Mimic Real Animals In The Wild

Animal Exercise has become more of a trend lately than what they're really meant for. As humans, movement is a necessity but the right kind of movement gives you abilities that you can develop like when you were a kid. There are many variations of Animal Movements but very few courses ever really teach the closest mirror image of the movements themselves. Obviously we can't be as strong, agile or conditioned like an animal in the wild no matter how hard you try, however; we can be stronger in the long run if we used our bodies more nature like.

Let's look at the bear crawl shall we; the simplest animal move in the entire movement army that kids, Football Players, Martial Artists, Wrestlers and other sports have used this movement in their repertoire and had incredible results. You're on all fours, butt in the air and you run in that position, plain and simple yet one of the most humbling. These days, it has watered down to several variations that have nothing to do with its original purpose. I do like how it teaches people to coordinate their bodies and utilizing more of the brain in opposite arm/leg movement but the majority who teach it never go beyond that and putting more spins on it than a Nascar during the Indy 500. I understand everybody is different and need a way to move according to their structure and strengths but simplicity is key and overcomplicating it is not going to help in the long run.

Primate exercises are another form that is watered down. Get into a squat, place your knuckles/fists/palms to the floor and mimic a primate. Today, there's too many gymnastic style variations that it doesn't feel almost mirror like. If you can't do a full squat, do what's possible and progress. The flow can be beneficial but in order to get the most out of moving like a primate, learn to actually move in the best form possible. Sure there are areas of moving like a primate that are downright impossible for a lot of reasons but keep the simplicity and focus on areas that strengthen the tendons and ligaments, not so much on the muscles.

When you practice moving like an animal, it forces your body already to use many muscle groups all at once but once you get in the habit of moving and strengthening the tendons, things will fall into place. When I say mirror like, i'm talking the closest to a movement a human is capable of. Watering t down makes it more complicated than it has to be. Once you have the basics down, start training for certain elements, mainly your conditioning. Too many of us get out of breath fast just by standing up and walking down the street, what if we didn't have to do that and our breath is so smooth that walking a mile or more felt like nothing. For strength purposes, it's important to see it not from a weightlifting mentality but a way of seeing it as making it easier to get yourself off the ground, be able to move without your back tightening up and using the body as a tool and not a burden.

One of my favorite books that gets you into the realm of the animal is the book: Animal Workouts. It shows variations of animals in a progressive setting that comes as close to the real thing as possible for a human. It helps develop conditioning in a unique way and giving you that enduring strength that lasts. Having fun getting flexibility and agility that makes you feel like a kid again and having powerful legs that last. These can be done anywhere, any time and some exercises don't have you going more than a couple feet, mainly just being in place. I use these in my own training and feel incredible afterwards. Once you get into the cardio aspects, it doesn't take long before you're huffing and puffing, just the Bronco variations alone can have you down in less than a couple minutes. Most workouts don't need more than 15 minutes to get done but you can do them as often as you can muster and however long you want, your pick. The longest workout I did was nearly an hour and a half and that was fun but brutal.

Get in touch with your natural side and get in top shape moving like our animal brethren. No watered down variations, just a few simple movements that offer big rewards in return.

Intense Yoga Isometrics

Yoga as a system is very beneficial and has helped a lot of people especially those who have practiced DDP Yoga. From time to time, I'll partake in a DDP Yoga workout since it's the only method that interests me but as you know, I'm not the biggest fan of following along and keeping at the same pace as everybody else, not that I can't do it, it just doesn't feel right to be like everyone else. Going at my own pace in my own time frame is optimal for me and I perform better that way.

Isometrics are a crucial part of all Yoga systems as you hold certain poses or postures for a period of time before moving onto the next sequence but what if we added an element of isometrics that made the workout shorter but just as effective? Instead of just holding the pose, why not add some intensity to it by really pushing into the ground hard and breathing using the "ssss" sound. This would cut the posing parts down but still aid in developing strength in your tendons and ligaments.

Postures such as Warrior Pose, Downward Dog, Cobra & Plank can all be done with more intensity can have great impact on your overall strength. Imagine flexing the muscles for up to 7 seconds in those poses with concentrated breathing. The strength you'll have would be incredible. Try this out, during a few poses, flex hard and move onto the next pose. This also aids in speed and flexibility.

Don't do every pose in intense Isometric Fashion, just a few here and there and see how it feels. If you do intense Isometric Contraction for every pose, you will wear out fast and it can burn you out, take it easy and build up. A full workout of this magnitude shouldn't take more than 20 minutes. Make it one of those days where you want to be extra intense but have a fulfilling workout in your Yoga session like once a week and do your regular sessions the rest of the time or take a day off to recover. Whatever works for you. Who said you can't get strong in Yoga?

Workouts That Last Less Than A Few Minutes

Many people are pressed for time but still want to get some training in. It is said you need 30 minutes to an hour 3x a week in order to see results. We can spread that amount of time throughout the day but yet, there are things that get in the way especially if you have kids. Most of my workouts don't last more than 30 minutes at best. If you're determined to get fit, you'll find a way without needing to spend a ton of money. This is where bodyweight training is at it's finest and taking workouts that are intense as hell but only last less than 5-10 minutes. Some of these workouts can even be used as finishers to your regular routine but they'll get you in shape fast whether as a finisher or on their own

-10 Minute Combat Conditioning Workout

10 Hindu Push-ups

10 Hindu Squats

10 V-Ups

AMRAP w/ Little To No Rest


-5 Minute Leg Blaster

30 Seconds Lunges

30 Seconds Jumping Rope

No Rest


-6 Minutes Of Bliss

1 Minute Push-ups

1 Minute Hindu Squats

1 Minute Mountain Climbers

1 Minute Bear Crawls

1 Minute Punches

1 Minute Lunges

No Rest


Animal Dice Game

Choose your animals for your numbered dice and go for 10 minutes with your rest only to roll for the next animal, shouldn't take more than a few seconds.

If you have some equipment to use, they can add variety to your training. Here's a circuit I did last night and finished 10 rounds in just over 10 1/2 minutes with very little rest....

5 Slamball Slams

20 Sandbell Presses (10 Each Arm)

10 Hindu Squats

Simple workouts can create big results and the only things that's really required is an imagination and desire to get something done no matter what time you have. They may be intense but they aid your conditioning to a great degree and can get you fit in a short amount of time. If you're a beginner, cut the number of reps in half or thirds to start and work your way up, rest slightly longer and than cut the rest time. Do what you can and make something happen. Your results will come if you're consistent.