Why strength coaches are making adults exercise like animals — and 3 'primal' must-try moves
A personal trainer shares why strength coaches use animal movement to train adults.
Strength coaches are encouraging adults to exercise like animals, incorporating primal movements into their workouts. This style of training, known as Animal Flow, combines bodyweight exercises into a flowing sequence that mimics animal movements such as crawling, pouncing, and squatting. The practice aims to improve mobility, build functional strength, and enhance bone, joint, and ligament health without the need for equipment, just a floor surface.
Animal Flow routines consist of various elements including wrist mobilizations, activations (warm-ups), form-specific stretches, traveling forms, and transitions. These components work together to develop a smooth flow of movements.
A study conducted by Animal Flow and Dr. Jeffrey Buxton examined the impact of a Quadrupedal Movement Training (QMT) program on functional movement, range of motion, muscular strength, and endurance. The results showed improvements in whole-body stabilization, flexibility, and range of motion.
Animal Flow not only aids in physical fitness but also promotes mindfulness and a sense of grounding, reconnecting individuals with their inner animal. Practicing this form of movement can lead to increased balance, coordination, stability, range of motion, and proprioception in all directions. Moreover, rhythmic motion can be therapeutic for the nervous system, helping to reduce stress.
Three primal moves to try include the Loaded Beast, Cat Crawl, and Frog, each targeting different muscle groups and improving overall strength and function.
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