This morning I embark on my annual 5 day Systema Immersion Camp. The theme for this years camp is, ‘Living Systema’. During the camp we will explore how to live the practices and principles of Systema on a moment to moment basis, to make you more relaxed, calmer and healthier.
We will focus on how to bring the principles to life in routine actions like how you sit, walk, stand, work and of course train, adding pressure to the skills.
It is of course easier in a camp environment, as the outdoors naturally makes you move more…. naturally.
My thought for you though comes from a podcast that I did on Sunday with Ryan Hartley from the Always better than yesterday Interview Sessions.
During the Interview we talked about Leadership and Sacrifice, Courage, Systema, self-management and other topics.
At the end of the podcast he asked me for a final thought and with camp on my mind, it was this phrase, which is not mine, but that I always say to those coming on camps and trips:
“Take your time and don’t rush through these next five days. Take the time to stop and smell the smells, taste the food and enjoy the relationships. Just sit and soak in a sunrise or sunset. Watch a kite circling. You will have some very special moments over the next five days, so Savour the moments, because if you miss the moments, you miss your life.
I hope that you all have a great week.
My very best wishes to you all,
Matt.
Plus, whenever you ready, here are a few ways I can help with our Systema journey:
1. Complete your Systema Assessment:
The holistic assessment is designed to check your overall level of movement quality, range, tension, stress, stability, freedom of movement, coordination, strength and balance. Find out how you score across the 10 Functional Systema areas here.
2. Work with me 1on1 as your personal coach to improve aspects of your health, fitness or Systema Skills:
This is for people struggling to find the right coaching locally. Lots of people don’t have access to a regular instructor, or maybe you are an instructor and don’t have access to a regular mentor to help you improve. You may need to broaden or deepen your knowledge of Systema, get you over hurdles in your breath work, movement, tension or structure in solo or partner work.
The coaching will keep you accountable and progressing in your journey. I have space for 3 or 4 clients, so if you’d like to discuss and see if it’s a fit for both of us, reply and put ‘personal coach’ in the subject line.
3. Come and Train at the Systema Academy in Wiltshire.
We regularly have visitors from all around the world to train at the Academy and they are always made very welcome. Whether you just want to train at the regular classes, take some 1-1 sessions or a bit of both, just reply with ‘visit’ in the subject line.
4. Systema on-line breathing course – an access anytime anywhere course ideal for those wanting to deepen their understanding of Systema Breathing, Instructors who want to broaden their knowledge of drills or for those who spend time practicing on their own. You can find out more here.
5. 28 Day Systema Course – The programme is ideal for complete beginners, people who want to hit the ‘reset’ button, or those who would like to undergo a structured programme that covers the key principles and movements in Systema.
You can find out more here.