tips.
My latest post is rather talking about my views of the modern predicament and my concept of True Nature, which I intend to develop in a different book later.
@Justin, that’s an excellent comment, my intention is indeed to invite people to question what is “normal”, defy conventional wisdom and finally find their own.
There are so many ways to be happy and experience freedom! However, despite the human ability to change or create their thinking, perception or values, there is also a real universal nature in humans that is evolutionary and biological and that is closely linked to nature and failing to understand and respect that nature sooner or later leads to a much lowered quality of life.
@Don, you are very welcome, and I am sure you learn more from you kids than they learn from you
.
@Daniel, you will have a blast
. Count on me to revolutionize your perception of movement and exercising and to help you increase your connection to nature 
.
Thank you i feel now more than ever, that i am ready to learn how my body is suppose to move and learn how to reconnect with nature
Great post! I really appreciate your philosophical and sociological approach to health and well being. It echoes profoundly in my own thoughts. Looking forward to having the chance to train with you in person.
I’m not going to lie, that pretty much just blew my mind. Lately I have been on the search for a connection to nature and to be able to get in better shape and health, and also to be happier and feel more freedom. I wish I could be going to West Virginia to train and learn from what seems like it will be a remarkable experience. Even though I won’t be there I still see myself lucky enough to have stumbled upon your website through a post about you on American Parkour and I feel that for some reason it was almost like I was meant to find this. I see this as being something that is going to change my life and hopefully I will be able to use it to help change lives of those around me. I can’t really think of anything else to say because my mind is still reflecting on the article above and I would just like to end by saying thanks. So, Thank you for everything you are doing, you are going to change and better a lot of people with this.
I discovered movnat as a result of a link on Steve Maxwell’s blog right before the Men’s Health article came out. As a fitness trainer and a manager at a “high end” ZOO gym in New York City, the ultimate zoo, I’ve been hooked ever since and thoroughly agree with everything you’ve written. I recently finished both Exuberant Animal and Born to Run, fascinating books which I’ve been sharing with friends and colleagues. Unfortunately, being 45 and a bit too exuberant, a month ago I suffered a herniated disc in my lower back – I don’t mean to ask for medical advice but given your intimate knowledge of how the body works, can you address such injuries, how to best avoid them and treatment…in general terms.
Thank you, and I’m really looking forward to your book and hopefully participating in a Movnat seminar
Hey, James K.–of course everyone’s injuries and conditions are going to be somewhat different, and although I am not a doctor, I also had a BAD herniated disc some years ago, so perhaps some of my experiences with such could be of help to you(and others reading this)–I had the guidance of an honest, holistic, wonderful chiropractor(good ones are worth their weight in gold–bad ones are worse than the injury!). First, DON’T apply heat to the affected area–even though this feels good, it just exacerbates the inflammation caused by such an injury. It is better to apply cold packs–I used to soak in a cold mountain stream! And don’t be in any hurry for it to heal–it will take awhile! Once you are better, concentrate on strengthening the back and abdominal muscles(core) to protect the area in the future, as once you’ve had one of these buggers, you are always prone to more. If it does go out again,(and buddy, you will know it!) apply cold packs to it as soon as possible, and you can often “reset” it on your own without an expensive doctor’s visit–this has worked well for me for over twenty years–I have not had a serious back problem or pain(despite being very active) since that first miserable mishap two decades ago……
Lane, thank you so much for the info – its truly appreciated! Apologies to those other readers for turning the topic to injuries…lets get back to commenting on Erwan’s insights into “fitness”, spreading the importance of movement to our peers and exploring our true natures. Working in a modern fitness center as a trainer and a sales person my main challenge is to get people to shift their focus from viewing exercise as something to be dreaded because they have to do it to realizing we were meant to move and should enjoy it. Erwan, this, in essence, is the dilemma of modern man – we, they have been conditioned to view movement as a chore, something the doctor, trainer tells us to do to improve our health and appearance…when its so much more meaningful; only when that shift occurs, will we cease to de-evolve.
I believe it. I think the concrete jungle could never replace the natural one. There are too many scientifically documented benefits to being in nature–increased vitamin D production, higher air quality, etc.–to ignore this.
