RWMF to showcase martial arts, yoga
KUCHING: The 20th edition of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) will feature a wellness programme, comprising workshops throughout the three-day weekend event this year.
Visitors can expect a number of activities like demonstrations of the ‘Capoeira’ – a Brazilian dance-like martial art, traditional yoga as well as unique meditation techniques being run.
Malcom Wu – the founder of Movimento Simples de Capoeira, Sarawak (MSDCS) – will showcase some Capoeira moves during the festival.
“It’s not just about combat or self-defence, but also the training of physical and mental attributes such as body balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, agility, concentration, rhythm, timing and even self-confidence, respect, consideration for others, teamwork and discipline.
“All these traits can be incorporated into our daily lives to attain self-improvement,” said Malcom in a press statement yesterday.
Kuching Tai Chi Association instructor Lai Cho Sin will also hold a Tai Chi session that features the use of this ancient Chinese martial art, with its flowing water-like movements that promote the relief and reduction of stress.
Additionally, the Rumpun Silat Sarawak will be holding a ‘Silat Moves’ session, teaching
It’s not just about combat or self-defence, but also the training of physical and mental attributes such as body balance, coordination, strength, flexibility, agility, concentration, rhythm, timing and even self-confidence, respect, consideration for others, teamwork and discipline. — Malcom Wu, Movimento Simples de Capoeira, Sarawak (MSDCS) founder
and sharing with the participants this internationally-recognised Malay art of self-defence – so well-known that it was featured on the National Geographic Channel’s ‘Fight Masters’ series.
For a mix of martial arts and yoga, the ‘Yoga Warrior’ session will showcase the ‘Budokon Yoga’ – a hybrid exercise that produces fluid movements aimed at encouraging flexibility and strength by focusing on the transition from posture to posture, rather than the holding of the postures.
This session will be led by Daniel Geller from the Budokon University of Mixed Movement Arts.
Alvin Heng, who has been a teacher and practitioner of Vinyasa Yoga for a decade, will also be holding a session for participants to synchronise breathing with a continuous movement of postures – a practice that increases overall balance, flexibility and strength.
Unlike Budokon Yoga, Vinyasa teaches a variety of yoga with far less martial art influence.
Another practitioner Alice Chieng will introduce two distinct yoga sessions called the ‘Hatha Yoga’ and the ‘Yin Yoga’, which uses the physical balance between masculine and feminine movements to stabilise the internal masculine and feminine energy in participants, encouraging physical and mental steadiness.
Wong Ah Shui, a practitioner of Vipassana meditation and a Dharma worker at the Kuching Buddhists Society (KBS), will present a Vipassana session.
Dr Lennie Soo – vicepresident of Federation of Complementary and Natural Medical Associations–Malaysia who has a background in clinical hypnotherapy – will also feature two sessions on unique, but no less traditional, meditation techniques.
Using a traditional Indian meditation technique ‘Homa Therapy’, Dr Soo will also be using flames to remove toxic conditions in the atmosphere for the cleansing of the body and the mind.
In the true festival mood, the Zumba Fitness, Shake It! Studio and Exhilarate Fitness Studio will host the ‘Zumba Fitness Party’ – an actual total-body cardio workout innocuously disguised as a ‘dance party’.
RWMF 2017 will take place at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), where some 20 international bands will converge on from July 14 to 16.
For more information on activities, logistics or tickets, logon to www.rwmf.net.
The annual festival is organised by Sarawak Tourism, endorsed by Tourism Malaysia and jointly supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports and partnering with Malaysia Airlines as the presenting sponsor.