MEET THE TEAM
Opal GOldring
FACILITATOR
My background is in outdoor instructing and tree climbing from a young age in South Africa. I have a BA(Hons) in Outdoor Leadership and experience working with people outdoors all over the UK and in South Africa. I have been increasing my vocabulary of movement through experimenting with a variety of body-body and body-environment practices. I am deeply passionate about coaching and facilitating others through immersive experiences to improve their movement vocabulary and provide experiences which promote better mental health and wellbeing. I’m hoping to continue improving my range of movement and coach others in connecting with themselves, others and their environment through nature-based movement and play.
Charlie HOlt
FACILITATOR
My journey has carried me through a diverse range of practices and teachings, each one shaping who I am and where I’m headed. Lately, that path has taken me deep into the treescapes, where I seek out wild, immersive experiences. I’ve traveled the world, learning from those whose wisdom speaks to our deeper connection with nature. Along the way, I’ve distilled these teachings into a quiet but powerful drive: to help others connect with the heartbeat of the earth in a way that is both tangible and deeply felt.
Alexia Kraft De la saulx
FILMMAKER
My journey of movement facilitation began by filming a documentary about Tarzan Movement. This work introduced me to a whole new perspective about movement and our connection as humans to nature. At that time I was practicing some classic sports such as beach volleyball, running, yoga and living in the big city of Barcelona. While most of the time I felt joy in these practices, there was always this idea in the back of my mind that it was a chore I needed to tick off my to do list, and sometimes I had to fight to find my motivation to move. After the success of the documentary we travelled the world for about a year facilitating many Trazan Movement retreats in the most incredible natural ecosystems. During this time I had the chance to explore my own relationship with nature through many different movement practices but there was one in particular that stuck with me, quadrobics. My intention nowadays is to share with you the joy of this movement practice and how it can be explored in any natural environment. "
Benny thompson
FACILITATOR
Howdy, I'm Benny—a lifelong explorer of movement and play since childhood. Gymnastics, dance, and climbing trees ignited my passion, shaping my mission today of embodied playful living. Growing up with three older brothers, playfighting taught me invaluable lessons early on, emphasising the healing power within it and the importance of a safely held container. Now, as a facilitator, I craft spaces to share this joy, creating environments for safe play, healing, and connection. I invite you to play in your unique way, however that looks. Let's journey together—exploring movement, embracing joy, and diving into the profound connection between our bodies and emotions. Join me in creating spaces where spontaneity thrives, and expressing ourselves becomes a pathway to healing and genuine connection. Together, let's play, move, and discover the boundless joy in the dance between our bodies and the beautiful array of emotions within us all. Thanks for reading my short story; I'm excited to see how our paths may cross in the future!
Benji owen
FACILITATOR
Life is movement… Poetry in motion…. Endless divine alchemy… In vagabonding the world for over 11 years now, I continue to experience & explore the ebb & flow of the chaos & calm, the expansion & contraction. I lean into the new, learn from the old & root here, in the now. To the rhythm of my breath, the beat of my heart. This ushers me on to share my profound love of sound & play. You’ll catch me jamming around the campfire, clowning in the trees and generally being here to gently support the tribe however I can. Movement wise, although I dived into many extreme sports along the way, I generally seem to keep coming back to yoga, dance & playfight... I love the flow of these practices & they keep me feeling fresh and feisty! Anyhow, thank you for reading a little of my story & I’m stoked to know we may meet & move together someday soon!
CHEF
ANNA PARKINSON
I’m Anna! I’ve always been someone that has felt connected to movement and nature. I began taking an interest in cooking and taking care of my health with food as the medicine to aid me thriving as a teenager, which then inspired me to study a degree in Dietetics and Nutrition. Through this, a further knowledge of nutrition and movement playing a vital role in our overall health and wellbeing, a fire was ignited, a passion to make a difference in the world, but my way.
How could I combine this feeling of connection to the outdoors and a wider mission of improving the overall health and wellbeing of people? I started research on the impact of bodily contact with nature on our mental and physical health. Touching grass, mud, trees, wild swimming. All shown to improve the human immune system and gut microbiome. What else has the largest impact on our immune system and gut biome? Food! Bingo!
I am excited to bring my mission of a holistic approach to good physical and mental health to Roots of Play. Combining movement in the natural environment, play, mindfulness, social eating and community to compliment a nutritious and tasty diet.