Animal flow: the sport that awakens your animal instinct

Since 2018, a new trend has taken over gyms around the world: animal flow. The movements are inspired by those of wild animals to achieve muscle strengthening without any equipment. The workouts bring many health, mental and physical benefits. In addition to allowing fitness accessible to any athlete of all levels, this physical activity helps you reconnect with your primary instincts.

What is animal flow and what does it consist of?

Registered by Mike Fitch , a professional American sports coach in bodybuilding, this sports practice is a set of movements performed on all fours, inspired by the primary patterns used by wild animals. This way of moving allows, among other things, to solicit all the muscles of your body in order to improve your endurance, your flexibility, your mobility, your power as well as your speed and your balance.

The animal flow combines a limited series of movements, which once assimilated, allow you to create several sequences and complete your training. To improve your physical condition, you will therefore have to run, roll, pull, crawl, jump... You can indulge in animal movement (animal flow) as part of a bodybuilding, cardio, fitness, gymnastics session. or simply for a warm-up if you plan to continue with another sporting activity afterwards.

All movements are performed on the ground and without any equipment. You will therefore play with the weight of the body to build muscle in the areas you want to target and burn your calories. With the animal flow, you can refine your glutes, sculpt your abs, muscle your thighs, tone your hips, etc.

Each sequence is based on a classic physical exercise such as the push-up, squat, sheathing, running embellished with more fluidity, like animal movements. It is therefore not a fitness program or a fitness program and even less, a bodybuilding program. The movements only need to be mastered so that everyone can adapt them to their liking during their own training in the gym or at home.

What benefits does animal flow bring?

This physical practice allows first of all to discover the movements on the ground. This promotes, among other things, the development of different cognitive abilities, whether in terms of motor skills or organic strength. You will feel able to manipulate your body freely.

The animal flow also helps you improve your movements and reflexes. You will learn how to fall, jump and spread out so as not to put yourself in danger. Joint and muscle strengthening exercises contribute to better physical conditioning. This sports training mobilizes the whole body with the aim of a complete fitness. Whether your goal is weight loss or muscle toning, the intensity of the exercises allows you to work on your general physical condition.

The benefits of animal flow are not limited to your body, your mind also enjoys many benefits. It promotes openness by helping you realize that your strength is not enough to perform the different movements. You will also need a healthy mind and a well-balanced mind. By practicing animal flow, you will open up to your surroundings and pay more attention to your environment.

This practice is very beneficial for allowing you to reconnect with the wild world. Being inspired by the movements made by animals helps you better understand them and better understand their importance in your life.

The animal flow can also be practiced in a group. This will help you to bond with other athletes who have the same goals as you. In addition to nurturing your spirit of camaraderie, you will also benefit from a sense of belonging. Indeed, the community of animal flowists is very open and very welcoming.

What are the components of animal flow?

This sporting practice is made up of 6 types of movements which, once combined, help you build your own sequence.

• Wrist movements to prepare your joints to receive the weight of the body through the different repetitions that will be performed;
• Activation movements to activate the body, a kind of pre-warm-up to create a link between body and mind;
• Specific stretches to help the body adopt the movements more easily and reduce the fear of injury;
• Animal locomotion movements through which you move your body (monkey, lion or tiger locomotion and crab movement);
• Transitions and changes that allow you to create fluidity between movements with the aim of doing exercises as a whole;
• Flows that bring together other movements and positions whether improvised, choreographed or guided.

Who is this sport for?

The animal flow is intended for the general public. This practice is accessible to all levels whether you are a total beginner or an experienced athlete. The movements can be adapted to each level. However, you will have to be regular in the workouts so that you can master the movements. Because you must indeed perform the different postures well in order to perform the figures well. Indeed, it is over the sessions that you will learn to move around better and therefore ensure your safety.

How to equip yourself to practice the animal flow?

As said before, this sport does not need any specific equipment. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes and a workout outfit and you're ready for the session. Several sports halls in Paris currently offer this activity to maintain your shape. You just have to find out when the sessions are going. Also remember to inform the instructor who will lead the session. Look to certified instructors to help you get started with animal flow.