What is Animal Flow?
I have always looked at animal movements as the cornerstone of just moving better.
Crawling, rolling, reaching in all the ways and directions makes for a strong body. And not just strong in the traditional sense- like being able to squat 300lbs- but building the kind of strength that prevents you from hurting yourself when you squat that 300 (or 30 ).
The kind of strong that allows you to stay away from sprains and twists when you fall. Or pick up something at an angle. Or reach behind you to get something heavy. You know, the kind of strong we need in everyday life.
Animal Flow (AF) is a system of putting moves together that I’ve used with clients my whole career, but in a more streamlined way (here's a more in depth post breaking down all the components of Animal Flow).
I became an AF instructor to learn their system of this type of movement- and then I integrated what I found most useful into my own programs.
When I'm working with clients one on one, we use AF move that are...
Some truths about me.
Some facts about me that have nothing to do with fitness...
- In 1985, we got my moms dream dog- a toy poodle named Monique- and she was a wild first dog experience. My dad didn't like her and my mom treated her like a baby- she regularly painted her nails and played with different haircuts on her (my haircut here is also courtesy of my mother). Monique was far from a good fit for our family; she's wearing a cast in this pic because my brother would chase her around our small house and she broke her leg on our brick fireplace. Somehow, she lived a long life and died while my brother and I were in college (and she was living with an elderly lady who was a much better fit for her, but that's a whole other story).
- I had brain surgery a few years after this pic to remove a large benign tumor from the base of my brain. My surgery date was set for the next week and they sent me home. The day before my surgery the tumor slipped while I was blow drying my hair,...
Author
Gretchen
Coach
Growing up I was a half-hearted athlete who struggled with my relationship with both food and exercise. I smoked for over a decade and spent much of my youth either binging or not eating at all. But after breaking my leg in a car accident, months of physical rehab and years of psychological counseling lead me to a renewed appreciation for my health and my ability to just move-something I'll never take for granted again. I overcame a lot and have spent much of my life sharing what I've learned. I became a NASM personal trainer over 16 years ago. The type of clients I've trained and my own personal interests lead me to attain many other certifications. These include Sports Specific and Orthopedic exercise specializations, Pre and Post Natal exercise, MMA conditioning, and ACE Mind Body Specializations. I've taken 2 TRX qualifying courses in general and functional fitness. I am Kettlebell certified through both NETA and Kettlebell Kings, also completing an independent study facilitated by Steve Cotter, founder of the International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation. I am also a certified Animal Flow Instructor. In the fall of 2021, I became a Certified Intuitive Eating Facilitator, as IE was integral to my own ability to divest from diet culture. I think this was the missing piece to be able to put together a holistic, meaningful training program for all my clients.
