Every day presents the chance to learn something new. Recently, I explored primal movement, an exercise I’ve noticed during my gym visits and YouTube sessions, but hadn’t fully investigated. Like cycling and Pilates, you can attend classes in person or find free guided workouts online.
Primal movement offers a playful exercise experience, emphasizing natural movements like crawling, squatting, lunging, rolling, and balancing, which might remind you of toddlers or monkeys—hence the name “primal.” Although it might evoke thoughts of certain fitness communities, this exercise is rooted in functional fitness, focusing on improving mobility, flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, joint health, and spatial awareness. It allows you to reclaim natural movements often lost in our sedentary lifestyles.
When researching primal movement online, you’ll likely encounter Animal Flow. While often used interchangeably, Animal Flow is a branded exercise program focused on animal-like movements, generally requiring a financial commitment, unlike the broader primal movement concept. While some online content overlaps, keep in mind the differences between the two.
For exploring primal movement on YouTube, I suggest watching some workouts before trying them yourself. You’ll need space for activities like squats, crawls, and rolls, and knowing the exercises beforehand is beneficial. Most routines don’t require equipment, making it accessible anywhere.
Smoov Moves is a great YouTube channel to start with, offering beginner-friendly guidance through essential movements like arm swings and sliding hinges. Though the audio may not be top-notch, the video quality compensates, with features like exercise bookmarks and countdown timers. It’s supportive and well-structured according to skill levels.
GMB Fitness, founded by a physical therapist, offers numerous videos on mobility and stretching. Although not all are strictly primal, effective searches can lead to relevant content. Trainer Ryan Hurst provides clear and direct instruction without on-screen graphics, relying on quality audio and video.
Finally, Animal Flow’s YouTube channel does feature some free content, including beginner classes led by creator Mike Fitch. The channel offers high-quality video demonstrations from a professional perspective, with various camera angles to enhance understanding.