Erwan,
Thank you for being a guiding light that helps keep the focus on what’s real and on what makes us human. Just reading clips on your philosophy, seeing what you have managed to accomplish physically and as far as I can tell mentally and spiritually, as well as your humble attitude are very inspiring to me. In this modern life, there are no shortage of distractions that every day, try and pull us into a numb, consumption focused, nonsensical living dead like unreality, that if goes unchecked will swallow our lives up. No one wants to wake up years down the road and wonder what happened to their life, to feel as if they wasted it pursuing the illusion of financial and egotistical career security so they can have a nice big house and car to waste away in or boast about, but it’s a slippery road we can find ourselves on. Don’t get me wrong, I have a job and take care of my responsibilities, I just think that many of us get lost in the myopic money pursuit, it’s a constant mental struggle to stay connected because I know I can easily fall into the same traps. There is so much fear and negativity thrown at us daily, it’s no wonder people, especially children, hide inside or work as if their lives depended on that paycheck and nothing more. I’m not a parent so I know it’s a little easier for me to find more time to get away and I’m the only one who as to deal with the consequences of my lifestyle choices. That said, I love the outdoors and I spend as much time there as I can and have focused my life in trying to spend as much time outside or traveling and learning from others as I can. I really like how you encourage adults not to reject their true nature and that playing isn’t just for kids but is exercise, a human and healthy thing to do and not to be ashamed of. I feel many people look at those of us who chose a simpler less materialistic path as irresponsible, especially here in the States, so like I said, it’s always a fight for the soul, for the heart, so to speak. But, nothing can replace the satisfaction of living as close to my true nature as I know how and as I see others do and people like yourself help remind me of this. The question I have for any of you out there who care to answer is, how do you balance delving into our true nature and building a life philosophy from it with living in the modern world with all its modern demands on us? I’d like to learn from others and their approach to this issue. Thanks again Erwan for the inspiration, if you ever do a seminar in Oregon or near bye, I’ll do my best to be there, in till then, I’ll be out there doing my best with what I know and what comes natural.
A work in progress, I like that simple and positive philosophy.
hi Erwan your article is very interesting,i think that the cause of many of these problems is the modern society that want change all people… when we are children,play, laugh, jump, run etc.
but then, when start the school, when start the agonistic sport, when we grow, happiness disappears and comes the frustration. but the problem isn’t school sport or other but what’s inside,competing, models that society imposes on us, voting, ratings.. this when we are children are little problem, but when we have 19/20 years the frustration is more big, if you don’t have a good work, with a good salary, if you haven’t a good study qualification, a good house a good car,
you’re not useful to anyone..modern society encourages us to distance from nature,and makes us slaves of money and work,and these things we unconsciously cause many problems..I know that money is not important to live, but the modern society continuously gives me doubts about this..this is sad, and distances us from our nature. making us live to work..!losing our freedom..
I would like to participate in a meeting movnat but for me it would be very difficult / expensive since I live in italy .. I hope that you understood my comment because my English is very bad
Greetings and good training by Gennaro ^^ (Italy)
James, I am sorry to hear about what happened to you. The difference between conventional fitness and natural movement is actually huge and natural movement without preparation, knowledge and sufficient self-knowledge can lead to injury if you explore it too…exuberantly.
Unfortunately, it is clear that not everyone has the ability to spontaneously recover on their own their full potential to move a natural way and to do that with optimum technique and without getting injured. Getting injured can happen fast and greatly impair your physical ability to carry on in the future or even your very motivation to train in the first place.
Injury prevention and moderation are important parts of the MovNat training principles.
This is again why I advise getting a proper education in natural movement first and also moderation and cautiousness. If your intent is to train natural movement seriously then to seek competent guidance and learn the MovNat basics that will allow you to go on efficiently and safely with your solo training.
I understand that not everyone can afford to attend one of my seminars and this is why I am also working on a book, a DVD and of course the certification courses starting next year in the USA.
As regarding the shift, it is not coming, it is here already and what you see now here or there is the tipping point. It IS happening now!
I am working on it, and I am not on my own, we are a growing number.
It is a movement.
What you see here at MovNat, at Exuberant Animal and other places sharing a similar orientation, is that shift happening. The more to join it, the faster and greater the shift.
How does this happen? By convincing? By preaching? Nope. That’s boring.
It is all about inspiring. You need a clear and strong vision that you embody and breath by. Then it is hard work. There is no secret. But you need to believe in a vision first.
That shift, I don’t hope for it, I don’t even believe in it, I simply know it is here. It is happening here and now if you decide it. In your own mind and actions. Here and now, that’s where it all starts!
Just be it!
You’re right Jay, and it is good and very valuable to know the science that backs it all, but in the first place, we need to let our bodies and minds become aware again of what they need. Changing our intellectual, conceptual perception thanks to science is one way, but in the end what matters is how it feels to your body in mind.
It is sensations like your body asking for fresh ripe fruits, asking for fresh air, for good rest, your skin starting to not stand shirts and craving for direct contact with the open air and light etc…
At some point, you don’t need to be convinced that it is good for you anymore. Your instinct knows…and reminds you. It just feels natural again, and you want to less and less compromise with your natural right to see and feel your natural needs fulfilled. A part of you is untamed, and won’t go back.
@Mike:
“The question I have for any of you out there who care to answer is, how do you balance delving into our true nature and building a life philosophy from it with living in the modern world with all its modern demands on us?”
