If you are seeking to revitalize your connection to nature and reclaim your motivation for movement—try exploring the profound wisdom of indigenous cultures. This approach offers a fresh perspective on fitness that’s particularly relevant for outdoor athletes, photographers, and filmmakers who crave adventure and a deeper understanding of our world.
The Power of Indigenous Games
Indigenous peoples around the globe are guardians of deep knowledge systems, often woven into customs and traditions handed down through generations. These systems include games and physical activities that reflect a holistic worldview, offering valuable insights into functional fitness and environmental awareness.
A Tribal Training Rotation
Drawing inspiration from native sports, here’s a sample schedule that incorporates indigenous games and functional fitness:
- Monday: Suri Stick Fighting (total body conditioning) – 30 min
- Tuesday: Wauja Canoe Racing (upper body emphasis) – 40-60 min
- Wednesday: Recovery Day
- Thursday: Samo Wrestling (total body/core conditioning) – 30-40 min
- Friday: Sikaran Kick-fighting (lower body emphasis) – 20 min
- Saturday: Sherpa Mountain Running (total body/endurance conditioning) – 60-90 min
- Sunday: Recovery Day
Lessons from Ancient Games
Suri Stick Fighting
This Ethiopian practice isn’t just about combat; it’s a test of agility, strength, and cultural pride. For outdoor professionals, it can improve coordination and upper body strength—crucial for handling equipment in dynamic environments.
Wauja Canoe Racing
Originating from the Amazon, this activity builds upper body and core strength while fostering a deep connection with waterways. It’s an excellent skill for water-based shoots or adventures.
Samo Wrestling
This Papua New Guinean tradition enhances total body strength and agility, beneficial for navigating rough terrains or maintaining balance while shooting. It’s a full-body workout that requires minimal equipment.
Sikaran Kick-fighting
This Filipino martial art improves lower body strength and flexibility, essential for hiking to remote locations or maintaining stable positions during long shoots. It’s a testament to the diversity of combat sports across cultures.
Sherpa Mountain Running and Rucking
Running: Inspired by the legendary endurance of Nepalese Sherpas, this practice builds stamina and leg strength. It’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to improve their performance in high-altitude environments.
To enhance the Sherpa Mountain Running exercise, we can incorporate a weighted option known as rucking to better mimic mountain trekking. This variant combines the endurance benefits of mountain running with the strength-building aspects of carrying weight, providing a more comprehensive training experience for outdoor athletes, photographers, and filmmakers.
Rucking: Add weight to your run to simulate the challenges of mountain trekking and expedition-style climbs.
How to Incorporate Rucking:
- Start with a light weight, around 5-10% of your body weight.
- Use a sturdy backpack designed for rucking, such as those offered by GORUCK.
- Gradually increase weight and distance as your fitness improves.
- Aim for a 60-90 minute session, adjusting based on your fitness level and goals.
Benefits of Rucking:
- Burns more calories than standard running
- Improves cardiovascular health and bone mineral density
- Builds strength and endurance specific to mountain activities
- Enhances mental toughness, crucial for challenging outdoor shoots or expeditions
Safety Considerations:
- Start with shorter distances and lighter weights to avoid injury.
- Maintain proper posture to protect your spine and joints.
- Hydrate well and listen to your body, especially when training at higher altitudes.
By adding rucking to your routine, you’ll better prepare for the physical demands of mountain trekking, improving your overall fitness and readiness for challenging outdoor assignments or personal adventures.
Incorporating Indigenous Wisdom into Your Routine
- Embrace Variety: Mix different indigenous games to keep your workouts engaging and target various muscle groups.
- Focus on Functionality: Choose activities that mimic real-world movements you encounter in your outdoor work or adventures.
- Connect with Nature: Use natural environments for your workouts. Use rocks for lifting, trees for climbing, or streams for resistance training.
- Respect Traditional Knowledge: Recognize the value of indigenous wisdom in addressing modern fitness challenges.
- Storytelling and Movement: Incorporate the power of storytelling in your workouts, drawing inspiration from the rich oral traditions of indigenous cultures.
By adopting these principles, outdoor professionals can not only improve their physical fitness but also contribute to the preservation of invaluable cultural knowledge. As Wade Davis, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, reminds us, “The ethnosphere is humanity’s greatest legacy. It’s the sum total of all thoughts and intuitions, myths and beliefs, ideas and inspirations brought into being by the human imagination since the dawn of consciousness”.
Remember, the goal is to reconnect with ancient wisdom while respecting and learning from the cultures that have preserved it. These indigenous games offer more than just physical benefits; they provide a window into diverse worldviews and sustainable ways of living. As we face global challenges, this holistic approach to fitness and cultural understanding becomes increasingly crucial.
So, step out of your comfort zone, embrace the wisdom of ancient cultures, and let these indigenous games transform not just your body, but your perspective on the world. Your next adventure—and your next breakthrough in fitness—might just be hidden in the practices of a culture thousands of miles away and thousands of years old.
