Re-wild yourself with Threads Tasmania
American Scott Cashins and Tasmanian-born Ebony Prins talk about the art and science of movement, and setting up the world class Threads retreats
If you haven’t heard of AcroYoga or about a tightknit community of Hobart residents regularly doing handstands on a Monday night, intrigue is bound to follow.
Not every business begins conventionally. Some are a serendipitous union of a Boston-bred biologist and a yoga instructing massage therapist and naturopath. Naturally, they met at a circus festival where their unexpected connection led to the founding of Threads Tasmania.
American Scott Cashins and Tasmanian-born Ebony Prins have both travelled the world studying movement. It was the frogs of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area wilderness area that brought Scott to the island, but the founding of Threads Tasmania with business partner Ebony is what is keeping him here.
Ebony has studied with teachers in Guatemala, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe, Australia and America. Scott brings acrobatic and AcroYoga training experience from Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Europe, Mexico and America, as well as a PhD in Ecology and a love for nature.
So, what is Threads? Threads aims to help people craft fluid, healthy, and adaptable bodies through the merging of yoga, movement, partner acrobatics, AcroYoga, and Thai massage. Combining playfulness with technical skills, Scott and Ebony head up a series of classes, workshops, events and retreats.
“AcroYoga is about getting off your individual mat and exploring the possibilities of movement,” explains Scott. “It combines yoga with the trust of another person. AcroYoga involves one person acting as base who supports a flyer through a range of movements. A spotter is always used to help and make it safe for everyone.”
Although fun is paramount, there are scientifically-proven benefits to the Threads style of movement.
“Movement and learning are linked by shared neural pathways, so by expanding your movement repetoire, you will also improve your mental dexterity through activating pathways not normally used. The more brain connections you can create as adults, the greater your ability to adapt to new situations and possibilities in life,” explains Scott.
“No wonder a keen sense of play throughout life is strongly linked to the avoidance of neurological disorders, like Alzheimer’s. And finding a way to make your movement a form of ‘play’, (defined as something that is fun, and where the act of doing it is more important than the outcome), is also the best motivator to keep moving and being active.” adds Scott.
It’s not just Tasmanians that are lining up to stand upside down or learn the fundamentals of AcroYoga, but enthusiasts from as far away as Europe are flying in to Threads ‘Tarkine Moves’ retreats in the hills of North West Tasmania. “Our retreats offer an opportunity to re-wild yourself in a natural, wild landscape with no phones or distractions. We disconnect completely and come to understand freedom in movement and the subtleties of communication, trust and community building,” says Ebony.
“We’re fortunate to attract world class acrobats as teachers and will be holding our next Tasmanian Acro FlyAway in February 2018 in Lorinna, by the foothills of Cradle Mountain.”
If you haven’t moved far from the office chair, Threads invite you to move their way. Sweat, laughter, boundary-stretching, dynamic movement and a swag of new connections await. Play is one of life’s great teachers and Albert Einstein tends to agree, chiming in that ‘play is the highest form of research.’
Are you interested in making a move? Make it Tasmania.
Find out more about Threads.
For information on starting a business in Tasmania, look through our stories or visit Business Tasmania.