I will let others answer that one with their own way, but my life philosophy is one thing, life is something else. Philosophy, values, perception, that is where it all starts, but I believe what matters most eventually is applications. How do you live your life according to your principles?
The real “truth” is not much found in the words or thoughts, but in the actions that make you life.
Last, I advise to forget about perfection. There is no perfection. There is always a balance to be found, too much self-indulgence will prevent you from getting strong and healthy while acting as a control-freak of your own lifestyle will prevent you from being happy and free.
@Genmaro: there can be indeed a real difference between schooling and education.
.
Does schooling provide the type of education and the kind of knowledge that has the power to see us grow as strong, healthy, happy and free individuals, or does it prepare most of us to fit a different agenda?
If we realize that years of schooling did not taught to us what we realize now is missing in our lives, then we need to find ways to educate ourselves and fill the lacks. There is no “too late” and that process can take place anytime if you decide to. It is not about blaming society but about acting constructively in one’s own lives, so if you can change and improve yourself the you will improve society by improving your own experience of life and bring a better self to the world.
We are made of others. We are co-dependent. So what is our own contribution to this world and how can we make a positive difference?
It is really a “to be or not to be” sort of question, but it’s really worth it because it can truly energize and transform one’s own life. We all can play role in this world that is positive and meaningful, there are thousands of ways to do it.
My personal contribution is MovNat and the True Nature philosophy, all simply
To Mike–are you stuck in an Urban environment? My guess is you must be, asking how others explore their natural selves in a modern world. Sometimes a MOVE is necessary, to move from the city to the country–this would be ideal, of course. I have been very lucky, personally, as I have never been very far from some woods or wild places to explore. But there was one time in my life when I was far from a natural environment, under MISERABLE circumstances! Miserable at least for one used to clean air and water, and quiet, peaceful forest and fields. I kept my sanity by looking for ANYTHING natural–always there were the beautiful skies overhead, and I thrilled to see a rat scurrying in a gutter, or a weed poking through a crevice in a concrete sidewalk. Any “vacant” lot was worthy of investigation. I still had a “territory” that I ranged like a wild animal, although it might contain only urban, man-made props–I used them as I would rocks and trees in the woods. Just as a dog still thrills to get OUT for a walk in a city, I still enjoyed getting OUT! And I plotted and planned and waited–till I could escape the “white man’s road”, and get back to my interrupted life in the woods!
When and how do kids lose there focus on playing in the natural world. When I was young you couldn’t keep me inside and now you still can’t. I remember there were always kids playing in the streets now hardly ever do I see that. Im only 27 too. My wife’s sisters two young kids have been home schooled and for the better or worse part not been overly involved with the main stream society. There is a deep seated interest in the outdoor world with them. They play outside all day with everything and love it. The one is 2 or 3 the other is like 8 or 9 but there are a few kids around me that age who I never see except getting in there cars. Is it the energy of the group as you get older that just pulls you in making it easier to go with the mainstream.
Thank you both, Erwan and Lane for taking the time to respond to my post. To Lane, no I don’t live in an urban environment, I escaped many years ago, my question was more of a philosophical one. It seems that more and more people are coming around to realize that we have been pulled away from our natural states of being for so long now, it’s having a catastrophic effect, not just on us but on our world as a whole. It’s something I’ve known for a while, but negative social pressures are a constant influence on us which as a way of grinding down our resolve, so it’s exciting for me to come across MovNat. It seems to me from what little I know of MovNat, it’s not only a physical fitness movement, but one which as social and spiritual implications as well. It seems to me that MovNat can be a vehicle to a greater spiritual connection to our earth and help lead some to a lifestyle that is simpler and more sustainable for our planet and for our future generations. So how does one go about meshing this sort of back to our roots idea with the modern world we live in with out completely turning our backs on it, which I think may be realistic for small groups of people but for the whole of society is unrealistic and would be devastating to our animal and plant resources as well? It is frustrating to know or understand something but not have the knowledge to implement it. I would like to learn as much as I can about MovNat and the lifestyle and philosophy movement that it may foster. I can’t afford the trip to Virginia so I’m looking forward to the book and if a MovNat seminar comes closer to where I live here in Oregon, even if it’s a state or two over, I’ll be there. I firmly believe that finding a plausible way to mesh a more free, more human, spiritual and physical connection to our bodies and how they are meant to interact with our planet on every level, as well as find a way to live more simply and still make a living, is a major key to our well being, full potential and happiness. This is what I’d like to learn more about from others who have seen, experienced and implemented these ideas successfully into their lives without a trust fund or something, it’s something that I struggle with daily and I know for certain others do as well. Thanks again for hearing me out.
Mike’s Quote:”It is frustrating to know or understand something but not have the knowledge to implement it.”
I concur with this sentiment, wholeheartedly! I’ve never believed I was meant to sit at this computer indoors all day, but at the same time until I can move away, I’m surrounded by concrete and a drive to the “outdoors” is 30-1hr away. Can I supplement Nature with what I have at hand?
