30' NATURAL MOVEMENT CLASS By ANNINA

What is Natural Movement?

Natural Movement aims at unlocking movements skills that are innate and natural to the body. Natural Movement training ranges from simple rotations and get ups through more advanced mobility training and transitions to jumps and bodyweight exercises. Natural movement strengthens muscles and joints, improves balance and revitalises the mind. Mindful way of moving your body and breath are key elements to Natural Movement.

The aim of every exercise is to develop real world physical capacity that helps gain a way of moving in everyday life that prevents injuries and uses the body in an optimal way.

More than a movement technique, Natural Movement is a movement philosophy based on the idea that the body has been shaped by its environment, which required us to jump over obstacles, reach high in the braces and move in difficult terrain with great stability.

If the modern living environment does not challenge us physically anymore, why should we train these capacities? Because our bodies are designed for natural movement and it’s good for our nervous system!

We have practiced natural movement skills instinctively as tiny babies (turning, crawling, getting up, balancing) and as young children (jumping, climbing, rolling). Although as adults we have forgotten these skills, the movement patterns are “encoded” in our nervous system. It is very beneficial for the body as a whole to revisit natural movement  patterns, especially if your lifestyle has been sedentary or your exercise routine has not been very versatile. 

Unlocking these movements again has a very positive impact on the brain and increases neuroplasticity, and cognitive function (learning and memory).

Core benefits:

• increases real life movement capacity (lifting, carrying, transitions from one position to another)
• strengthens mobility, stability and balance through bodyweight exercises
• makes the body more powerful by unlocking innate movement patterns 
• enhances recovery through parasympathetic nervous system activation
• develops focus by incorporates breath and mindfulness into strength training