Movement training is a type of exercise that emphasises natural, often functional movements, that the human body is designed to perform. It is a form of physical training that focuses on improving strength, mobility, flexibility, and coordination by performing various movements that mimic real-life activities.
Unlike traditional weightlifting exercises that isolate muscles, movement training involves full-body movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously. These movements are typically functional, they involve a combination of pushing, pulling, twisting, and bending, as well as jumping and crawling.
Before we proceed any further, a word of caution: check with your doctor before starting a new exercise or diet routine and always work-out within your limits. A personal trainer can also help with technique and specific skills.
Examples of popular movement training routines include:
Animal Flows: Bodyweight training programs that blends animal-inspired movements like bear crawls, crab walks, and ape hops with yoga-inspired flows and ground-based movements.
Calisthenics: A type of bodyweight training that focuses on performing exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and squats in creative and challenging ways to improve strength and mobility.
Functional Fitness: A type of training that emphasises natural, multi-planar movements that mimic real-life activities. It typically involves exercises like squats, lunges, deadlifts, and kettlebell swings to improve overall fitness and functional strength.
Some of our favourite practitioners can be found on the following YouTube channels below:
The Bioneer
GMB Fitness
K Boges
Strength Side
Vahva Fitness
Final Thoughts
What does 'fitness' mean to you? Often people get caught up on one pattern of training - likely that they enjoy the most - and ignore others that also have benefits and are vital in the long-term. Some people only run, others only hit the weights in the gym. Cross training is vital, there are so many options and alternate modalities and benefits to be enjoyed. Flexibility training has been shown to be associated with longevity effects.
For most people, improving health is about finding motivation and prioritising self-care with an ultimate goal of taking action. If you want to take effective and targeted steps that fit into your unique lifestyle, The Whole Health Practice is here to help.
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Stay Healthy,
Alastair
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Related Studies
Gabbett TJ, Oetter E. From Tissue to System: What Constitutes an Appropriate Response to Loading? Sports Med. 2024 Nov 11. doi: 10.1007/s40279-024-02126-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39527327.
Paluch AE, Boyer WR, Franklin BA, Laddu D, Lobelo F, Lee DC, McDermott MM, Swift DL, Webel AR, Lane A; on behalf the American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. Resistance Exercise Training in Individuals With and Without Cardiovascular Disease: 2023 Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024 Jan 16;149(3):e217-e231. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000001189. Epub 2023 Dec 7. PMID: 38059362.
Ogawa M, Hashimoto Y, Mochizuki Y, Inoguchi T, Kouzuma A, Deguchi M, Saito M, Homma H, Kikuchi N, Okamoto T. Effects of free weight and body mass-based resistance training on thigh muscle size, strength and intramuscular fat in healthy young and middle-aged individuals. Exp Physiol. 2023 Jul;108(7):975-985. doi: 10.1113/EP090655. Epub 2023 May 3. PMID: 37133323; PMCID: PMC10988481.
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