Most of your readers here, seem to be of a considerable fitness level already. For someone who doesn’t ever want to “treadmill” and never has where do I start? Acting in childhood exuberance (if I could muster the energy) would certainly spell a sprained ankle at the least for clumsy me (or worse like James K. and he’s in good shape I bet). I want to start now! What basics can I learn while you make your book/video?
I’ve been bare footing (with Vibram’s) for the last 6 mo. as much as possible just jogging around in L.A. in the morning, Yoga/Pilates for flexibility but that’s it. Help! My feet feel GREAT btw. And I know the rest of me will too! Thanks for being an inspiration.
May I ask also, How you get into that type of determined mindset to carry out your physical training in an individual setting non-competition. Do you pretend you have a particular job/goal to accomplish?
Thanks for your insightful answers to all the above as well, Have fun in Virginia! Wish I could be there or at least watch! This is a Movement we all need!
Erwan,
I absolutely love the inspiration you provide. I have never felt so connected to a philosophy and look forward to hearing more from you and anxiously await your book. I have two young boys (3 & 5) that love to play and explore outdoors. I recall being fascinated with nature as a child and somehow (in our modern world) my boys have picked up on that. We love to go on nature hikes, collect bugs, and truly explore our natural world. They motivate me to be more fit, natural, and happy and I can only hope that I can find the strength within to the best “natural” dad I can be. Thanks so much and keep up the great work!!
Erwan, all,
Not to take away from your essay, but I’d like to take another look at Georges Hebert’s quote, “Be strong to be useful.” Coming from a military perspective, as Hebert did, I totally understand what he is trying to say. And I’m afraid we all get so lost in our own self-development (or self-aggrandizing) that we lose the concepts of service and community. It’s great to take life by the horns and set your own course, but when that leaves behind your family and community (for the sake of your own pursuits) you are being totally selfish and missing what Georges Hebert was trying to teach with his system.
“Be strong to be useful” is a very powerful motto as it is, and it doesn’t need any refining. WE need the refining to better understand what Hebert was trying to tell us whether it is 1905, 2005, 1805, or 805 BC; the same lessons apply to our role within our family, community and our greater humanity.
Meanwhile, thank you, Erwan, for a great essay we all can learn from. You consistently bring up some valid points for us to ponder and take forward. I truly enjoy your perspective on movement and our cultural loss of knowledge about our true nature. It is time for us to get back to that, teach it to all we can, and continue learning as we continue forward in life. Again, Erwan, thank you for being a loud voice above the din of modern culture showing us a better way.
Hi Karl
I really got inspired myself with the Methode Naturelle motto when I first read it (it is interesting to learn that it is also the motto of a Vietnamese martial art called Vovinam or “Viêt Võ Dao” and that it is a country that used to be ruled by the French and that Georges Hebert visited as a Navy officer…coincidence?).
I am not “refining” Hebert’s motto, I am choosing a different one to embody a different approach. I recall my philosophy and Hebert’s have similarities but also differences. It does not exclude the former approach, it implements it in a wider approach.
Now I’ll be crystal clear, I am not here to serve the memory of Methode Naturelle, to revive the past and carry on the cult of Georges Hebert.
What happens when you are too much conditioned to “serve” is that you become useful to ideas or concepts instead of ideas of concepts to be useful to you, which should be the only way it works.
When you are told so much by others who you are and what you should do, you end up never questioning what you were taught. You will never really know if the agenda you are so faithfully following is truly yours or all simply the one other people have designed and decided best for you.
So I too understand the beauty of that particular motto when it comes to see the beautiful aspects of it, but also how such moralist mottos simply threat the idea of individual freedom when used by people that only want to indoctrinate you to serve their own interests.
A concept, a method, is a TOOL. We don’t have to be useful to them, they MUST be useful to us. We have a right to change them, improve, correct, supplant them or even forget and trash them. That is how you avoid dogmas. Dogmas don’t make people free, it is the opposite.
I believe people don’t have to be “useful” and that usefulness is for tools and machines with no brain and no consciousness. Useful is for the utility, the material, not the human.
I believe people can have the freedom to make themselves HELPFUL to others when necessary. They don’t have to be useful like a screwdriver or a pair of boots.
But do we have to be helpful to anyone, anytime, unconditionally?
I guess not. I guess no one is. I guess that anyway all of us are selective in helping others and that we have a right to do so. Some people absolutely deserve help, some don’t. Each case is different. That we like it or not, it is the way it is.
What I say is that people are free to choose their own purpose and their own agenda instead of being told “to be strong” or “to be useful”. Let people free. And believe in the good nature of human beings.
If your agenda is to be helpful to your community, I believe it is a very valid and noble one, because for reasons that entirely belong to you, you are part of that community.
