Training the way we were born to move
Modern conveniences have changed the way people live and move.
Humans are meant to move, yet our lifestyles have taken us further and further away from our true nature, disconnecting us physically and mentally from the joy of movement.
This has lead to an evolution of natural human movement as a training technique in fitness and health. Unlike our ancestors, we no longer hunt, farm or gather to survive. In fact, in modern day life, the only surfing most of us will ever do is on the Internet.
For the most part, unless we make a conscious effort to be physically active, we barely have to move to live. Even occupations that at one time involved physical labour have decreased the human effort required with advanced technology. This dramatic change in our habits and everyday lifestyle is leading to a new way of thinking and training to stay fit, healthy and well.
A growing interest in human movement is unfolding in the fitness industry. Fitness professionals and training educators are talking about primal movement pattern, animal moves and natural movement. Even large fitness apparel companies are supporting and promoting being more human.
Primal movement training refers to movement patterns that are essential for normal function. The common movements are squatting, lunging, lifting, pushing, pulling, hinging, rotating and gait.
Taking this philosophy further, coaches and trainers are now developing systems that reflect the necessary skills to be functional as humans.
An evolving human movement training method is MovNat. This system of fitness and physical education is based on the full range of natural human movement.
MovNat certified trainer Stefano Tripney describes this form of training as the development of physical competence and mindset in order to better perform in a variety of practical, real- world situations in both the urban landscape as well as less forgiving terrain and surfaces of the wild natural world. It involves locomotive skills like jumping, running, climbing, crawling, vaulting and rolling. And manipulative skills like carrying, throwing and catching.
Founded by Erwan Le Corre, MovNat is a methodology that was developed through his experiences while being active in nature and training in various sports. Seeing a missing link in current training methods and human behaviour, he researched ancient practices of physical fitness to develop a system that has a broad spectrum of human movement and health.
According to Tripney, MovNat is endless in the ways you can train. Movement development is depending on needs and goals of the individual and the progression towards mastery of the skills. Skillbased training can be developed by addressing a multitude of factors: balance, timing, selective tension, breathing, posture and mindfulness.
More important, there is a practice purpose for everything that can be developed in or outside of the gym. In the gym, you may do manoeuvres on the balance beam, work on swings, climbing ropes or jumping boxes that can then be taken outdoors and applied to uneven terrains, logs, trees and rock.
“Everybody, at some point, wants to jump, climb, swing and run,” says Tripney. “There is huge benefit to both the neurology and nervous system simply by learning and performing a new movement pattern. Humans have evolved to move in this way, therefore it’s incredibly instinctual.”
All movement is a learned skill. Through repetition and neuromuscular programming, we build efficiency, effectiveness and adaptability. When the body stops moving, this programming shuts down and dysfunction kicks in.
Natural human movement specialists create opportunities to train in a variety of environments for optimal results. The training focus includes strength, endurance, mobility, co- ordination, timing, adaptability, agility and mental focus.
More and more evidence is indicating that moving your body in a wide variety of ways is ideal in avoiding overuse injuries and for optimal health and wellness. In fact, the more diversity you have in your fitness program, the better it is for lasting results.
Life is unpredictable. Human movement specialists train you to be adaptable, gain knowledge of how to move your body and to reconnect to movement and the world around you.