learning

The following is a draft manifesto for what the world needs now. Not another love song, although a good one goes a long way. But DAWKING or DORKING. A new exercise craze with the potential to lift your happiness levels by 147% !!

Feedback most welcome.

Officially the first two people to go DAWKING anywhere in the world were Alex James-Davy and founder Libby Davy, along the river on a beautiful Autumn morning in March 2006, in North Fremantle.

Current plans are to set up a Brighton UK pilot project and see where it goes from there. A launch at Glastonbury festival next UK summer is in the conceptual stage…

What do you think?

Do you think people would benefit from it?

Would they do it?

Who might they be?

How could we expand it to serve the world (and make a living)? (Know anyone that would like to set a group of their own up?)

What should it be called? DAWKING, DORKING or DALKING or …?

Use the comments form to let me know your thoughts.

And feel free to make a date to come Dorking at your own pace… you can help pick the tunes. And it really is guaranteed to make you happy. Such a laugh.. embrace your inner dork and reclaim the streets, parks and pathways.

Imagine!

Note: this is written in the future tense and is a first draft only.

xxx Libby

………..

What is Dorking?

Quite simply, it’s about dancing just a little bit (or even more) while you walk. It’s about getting into the flow of the music and walking so well it becomes easy to turn up, stay healthy and pump those wonderful endorphins around your body. It’s the ultimate natural high for music lovers. It’s about doing it in groups of like-minded people to avoid feeling embarrassed and to motive each other to turn up and turn on.

Seven good reasons to join in

1. It’s fun

2. It’s healthy

3. It makes you laugh

4. It makes you happy

5. It gives you energy

6. It music into your life and makes your day flow

7. You get to meet other people with the dare to Dork!

8. It’s easier to commit and make sure you actually DO exercise.

9. It can actually help you sleep better

10. You might even meet the Dorker of your dreams (if you’re looking)

How is it different to dancing

Unlike dancing in public, when many of us feel the need to down a few bevvies before getting the confidence to get moving, Dorking allows us to stay pure and get going right from the beginning. All you have to do is walk! Anything else is a bonus.

How is it different to just walking?

A wee wiggle, a giggle, a shimmy, a shake… even a full blown group boogie. Whatever happens and everyone feels comfortable with is good. You do what feels right to you and that’s all.

You get to feel your body in new ways. Feeling yourself IN your body, not just in your head. Feeling the music in your body. It’s a very freeing thing. And 100% alcohol and drug free.

Why not just do it on my own?

Go for it! That’s where it all started. But Libby and others she talked too did occasionally feel a bit embarrassed by some of their more obvious moves when people walked by. You can get over that, and hopefully you will. But we do find that being in a friendly group makes you braver and bolder.

And making a commitment to other people that you will turn up makes all the difference too.

Is it very sociable?

Each person and each group have their own flavour. Some will go for coffee or juices or whatever afterwards. Some people just want to Dork and go, others are happy to make new friends and perhaps even romances. Because Dorking makes you happy (scientifically proven actually), people tend to be happier around each other during and after Dorking. So that always makes it nicer to be together. The main thing is to have fun and just be yourself.

What if I feel shy walking with new people?

That’s fine. You don’t even have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to, just Dork along with your plugs in. It’s perfect for introvert and extrovert moments. For some of us morning Dorking is a time to wake to the world gently, in our own heads. For others it’s fine to interact. People learn to read your social cues and respond appropriately. You might just enjoy watching other peoples moves and walk along peacefully to the music. You might find it infectious and feel like wiggling your hips a little as you go. Whatever you do or feel is just fine. There’s room for everyone!

And often groups of friends will join or start their own groups. Happy teenagers are already doing something similar and loving it! But why leave living just to the young!?

How does it work?

The Dalk Leader plays music from an iPod with an FM Transmitter and the Dalkers wear tiny little FM radio receivers. So everyone is dalking to the same music.