My community ideally is the entire world. But as a matter of fact, my community is above all made of the people I love, the people I know well enough and then the people that relate to my own ideas and values, and I wouldn’t be surprised it is the same for you. If it can expand to more it is nice, but it will never happen unconditionnaly.
It means you could be strong, but you won’t be helpful to anyone, anytime, anywhere and for any reason.
In reality you will be selective in how you want to be helpful, depending on MANY parameters.
For instance the very motto you praise could be also the one used by your very enemies to grow indoctrinated legions of terrorists by telling them to be strong and useful to their community, their cause or their God. Being strong and useful to that cause, they will do whatever they can to destroy you, your community and all the people you love. Would you help these people, would you be happy to be strong and useful to them?
Wrong understanding and application of the motto? Indeed. But it happens all the time…because human beings, being so varied not much in nature but in culture and psychology, do not share the same values universally. Actually, there are many conflicting ones in the human world, and it causes lots of troubles.
Now, I believe a fully isolated individual doesn’t live a healthy life indeed.
I believe an individual living within a community but never helps others is an unhealthy person. Communities are essential to human life. We all need one.
The ability to communicate and cooperate with others intelligently and efficiently is fundamental in anyone’s life for communities to thrive.
Is it the community that makes the people, or the people that make the communities? Both.
Communities need individuals that are strong, healthy, happy and free to become or remain themselves strong, healthy, happy and free communities, and that is how they can educate new individuals that in return will be strong, healthy, happy and free…unless a community only aims at the mental conditioning, the indoctrination, the domestication and the alienation of all individuals that are part of it. They certainly don’t want you to be free or develop critical thinking and to question, and will deceive you with a fake idea of happiness, being happy being of course dedicating all your energies to the community and at the top of them, to the people that rule them.
As a matter of fact, such communities exist everywhere.
It is important to be strong. It is important to be helpful (again, as opposed to the purely utilitarian “useful” term). No doubt. It is not at all forgotten in the MovNat approach. The philosophy is simply expanded to other values like happiness and freedom that matter as much as the idea of being strong and “useful”, not only at individual level, but at a community level AS WELL.
So again, there is much more to an individual that to only be strong (and by the way there are MANY ways to be helpful even when you are NOT strong). There is much more to a community. There is much more to life.
Explore your true nature, that you find yourself on your own, or ideally with friends, family and community members.
Make yourself strong, healthy, happy and free, because if you cannot serve yourself right, you will never be able to serve a community, a country or the world right.
Call me “totally selfish” if you want Karl, for deciding indeed to follow my own course and sharing my views with the world. You see, it is what make me come alive
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“Do not ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Howard Thurman
Mike, there are tons of ways to make a change in your life. When tons of people will do the same, the world will change.
How you move, exercise? How you eat? How you think? How you consume?
How you use your free time?
List what makes you satisfied, what does not. What are the simple things you can change and improve easily? What will take more time and dedication?
How can you think global, act local…in your own life! Go step by step.
Something we want to always remember, is that life would be boring if we could instantaneously get whatever we want right when we want them.
Would be a total mess. Would be like being so rich you can buy whatever you want: we would end up knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing.
Re-think who you are. Redefine what you should do according to who you are.
“If you would create something, you must be something.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Then accept the idea that everything is a process, that the journey is the destination.
When you think of how to change your life, think of an intelligent design of your own that you would make constantly evolve…;-).
And hey, if you think that my answer lacks detailed practicality, think that there is nothing practical that doesn’t start with a concept first. You need to find your answers. You need the perception that is best efficient at improving your life.
I used to eat processed food and lots of candies when I was a teenager.
I realized it was unhealthy at age 17 and decided to change that so I changed my diet and removed anything processed from it.
I used to watch TV hours everyday until I started to have the feeling I was being brainwashed everyday and stopped watching it. Etc…I questioned everything so I could make a real choice about most things. I always believed I could call myself free only after making a conscious choice about most things.
Except things that are natural of course, because trying to make oneself free of natural laws is illusory and leads to unhealthy lives. Period. That we believe in creation or in evolution, these laws are the same for all. For all.
Some people are way too self-indulgent and need to learn discipline. I was way too self-disciplined for years to the point of being a control-freak of my own life and it took me years to learn to indulge myself sometimes and find the right balance between consistency and indulgence.
We all come from different backgrounds. We all have to deal with the circumstances and choices that made what we are now.
We all have the power to start from there with realism about ourselves and confidence and creativity about our possibilities and then better ourselves and our lives.
My best piece of advice: stop fight internally AGAINST things you don’t want or like. You are wasting tons of mind energy you could apply to create a new internal and external experience. Focus on that. Took me years to understand that then to apply it to my own life and I still have to struggle sometimes! It is hard to remove “struggle’ from our lives, but we can tremendously decrease that thing for sure!
