Now for forgetting queuing for a sweaty machine in a stuffy gym, the new trend for primal fitness stretches your body as nature intended. Forget pounding the treadmill for hours or being shouted at by the instructor to isolate your trans versus abdominis. The latest fitness trend is inspiring gyms to clear out their machines and replace them with classes that focus on the primal movements on which our ancestors relied on to stay alive, like climbing, jumping and throwing.
Natural fitness is all about moving your body in the way it’s designed to move. You should focus on real workouts that incorporate the movements and skills of our hunter- gatherer ancestors, from squatting to barefoot running and even boxing. You learn how to move as nature intended, rather than training to look good. By applying this you will do look good.
Using primal movements not only tones your body and gives you a pulse- racing workout, it improves balance and coordination because it activates every muscle, big and small.
Developing awareness about what your body is doing is the main key, wild fitness help in developing the skills by balancing barefoot on slack lines. These are slackened tightropes that force you to engage your core to stay steady, thereby toning you up and improve your posture. This exercise has a real good effects.
Perhaps the best thing about the whole fitness trend is to say good bye to all that hours spent on stepper or lying on a mat trying to notch up hundreds of sit- ups. As in a gym you will learn how to traditionally isolate one muscle at a time, but we do not use muscles like that in our real life, so the simple question is why to train for it. Muscles are much more natural and far more effective with the movements which use multiple joints and muscles. So endless crunches are replaced by exercises like burpees, which train your core, upper and lower body at the same time, eliminating the need for separate exercises.
Most of the fitness experts are now looking for new ways to get rid of equipment to create a lot more space for funstional, natural fitness. We are looking for a class where you exercise in and around a giant climbing frame, combining pull- ups, chin- ups and climbing with floor work like burpees.
But the question that arises is that if these are ‘natural’ movements, and our bodies have evolved to move this way, then why do we need lessons in how to use them? The answer which come to our mind is this that we have de- conditioned. Using computers, sitting for hours on end and getting around by car leads to forgetting how to move naturally.
But don’t be upset as you still have the ability to do these functionality, primal movements and once we start to wake up those long- forgotten mucsles, you will naturally start to look and feel better, develop to lean, toned physique and have fun while doing so. There’s more in it as natural fitness can also prevent injuries. The barefoot runners tend to run on the ball or mid- foot, which avoids heel- strike and creates hardly any impact, limiting damage to your joints.
You can do the course and you will see a stronger, leaner and more symmetrical version of your old body. Even back home you can take up barefoot running. throw pebbles in the sea. And if could just deal with the funny looks, start climbing trees in the local park and your local personal evolution will be complete.
5 Must Do Primal Moves
If you are inspired to get real with your own workouts then incorporate these moves into your usual fitness routine, and see the serious results.
Hunter gatherer squat
The squat position is our natural default setting. It stretches the spine and recruits almost all your muscles, especially the large ones, such as your glutes, quad and hamstrings. Keep your heels flat on the floor and sit down, your arms hanging forward and your thighs close to your calves. Do it on your tiptoes until your body adapts. Repeat 8 times.
Spiderman press up
This multi dimensional move involves your core, pecs, triceps, glutes and quads. It creates a more streamlined physique. Start in a press- up position. Lower yourself down and bring your right knee to your right elbow. Push yourself back up and return your leg to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Do 8 to 10 sets.
Primal burpee
This combine several movements in one. Start in a hunter- gatherer squat. Place your hands on the floor between your knees, transfer your weight into your hands and jump back into a plank. Jump your legs back in, then leap up, stretching your arms above your head. Drop straight down back into the squat. Do as many as possible in 20 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds, repeat 5 to 8 times.
Stick twist
Hold a broom handle in both hands, keeping your right hand down, lift your left arm up, to bring it over the right side of your head and shoulders, moving down behind you. Bring your right arm up, moving it back to the front and back down into the start position. Repeat several times in both the directions.
Wild combo
This move challenges your mind and body. Head to your local park and create a wild combo circuit. Choose up to six of these natural movements that is balancing, jumping, climbing, hanging, running, crawling, lifting, throwing. Look for trees on which you can swing from, paths for sprinting, fallen branches to balance on, or bushes to crawl under. Do your circuit for 20 minutes.
