Release your inner beast

The LA Times described a new fitness trend sweeping the States by saying: “Cardio doesn't have to be deadly, dull and serious. In this fun animal-inspired exercise, you'll get your heart rate up, build muscle and you might even crack a smile”. Hundreds of gyms in America are now offering their members Animal Flow – a forward-thinking and effective new workout created by Mike Fitch. Animal Flow has now reached the UK.

Animal Flow combines animalistic movements with elements of Parkour, break dancing and gymnastics. Its freestyle flow of movements is intense and, as the name suggests, is based around movements and forms that mimic or resemble animals or the rhythm of an animal.

The unique workout claims to make fitness more enjoyable whilst helping develop strength, power, endurance, coordination and speed. It focuses on four key aspects:

1. Athletic Performance: One of the unique aspects of Animal Flow training is that it is multi-planar, meaning that you are moving through multiple planes of motion, rather than in just one, like when running in a straight line. Thus, the carryover from Animal Flow into sports is much greater. As in playing an actual sport, you are teaching your body to coordinate its movements as an entire unit rather than compartmentalizing.

2. Cardiovascular Training: Animal Flow challenges you both anaerobically, through the performance of explosive, intense movements, and aerobically by linking together less intense movements that can be maintained for longer periods.

3. Stability: All of the animal movements place the body in a ‘four pillar’ position with hands and feet in contact with the ground. This position allows the stabilizing muscles to work together in addition to providing the wrists, shoulders, spine, hips and ankles with weight-bearing challenges.

4. Mobility/Flexibility: One of the elements most often overlooked in training programmes is joint mobility and flexibility. The Animal Flow workout pushes the body through movements that result in increased mobility and flexibility - stretching through movement, not isolation.

Give it a go

If you want to give Animal Flow a go for yourself, Richard Scrivener, one of only four Animal Flow Master Trainers in the world, will deliver Animal Flow sessions exclusively at the TRAIN fitness facility in London from May. For more details or to book a class in advance, visit trainfitness.co