Go FOR the positive full time. It is all a constant mind process of careful attention and adequate intention. Means be attentive to intend the right way…and it rapidly pays off beyond expectations.
“Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose–a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.”
Mary Shelley
Dear Allison
I will, as promised, provide some tips, I hope soon. But it is very hard for me at the moment to work on that given I also need to handle the seminars, follow-up, many emails and requests everyday, writing, and…can I keep on training too, and try to save some time to do something else and relax a bit? Very hard at the moment.
“May I ask also, How you get into that type of determined mindset to carry out your physical training in an individual setting non-competition. Do you pretend you have a particular job/goal to accomplish?”
Very interesting. First off, why going solo? How about finding friends to explore and share the fun and generate synergy?
Then yes, I use different images like that, I have a mental map of what I need to do, like for instance be able to get out of challenging situations, be able to help others if needed, be able to keep in shape as long as I can, be able to inspire and teach others, etc…but above all, I have a clear vision of who I am.
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Trying to motivate yourself in relation to something you “have to do” is MUCH harder than just doing it because knowing it is what you ARE.
Your starting point could be to add natural movement practice, or “natural diet” as something external to you, something you should do, that in a way doesn’t even feel natural to you…until it becomes who you are like a second nature.
Wait, like…a true nature. And the truth is, when it comes to natural needs and no “wants” indirectly imposed by the many pressures of a consumerist culture, you cannot be possibly wrong, ever.
How do you envision yourself now or in a near future, or much later? Do you see or even better, do you AFFIRM yourself as strong, healthy, happy and free, or as weak, sick, depressed and caged?
If you choose a true nature approach of who you are, what do you need to do? What will make the nature within yourself happy, healthy, lively, exuberant, satisfied, fulfilled?
I will let you ponder about the “nuance” that distinguish “doing because you have to or because you should” and “doing because you are”…it is in fact a huge gap
I know what is my nature and I decide that I am true to it, here and now.
Once this affirmed, I act accordingly. Simple.
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.” Epictetus
Chad, that is really beautiful. Another illustration that it is not a selfish, individualist approach to be true to one’s nature. It can be done together, as a family. Inspiring! Thanks for sharing!
And Karl, thank you again for your very nice and positive comments which I really appreciate. It is good to hear than I am helpful somewhere, somehow.
I agree that one cannot yet find much practical information on the website, this is simply because I am writing a book about natural movement, with another project for a future book that will address other aspects of life based on my True Nature approach.
There is soooooo much to say! I would spend my life on my computer. With a book(s), I can provide an extensive, concise material that anyone can afford. In the meantime, I try to share some insights here, but 90% of my time and energy should be directed to writing that book and organizing future certification events, that is how my work will be most effective and will reach many more, rather than attempting to help everyone individually with their own requests, which is something I can only do punctually at the moment.
To sum it up, if I don’t help much directly now, it is because I have a plan that will help many many more in the future. That plan needs more people than just myself and I am building a team and an network so that the movement can be strong and last long.
I often say it, but it is so true: Rome wasn’t made in a day. You have noticed evolution here over the past months, be sure I am working on much more. If you want a large and solid building, you start by deep and strong foundations.
Hello Erwan,
As I read this I’m sitting here thinking…this is Rousseau reborn in the 21st century! Great stuff. Keep it up and stay in touch.
Rick O
We made the zoo we live in. Society is not imposing a certain lifestyle on us, WE are this society. Most of us who are posting here live in a democratic world, so we can’t use this excuse anymore of being forced by society to live a certain way. It’s not just a question of returning to Nature, it’s about how to allow the animal within us to stay alive and thrive, along with our intellectual side. I live in NY City, and maybe because it is quite a zoo to the extreme, there is at the same time a very strong pull towards bringing in, incorporating nature and animality all over the city. Concerts in the parks, outside camping organized by rangers in public parks, free obstacle courses set up in parks as well, swimming in the Hudson river… We can use what the cities offer in a “natural” way. All this to say that we have the power to change things. Some people are doing it, like Erwan, some educators, corporations, even administrators. People like you and me. It’s just a matter of getting out there and following what our guts are telling us. There is a lot of complains around schooling, working in cubicles, driving everywhere, but honestly, we can change that if we want to. Don’t look for excuses outside, or nothing will ever change. It’s great to take our own kids outside as often as possible, but how about taking friends’ kids out too and showing them what we believe in? How about talking to the principal of our kids’ school, to the PE teachers and share our ideas? There is a lot of literature out there already showing the importance of free play, of functional and natural movements. This site is one of them, thanks a lot Erwan. Believe it or not, most of the people leaving in the zoo know deep down that something is wrong, especially in these difficult economic times, and it’s actually quite easy to show people “the light.” People are craving for this right now. Now it’s all a matter of being persistent, getting organized and not giving up. And for that, we all need to be strong!!! Be free and helpful at the same time. Amazingly enough, it actually gets so easy to personally stay on track once you put yourself out there and people start looking up to you as a source of inspiration. You can’t stop and deceive them. Self-discipline becomes natural when you realize the example you are for your kids and community. Thanks a lot Erwan for what you’re doing.
