Evolve Move Play -

Andrew Choflet

The nature connection and community building I experienced during the Retreats was unlike anything I've experienced. It really opened up my practice and view to the world in ways I couldn't have anticipated

Connecting with Rafe online is also an incredibly insightful way to sort through the massive world of sports, movement, and functional fitness in order to see the most meaningful connections linked to character development.

If you also love the idea of reframing fitness as play, and movement as a practice for personal growth, you'll love EMP's retreats, workshops, and courses as well!

Andrew Gray

I just got back from the EMP Autumn Retreat and felt compelled to share a few words on my experience.

It’s hard to explain just how positively impactful this has been for me already. I came into the retreat with a healthy dose of skepticism, but an open mind. I didn’t really know what I was getting by myself into but came away with much more than I bargained for. EMP Founder Rafe Kelley and his cadre of world class facilitators - Aaron Cantor, Kyle Koch, Ben Medder, Chaz (Mowgli), and Miranda Capelle have created a deeply meaningful and transformative modern day crucible.

For me, I didn’t just come away a better/more natural mover, step foot in some cool places, and meet fascinating people. What I really got was the ability to see the world again like I did before decades of fear, anxiety, and disconnection drove me inside myself. It’s like reseting that game of Tetris that’d been stacking too high, too heavy, and for too long. I regained a kind of mature innocence. The simple intangibles like talking to people close enough to have a hand on their shoulder instead of maintaining a “safe distance”, and feeling sillier, more present, and more authentic.

If you think this might be a novelty, fad, or new age fairy dust, you have no idea. Rafe would be too humble to say this himself, but he is without question a generational thinker and leader. My sincerest thanks and gratitude to everyone at EMP!

“And one remembers how fascinating the most ordinary everyday things are to a child, because they see them all as marvellous — because they see them all in a way that is not related to survival and profit. When we get to thinking of everything in terms of survival and profit value, as we do, then the shapes of scratches on the floor cease to have magic. And most things, in fact, cease to have magic.” Alan Watts

Joel Smith

Spending a week at Return to the Source was life changing. I have experienced movement and training in my life, almost exclusively through the lens of team sports, track and sports performance. Learning from Rafe and the EMP staff in a variety of nature games, rough-housing, parkour and “King of the Course”, left me with a completely new lens on how to approach movement and physical training in both the athletes I work with, and in my own individual practice. More importantly, I’ve learned how to apply these practices with a sense of community that I was able to engage with first-hand, where the goal went well beyond scoring more points, lifting the maximal amount of weight, or jumping as high or as far as possible. I would absolutely recommend this retreat to any sport or strength coach, as well as anyone who wants to connect with movement, nature, and life itself, on a deeper and more meaningful level.

Strong Start Coach Mark

Rafe is one of the most knowledgeable teachers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. And yes he would frown that I ended that first sentence with a preposition. I really appreciate his insight and incorporation of anthropology into physiology and movement application in a human context across a broad stretch of history. Rafe is innovative and teaches in a very comfortable and approachable method. Through progressions he is able to take adults far beyond their normal comfort zone and open their paradigm up to endless possibilities. I’m honored to call Rafe friend through these years as we connected quite a while ago. If you have an opportunity to learn from him don’t pass it up. See I began and ended my opening and concluding thoughts with a preposition, just to get a smile out of my friend Rafe. Awesome guy!

HopePunk In the GrimDark (Cheeky Monkey)

Rafe Kelley and the folks at Evolve Move Play are among my favorite people in the world.  Making the choice to enroll in the Return to the Source retreat and Evolve Move Play Academy has forever changed my life for the better.  Being a part of the EMP community and experience means having support and guidance in discovering your most heroic self by some joyfully powerful and knowledgeable staff who don't shy away from sharing their excitement in helping you along your own personal journey.  In helping me restore my faith and confidence in myself and in opening my mind to possibilities, Rafe Kelley and his stellar staff (Rob, Kyle, and Andrew, looking at you guys) have my eternal gratitude!

Kerry

Brilliant natural movement training and teachings! Rafe has developed an innovative and exciting approach that also makes sense intuitively. He and his team boast extensive background and experience, backing up their practice with substance and theory. The fitness industry can so often be boring, or lack depth, or rely on untested trends. Rafe counters this so well, whether it is through a single movement session (my family have all participated - so awesome!), or a weekend- or week-long workshop (my husband participated - again, top marks!). He meets each participant where they're at, and knows exactly how to get everyone moving and having fun while doing your body good. Highly recommend working with this forward-thinking collective; your mind and body will thank you!

Sophie Grey

I did not have a strong movement practice when I began working with Evolve Move Play. I hadn't been what I'd consider "fit" since high school and I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep up. I was intrigued by the unique approach Rafe Kelly represents with EMP --less of a "fitness lifestyle" and more of a "staying fit by investing in being alive"--so I gave it a shot and discovered not only an entire new vocabulary of ways to move my body, but also a whole new way to look at the entire world and an amazing community of people living their best lives to back it up. I now have a fun, rewarding movement practice that I absolutely feel helps me be the best version of myself. Rafe and his staff are incredible teachers who make their content accessible, super fun, and so very worthwhile. 10/10, highly recommended for literally anyone

Patrick Walsh

Wow what a unique experience! It's almost hard to put into words but here goes! Evolve move play/return to source felt like a once in a lifetime journey into the natural world with a tribe of compassionate human beings and fellow movement enthusiasts. The gathering is jam packed with life changing experiences such as jumping off waterfalls, learning about the natural world and our relationship to it, singing in the sauna, playing uniquely creative games, campfires and so much more. Rafe and the people he surrounds himself with are incredible! As a group we all cultivated a strong sense of tribal connection and honestly felt like family in such a short time.

If you are looking for an adventure full of fun, inspiration, wisdom, freedom, connection and support then I highly recommend EMP! To me the food, nature scene and knowledge alone is worth it and the fact that you get to play, explore, and grow everyday in the gorgeous outdoors for a week is a huge perk. It is an immensely pleasurable experience and I look forward to attending again in the future.