Ground-based movements mimic the moves that first strengthened our muscles and skeletal systems for walking, running and performing all the functions of a healthy human. It helps to think of it as reconnecting with our original strength and purpose. Back when we were all young children, we were experts at ground based movement. Growing up into relatively sedentary adults robbed us of that original strength.
These movements utilise certain patterns that hold benefits we have long forgotten, since we rarely spend much time moving on the ground.
In short, everything we are meant to be able to do get worked during ground based practice.
Think getting down to the floor and back up, core trunk stability, spinal control, wrist, arm, shoulder and hip strength and endurance and yes, plenty of fun too.
Animal Flow is not yet well known in Ireland but where I learned the system in Australia, it is huge. All around Asia and Japan, Animal Flow is well known and understood for its benefits.
Check out this other article where I outline 5 top reasons to try out Animal Flow.
If you are keen now to try out some ground based movement, get in touch and let’s get you moving.
Here’s an age old question I get asked frequently. ‘if you could only train with one piece of equipment what would it be?’
I can only really give my opinion based on what I most frequently use to practice being strong. I’m talking NOT about stronger in the deadlift, squat, press or something specific but rather what I do use to practice being purposefully strong throughout my being or body if you prefer.
My answer? The Floor.
Yeah a wee bit elusive and maybe corny and odd for the less initiated who might proclaim, ‘like duh, you got to rest your dumbbells on the floor dude’! (People still say dude don’t they?)
Apart from using the floor to rest dumbbells and equipment on, the floor plays host to opportunities for using your body to move, to balance, to jump, to push off from.
Last weekend Animal Flow founder Mike Fitch hosted a video conferencing class for the hundreds of us instructors around the world. I joined in with another 600+ instructors where we participated in a 80 minute class! No equipment, just our bodies, the floor and a small handful of engaging movements we practiced before sticking them altogether in a smooth flow.
As you hold a position with precision on the floor for 30 seconds you can’t help but be reminded of how much strength is required to be still, calm and attentive to form.
The ground as an environment can also throw variability that teases your limitations further. Have you ever tried crawling backwards up a slight gradient? Wow – ‘Holy Triceps Batman’ – it’s intense.
Being able to get down to the ground and back to standing is a skill that requires practice and strength. You might not think of it now but when you’re 55+ years of age, getting off the floor can start be become a tiresome undertaking not without its risks too. Practice often mindfully getting down to the foot and back up. It could save your life some day.
Balance is another subject you’ll probably ignore until you realise you suck at it. While it’s funny at times to watch someone lose their balance and hit the deck, it bloody hurts and not to mention it can easily keep you out of the gym for a while. Broken hips and collar bones are not so funny. Balance doesn’t need any fancy slack lines, in fact, at our gym we have a selection of wooden boards or even weights plates that we lay out to practice the many attributes of balance skill. Trust me, spend 1 minute trying to lose your balance and fighting it can really make the thighs burn – if that’s what you like.
Other balance areas include walking split squats with or without a weight, one leg jumps from stepping stones aka weight plates and being able to pivot on those boards without falling into the ‘hot lava’ below.
Have I mentioned push ups yet? You love of loathe the full push up, but believe me when I tell you there are dozens of variations all worthy of practice.
Legs, torsos, arms and life saving skills can all be practiced on the floor beneath you. Don’t leave it at rubber gym mats either. The outdoor nature spots offer even further variability with falling trees, rocks and such.
Just in case you don’t believe me and need some experiential learning, I am hosting some outdoor training sessions in the coming weeks in our local parks. These will include:
An introduction to Animal Flow
Real World Strength and Fitness
Ground based locomotion
Interested? Drop me a message to learn more and to be placed on the reserve list.