This nature philosophy/philosophy of nature is a wild eyed beauty, fleetingly glimpsed darting between shadow and sunbeam in an ancient forest.
Thank you for creating this site and publicising your philosophy, a publicity which is, unusually in our culture, justifiable.
Dreaming of free communities of free(d) spirits and their freeborn heirs.
La Lutte continue
Speaking of “community”, it seems, Erwan, you have created one here! And to Mike–yes, in these modern times, it is often hard to find guidelines or philosophies that help us to learn and grow; so much has been lost to modern technology and artificiality. That is what forums like this are great for–learning from others and sharing to bring about a new awareness of such things. There IS another source, of course, and that is to study eveything you can involving indigenous peoples living closer to Nature, and incorporating some of their time-tested philosophies and ideals into your own perspectives–I read everything I can involving Native Americans, Inuit, Bushmen, Australian Aborigines, Pygmies, and other groups who lived, or are still living as natural a life as is possible. It has been a great inspiration for me. Would this be something that is embraced by MovNat, Erwan? Also, Karl, as to being more useful to others, I feel that one cannot be up to one’s full potential unless you truly know who you are and can add your own true perspective to life around you, instead of just following orders or doing what is the accepted standard to whatever group you are attached–perhaps not a healthy outlook in the military, however! But to really know yourself, I think you MUST get away from the constant blathering that goes on around us all the time; the phone, the T.V., the radio, all one’s friends and family, and go to a place where you can finally just think your OWN thoughts without interruption periodically–amazing how hard that is becoming in this day and age. From such unique, individual ideas can come much use and function to society as a whole. I bet a lot of your wonderful perspective, Erwan, has come from those times when you have been alone with Nature, and we are all thankful for it!
Hey Rick!!! Good to have you here! This is a man that dedicates his life fighting child obesity: http://www.pullyourownweight.net and want to see them strong, healthy, happy and free! We all can contribute to a change, in many ways. Glad you visit
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@Sophie: Fully agreed with you!
The difference between the 2 attitudes, passive and active, is the difference between reaction and creation. We cannot just react, in a negative way in most cases by the way. We need to be reactive, but in a positive way, it means that we need to create the solutions that work for ourselves rather than just complaining and then going for quick-fixes or coping mechanisms.
What we need is first awareness, a change of perception, and also very important, to admit our own part of responsibility, because the is no way you can change something you deny responsibility for.
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
When you have that outlook, you have no other option that being more creative, not only reactive. That’s where it all starts.
I could be complaining for ages about the Zoo, but that would waste my energy and prevent me from finding, creating or sharing alternatives.
Attention, intention, orientation. Consciousness must be coupled with action if you want to feel empowered. If it is not, you feel powerless. Simple. To generate a positive momentum in your life, you’ve got to start inspire yourself!
“Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant, they is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.” Johann Gottfried Von Herder
Become your own example. Learn, open your mind, expand your inner world, educate yourself, educate others.
Build your Self, share the best of it with others.
Be “cre-active”!
@Lane
To me MovNat is above all natural movement (MovNat= Move naturally, movement in nature), including both philosophy and practice. By that I mean that anyone can learn how to approach and then practice natural movement in a comprehensive, efficient and safe way thanks to the MovNat Natural Movement Coaching System and whatever are your own goals or values in life.
What I call the True Nature philosophy, and that leads to incorporating more than natural movement in one’s life, is definitely inspired by the natural lifestyle of indigenous tribes.
However, I also believe we must avoid the temptation of romanticizing these lifestyles or the life of our ancestors for instance just like we certainly should not reject the progress that modernity provides thanks to science and the technologies that derive from it.
How about making sure we maintain our evolutionary birthright of strength and health, keep up with a simple lifestyle based on natural principles while carefully choosing and carefully using the few modern technologies that can really help us live better, happier and more free, at an individual and collective level?
Either we have dreams, but they are delusive when we just hope they could be true, or we have a vision that is realistic and toward which we can effectively invest our time and energy.
I do not have dreams. I have a vision
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[...] second message came to me from Erwan Le Corre’s most recent blog post. Erwan asks the question – “Fit for [...]
Once again looking at the concept of “beyond fitness”, how does MovNat incorporate the mysterious life-force Qi, Chakra etc.? Has anything similar ever been exercised, possibly within the Martial Arts component, of MovNat?