Basically you just turn up at the time and place organised. It will usually be somewhere scenic and inspiring, and accessible. We usually Dork for 45 minutes but each group can make choices as it evolves.

Because we need to be happy even when (and perhaps especially when) the weather is dodgy, it’s important to be prepared. We would only call off a Dork if it was raining heavily and/or blowing a gale. In which case there will be a pre-arranged meeting place for those that wish to have a coffee instead (and dork gently amongst themselves even) - until it clears. The Dalk leader will post a note on the Dalking website an hour before a Dalk if possible, and you can check in. If unsure, decide for yourself where to go.

We are also looking at offering an SMS subscription service that will text you an hour before a Dalk as a reminder (wake up!!?) and update service. Who needs a personal trainer now!?

So as you are approaching, look for your Dorking DJ. She or he will be wearing a pale green t-shirt… Introduce yourself, grab a name tag if you want to…

Best idea is to book in the day or night before so we can bring enough FM Radios and so you can register for the reminder/update SMS. But if you haven’t been able to, just turn up with your own FM Radio.

Your Dorking DJ will have a set of music already chosen for the day, but you can make requests for other sessions. Generally the music will be a mixture of stuff designed to bring you up gently and get you Dorking along the way. As the pace builds, so does your cardiovascular blah blah. We get your heart pumping. Remember, you can always go dorking on your own if you want to choose your own music. But when you are Dorking in a group you go with the groove.

What does the Group Leader do?

Help bring the group together (perhaps or might be done for you), choose the music (same again), but mainly to play it and lead the group on the day. Madonna voice-over headsets optional!

To be welcoming and friendly and inclusive. To get everyone’s details. To help make it fun!

Log on to www.dorking.com (NOT AVAILABLE YET) to make specific requests to your Dalking Jockey (DJ) in advance.

What does it cost?

What do you think? If you compare it to a yoga class or group gym session with a trainer… What should it be? With discounts of course for multiple sessions. We would aim I suppose to get each group happening 1-3 times per week or more.

What kind of music will be played?

Depends on the group really doesn’t it. We already have a very eclectic collection we are building all the time. Here are just some of the genres available…

Alternative
Ambient
Bluegrass
Blues
Bossa Nova !!
Chanson
Chill Out
Classical !
Country
Dance !!
Dance Hall !
Disco !!
Easy Listening
Electronica !
Folk !!
Film soundtrack
Funk !!!
Hip Hop /Rap !
House
Jazz
Indie
Latin !
Lo-Fi
Meditation !
Pop !
R&B !
Reggae !
Rock & Roll !
Ska !
Techno !
Trip Hop !
World !

(! are my personal Dalking preferences.. basically anything but hard metal.)

And variations on all (eg. Latin Jazz). What would you want to hear if you were Dalking? Vote now and make sad hips history.

We will generally start slower and warm up, then cool down again at the end. But you can help decide. Do stay ‘open’ though to what the leader is offering and what others might like to hear… and what you might learn to love!

What happens next? How is it going to happen?

All feedback is not just welcome but essential. If you too can see the potential Dalking has for spreading health and happiness, please join in. Many opportunities for people anywhere in the world to be involved from the very beginning.

Specifically we are looking for:

1) Encouragement and feedback

2) Thoughtful, enthusiastic individuals and/or groups to really go through all the questions asked here plus any others that need answering and share your thoughts. No matter who or where you are, your opinions matter to us.

3) Contacts that might help spread the joy - music industry, wellbeing & health sector, activist networks, business angels to offer seed capital, other like-minded people to connect with..

4) People of any age or kind in Brighton that would like to be in the pilot project

Leave your comments here or email libby@barkingowl.com. Or you can phone me on +44 (0)7968 687 107 in Brighton UK (GMST).

Can’t wait to go Dalking/Dorking with you or hear how you it feels when you do wherever and however you do!

x Libby