Animal Flow The Benefits of Quadrupedal Movement Presented
Animal Flow: The Benefits of Quadrupedal Movement Presented by: Mike Fitch, Creator of Animal Flow & President of Global Bodyweight Training AFPA October 2014
Why “Animal Flow? ” § Animal: Experience movement as the HUMAN ANIMAL § Flow: Integrated, fluid, multi-planar transfer of energy
Functional Training So, what exactly is this “Functional Training? ”
Functional Training Mike’s Definition: training a client to reach specific goals or address specific issues, such injuries or postural distortions , while improving their ability to perform at their work, sport, hobby or day to day life
Reconnecting Our Bodies to the Ground
Our Teacher: The Ground
Ground Reaction Force § Be aware and conscious of our GRF § Minimize impact § Dissipate forces through the kinetic chain
The Single Plane Human
Standing/ Moving: 2 hrs, 8% Sample Day at Work, in Car, at Dinner…. Sleeping: 8 hrs, 34% Sitting: 14 hrs, 58% Sleeping: Sitting: 8 hrs 14 hrs Standing/Moving: 2 hrs
The Neuromuscular Superhighway § Connection to the ground § Kinetic chains § Slings
Multi-Planar Movement
Benefits of Animal Flow § STRENGTH § STABILITY § POWER § FLEXIBILITY § ENDURANCE § SPEED § COORDINATION § AGILITY
Benefits of Animal Flow § Improved movement = Improved function § Increasing intermuscular coordination and neuromuscular efficiency § Improving mobility, flexibility and stability through multiple planes of motion § Utilizing maximum oxygen consumption and caloric expenditure § Increased cardiovascular response
Program Integration § § § Dynamic Warm-Up Interval Training / HIIT Circuit and Strength Training Stand Alone or Integrated Assessment Correction
Animal Flow Components § Wrist Mobilizations § Form Specific Stretches § Activations § Traveling Forms § Switches & Transitions § Flows
Wrist Mobilizations § Increase extensibility / flexibility at the wrists § Movement Preparation § Body Scan / Connection
Sample Wrist Mobs
Form Specific Stretches § Full end points of Range of Motion (ROM) (flexion followed by extension; internal rotation followed by external rotation) § May be used as statics, active dynamics, or conditioning (multiple reps) § Quick check - movement assessment
The Crab Reach
Activations § Preparing the body, reconnecting systems: Static Beast Static Crab § Progressively increase the challenge by systematically decreasing the base of support: Limb lift
Beast Activations
Traveling Forms “The ABCs of Animal Movements” § Crawling into dynamic stabilization
Forward Traveling Beast
Switches and Transitions § Movement Windows § Conditioning § Integration into strength programs
Underswitch
Flows § Seamless transfer of energy § “Call-Outs” versus “Flows” § Vary forms, temp, duration
Learn more about Animal Flow: www. Global. Bodyweight. Training. com Email: mike@Global. Bodyweight. Training. com Interested in trying out Animal Flow? Use code AFPAFLOW to save $15 off the video at: www. Global. Bodyweight. Training. com/animalflow-coupon/
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