Aren’t there are many traditional Eastern methods that offer many interesting opportunities, especially in combination with MovNat? Not that I was ever planning to balance my body on the tip of a sword like a Shaolin monk, but I do think that those old methods have lots of potential in terms of personal development and happiness (eg. Breathing techniques and Meditation)
PS.: I totally understand that you need to focus on writing your book rather than answering everybody individually. So maybe you could leave me a short answer here and when you’re writing your book elaborate a little more on this topic, a chapter or so should do
)
Achei muito interessante que você decidiu mudar-se para o Brasil, Erwan. Tem algum motivo por escolher o Brasil, e não outro país?
E seria ótimo se esse site tivesse um tradução para o portugês!
Abçs!
@Chris: Qi is too mysterious for my limited understanding
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More seriously though, just like Yoga leaves Chi to Tai Chi or Qi Gong and Tai Chi leaves Chakras to Yoga, I do not mix MovNat with oriental traditions or concepts like Tai Chi or Yoga and leave their valuable approach to these very specific approaches. They are extremely good at it!
As part of my movement principles drills, I do have my students explore their “internal awareness” through movement, often slow ones but also fast ones, most of the time eyes closed, and with a greater focus on breathing. We look for relaxation, right tension, movement flow, mental focus.
Now I do not forget where we come from and what gives Life to us, I am not interested in any sort of “mysterious” energy that only a few masters or gurus can really understand (and hey, they also can levitate!!! Amazing
), I simply can feel the powerful inner energy I find in being close to the Earth, the sky, the wind, the sun, the rain, the trees and plants and animals around (of course, let’s not forget that spending quality time with positive-minded fellow human beings brings great energy too 
).
Without these external forces of Nature, inner energy, life-force, whatever you call it, just does not exist.
I believe we do not need any complicated-mysterious-spiritual tradition to be there. You won’t ever find me in room trying to stand in an awkward posture chanting oooooms, but you will find me climb trees, swim in rivers and run barefoot on the Earth, feeling the open air and light nourishing my skin. We all have our own way, our personal journey.
Nature is where the Source is, so that it is by moving naturally or seated against a tree, this is where and how I tap directly in there!
…and I believe everyone can do it, and feel good and replenished inside with that free energy from the outside.
In fact, there is no outside and inside. There is no separation. We are nature and nature is pure energy.
@Ken, no memento e impossível traduzir tudo isso em Portuguese, seria um trabalho enorme porque pode ser também traduzir em muito mas outras linguás. Talvez no futuro? Mais agora não.
Não fico todo tempo no Brasil, mais gosto muito do Brasil e com certeza do povo Brasileiro. Acho um pais com muito futuro!
I was in the forest this AM (about 6:30) . I was reminded how lucky I am to have this huge playground just across the street from me. I was in a tree, my favorite place to be, and I was listening to the red tailed hawk, and the squirrel yelling at me that I was in HIS tree! All the song birds were singing and the deer were eating. And even though I have only seen him twice I know that the bobcat is nearby. When I take my little daycare children with me we always play a game called”Tell me what you hear” In order for them to do this they have to be quiet! I think that using our senses is a lost skill nowadays. Just like teaching our bodies to move the way they were meant to,like with Mov-Nat, I think we should learn to use our senses the way they were meant to be used.
Even though I live in a town, I am on the very edge and I have hills around me and the forest too. As I sit here I look out my window and am watching the horses playing at the stables.( the kids will be giving them carrots soon) I love to ride and I will be riding on the beach with a couple of friends tomorrow evening. The Pacific Ocean at sunset, what could be more beautiful!
Hey everyone,
I love this website and MovNat, I try to use the mindset when I “exercise”. I hope I can go to a seminar at one point and I know that I will read the book. I writing because I came upon this article on the Men’s health web site. http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=fitness&category=motivation&conitem=34d70dee29352110VgnVCM10000013281eac____
I know that all this doens’t exactly flow with MovNat, but the football coach in there has one of the same philosohpies as MovNat. To play. His team has one numerous titles and that is beacuse the players just play, they have fun, like when they where kids! they may not be in nature but the essence is there. I think with this article and the MovNat philosphy, I might have made a break through.
Michael, I am sure that there are fantastic, efficient and inspiring coaches in many different fields out there, but to be honest I will not have time for reading this at the moment.
What I can tell you though, is that for sure there are playful aspects of the practice of natural movement but that fighting spirit is very important and “comes to play” more often than playfulness in MovNat.
In a nutshell, “when the going gets tough, the tough (within yourself) get going”. Sometimes it’s not time to play, and the only thing you will enjoy is the satisfaction to fight hard and push your limits.
A practice that would be based only on play would be “zooish” to me because it would lack realism.
Now a practice deprived of play based on the dumb “no pain no gain” motto or on a domination-based(of yourself, others or nature) mindset would be the same.
You need to mix playfulness and fighting spirit when possible and to also separate and alternate them when necessary. Both have huge benefits, both will have downsides when they become an exclusive focus.