Animal Flow and Primal Movement: Going Back to Basics for Strength

In an era of high-tech fitness clubs and complex exercise equipment, a fresh movement is being led back to the basics—the floor. Welcome to Animal Flow and Primal Movement, two fast-emerging movement arts revolutionizing the way we approach strength, flexibility, and body awareness. Rooted in organic, bodyweight movements, these models of training utilize our nature-inspired tendencies for an holistic and functional approach to fitness.

Whether you’re an athlete, a yogi, or a beginner seeking a fun and intuitive way to move, Animal Flow and Primal Movement offer a full-body experience that enhances physical and mental well-being—without any fancy equipment.

What is Animal Flow?

Animal Flow is a floor-based movement system developed by fitness coach Mike Fitch that replicates the movement of animals—easy, strong, and precise. It integrates breakdancing, gymnastics, Parkour, and yoga to develop strength, flexibility, and coordination patterns.

Key Concepts:
 

• Wrist mobilizations
• Activations (activating core and shoulders)
• Form-specific movements (e.g., Beast, Crab, Ape)
• Switches and transitions (sequencing movement into flow)
• Flow (the creative, choreographed patterns)

Animal Flow isn't exercise—it's intentionful, artistic movement that turns your body into its own gym.

Benefits of Animal Flow:
 

• Builds core strength and muscular endurance
• Enhances mobility and flexibility
• Enhances coordination, balance, and spatial awareness
• Activates multiple muscle groups simultaneously
• Enhances mental focus and body-mind connection

What is Primal Movement?

Primal Movement is a fitness concept of muscle that is more inclusive and adaptive, where individuals can move like ancient muscles—rolling, crawling, squatting, climbing, running, and leaping. 

These are activities that humans were made to do in daily life prior to the beginning of the sedentary age.

It's not sets and reps of muscle—it's about muscle moving naturally in forms that build strength, adaptability, and agility.

✅ Primal Movement advantages:
 

• Enhances functional strength and activities of daily living
• Facilitates joint stability and muscle recruitment
• Decreases risk of movement disorder injury
• Develops explosive strength and posture
• Makes training a pleasure and intuitive

Supported by movement professionals such as Ido Portal and websites such as MovNat, primal training facilitates playful investigation of movement—a much-needed respite from propriety of traditional gym protocol.

How They Work Together

Animal Flow and Primal Movement have a shared pleasure: freedom of mobility, body sense, and neuro activation. Both focus on:

• Movement in many planes (not linear motion alone)
• Ground contact as feedback and alignment tool
• Strength development with control, not momentum
• Conditioning body and mind for functional intelligence

They are ideal for:

Cross-training
Injury prevention and rehab
Warm-up and cool-down protocols
Athletic performance enhancement and movement literacy
 

Who Can Benefit?

Whether you happen to be a strength trainer, yogi, martial artist, CrossFitter, or even simply want to feel more comfortable in your own skin—these exercises are scalable, accessible and enjoyable.

You don't need equipment. You don't need a gym. Just your body, some space to move and an interest.

Last Thoughts: Reconnect to Your Roots

As we work towards levels of fitness, we often forget the strength of simple movement. Primal Movement and Animal Flow bring us back to the fact that optimal training is usually the most straightforward—coming back to how the human body was naturally designed to move.

Whether you must build raw power, increase flexibility, or just feel alive in your body, these philosophies of movement present an enjoyable, long-term, and empowering way.

So get down on the ground, connect with your internal animal, and move like nature planned.