Body Ecology and Emersive Exploration of Self: The Case of Extreme Adventurers

ABSTRACT

Body ecology by cosmosis refers to the experience of immersion, or the incorporation of the elements of nature through a body practice, leisure or sport. In this article, we propose comprehensive understanding of corporeal practices that become emersive when new emotions are produced. Considering the background of emersiology proposed by Bernard Andrieu, we first explore the notions of immersive leisure, ecologisation, cosmosis, and body ecology. Next, we investigate the relationship of the human body to nature while experiencing wilderness adventures over the course of outdoor sport or exploration. In doing so, we present different levels of ‘emersion’, from reflex activation to awareness, by studying diaries kept by adventurers who have experienced extreme environments. Body ecology produces modifications and adaptation in the living body, supporting multiple motives for participating in adventure sports and leisure in nature. Furthermore, immersion in extreme environments helps us to better understand cosmosis and may support an ecological understanding of our belonging to the world.

KEYWORDS:

• Cosmosis
• body ecology
• emersiology
• adventure sports

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

^1. Sastrugi, or zastrugi, is a Russian word for ‘small ridges’ that defines features with irregular grooves and ridges formed by erosion of snow by wind. They are found in Polar Regions, and in snowy, wind-swept areas of temperate regions, such as frozen lakes or mountain ridges. Sastrugi is not always stable snow and often looks rough like frozen waves (Avalanche encyclopedia 2020).

Additional information

Funding

Part of this work was supported by the Capes Fundation/Brazil under Grant [CAPES-PRINT - 88887.371515/2019-00].