#80: David Wilson, Oldscoolmoves: Thinking differently about growing older - redefining age perceptions and physical capability

David Wilson (@oldscoolmoves) is on the Passive Hang! David is a movement coach, anti-ageism advocate and educator, based in Toronto, Canada. David teaches at @spiritloft and online. David’s challenges our societal narratives around age-ing and what it means to become old.

David used to be an English teacher, before committing himself to physical practice. Letting go of a sedentary lifestyle, David, in spite of his age, has transformed his capabilities beyond what he was able to achieve in his 20s and 30s. He spreads a powerful provocation - to recognise how our coupling of ability and age is misinformed, and in many cases, limiting the potential of what people can do. Age-ing and frailty is not an inevitability. Even so, David is particularly nuanced in his message - avoiding “grey-washing” where we present an over optimistic view of the ageing process. We age, there is a natural decline of some capacities - but just not to the extent that we are led to believe.

In this episode David talks about some of the main limiting narratives that we can recognise as trainers, students and participants of life. We all age, and it’s our responsibility to build a better culture around the ageing process. We don’t have to believe that the best days are only that spent in youth.

David shares many creative ideas on his Instagram page - and we get to discuss how his values of curiosity, compassion and play inform his practice.

A powerful conversation with a person shifting the conversation.

Thanks David for joining the Passive Hang!

You can find him on Instagram at @oldscoolmoves or https://sites.google.com/view/david-wilson-movement/home