Frequently asked questions

What is the goal of natural movement?

Natural Movement is a health and fitness discipline based on the general practice of natural human movement skills. It was defined and popularized in 2008 by Erwan Le Corre.

It covers the skills of breathing, ground movement, walking, running, jumping, vaulting, balancing, crawling, climbing, swimming (and related water skills), lifting, carrying, throwing, catching and self-defence techniques such as hitting and grabbing.

What is the goal of natural movement?

The primary goal of Natural Movement is to return people to their original - i.e. evolutionary and biological - movement behaviour in order to promote, restore and/or maintain health, fitness, well-being, happiness and even a feeling of freedom.

Second, to equip people with the movement skills and general physical competence required for practical real-life situations that require physical response. Such competence is timeless, and the people who possess it are strong in a way that is useful for themselves, for others and for the community.

Finally, natural movement is also a mindful practice that emphasizes awareness, the connection between body and mind, and the connection and respect for nature. In short, Natural Movement contributes to people's self-realization so that they can enjoy a higher quality of life.

Why is it better than conventional fitness training?

The main reason why people do not register or renew their membership at traditional gyms is that they get bored with machine exercises that artificially shape their movements. They feel that they have to impose such mechanistic, reductionist and repetitive fitness programs on themselves as a kind of housework or punishment for not being in shape.

If what you are looking for is the freedom and joy of movement and a type of fitness that is 100% transferable and applicable to the real world, then MovNat is the best possible choice, because that is what we are all about.

I am not in shape, older than 40 or have zero experience, is this really something for me?

Yes, it is for you and for everyone else, because MovNat is a coaching method that focuses on scalability, progression and security.

A good, concrete example could be the long jump. You will not be encouraged to "try" to jump over a difficult or wide obstacle, but will first learn the basic technique, starting with the correct landing mechanics at ground/ground level, and improve the efficiency of your movement pattern. Then you will gradually increase the quantity (number of repetitions), intensity (distance jumped) or complexity (type of obstacle, including height, surface area or other variables). This means that you will never be pushed into something you are not physically ready for.

Will it make me fit, strong and slim?

Yes! movement skills such as lifting, carrying, throwing or catching, as well as climbing and jumping, enable you to develop real, explosive power, and to do so in a natural way that can be transferred to practical life situations. So with consistent exercise you will become fit, strong and slim!

In addition, most MovNat sessions will include episodes of high-intensity training for metabolic conditioning, which supports weight loss and helps you become very slim, especially if proper nutrition is part of your health and fitness program.

Why do I need a coach?

Our system for natural movement is primarily based on efficiency. Contrary to a widespread misconception, not everything "natural" is necessarily efficient. For example, everyone can defend and fight to a certain degree, but not everyone is a skilled martial artist and effective fighter, right?

Perhaps an even more convincing example is that anyone can breathe, but not many people are actually aware of their breathing and have it under control. Controlled, efficient breathing can be learned through various techniques. The same applies to any other natural movement. Learning from a knowledgeable trainer will help you identify your inefficiencies and resolve them through careful but also supervised practice.

Must it be done in nature?

No, MovNat is taught indoors every day around the world. It is not the naturalness of the environment that makes movement natural, but the fact that it is practical and adaptable. For example, you can practice balancing on a simple board on the floor of a gym instead of having to do it on a fallen tree in the forest.

Indoor spaces offer scalability, variety and security in a relatively limited area, and it is also convenient when the weather is bad or simply because most people live in cities far from nature. Exercising in nature is the "purest" form of MovNat/Natural Movement and very beneficial for physical and mental health, but it is not mandatory.

Can I do Movnat together with other types of physical training?

Yes, many of our certified trainers combine MovNat exercises with their regular training courses, with great results, as they bring novelty, variety, new challenges and playfulness to sometimes overly conventional or restrictive programs.

Many MovNat practitioners come from a specific fitness modality, be it Kettlebells, other types of strength training, running and athletics etc. Because of the diverse and comprehensive aspect of Natural Movement, certain disciplines often feel at home in MovNat, e.g. kettlebebell training becomes part of the manipulative aspect of MovNat training. Therefore, it is possible to keep separate training units or to integrate already existing trainings into an overall MovNat training.

Will Movnat help me in my sport?

Yes, it will, especially if your sport is highly specialized. The higher the degree of specialization in a sport, the greater the potential for certain physical deficits and imbalances (including, but not limited to, lack of coordination, agility, stability, strength, etc.) that already exist in or are caused by training for that sport and that lead to a greater risk of injury. 

The variety of MovNat movements helps the body to become more skilled, stronger and more resilient overall. This is especially beneficial when too specific demands of a particular sport lead to chronic stress in certain parts of the body, as this strengthens the whole body, reduces physical imbalances and helps prevent injuries. 

Last but not least, performing a single physical activity can be mentally demanding and lead to a lack of motivation. MovNat makes physical activity varied and enjoyable again, which in turn leads to an improved appreciation of the practice of specific activities.

How can Movnat help me recover from an injury?

Most injuries are due to imbalances and particular weaknesses in the body, a general lack of physical activity, a lack of ability, inappropriate programming, including over- and/or undertraining, or an inappropriate lifestyle.

Although MovNat is not a substitute for therapy, it works wonders in combination with therapy because it addresses all the above points. The effectiveness of the combination explains why more and more therapists recognize the value of our program and recommend or even prescribe it to their patients when these therapists are certified MovNat trainers themselves!

What is the difference between Movnat and body weight training?

The term "body weight training" is based on using one's own body weight for resistance and strength development. Modern training emphasizes muscle and strength development exclusively through body weight training, regardless of the practicability of the exercises.

On the other hand, the practice of the MovNat Natural Movement system emphasizes all the practical movement skills and physiological adjustments (including strength, power and more) associated with these skills, including manipulative skills (such as lifting, carrying, throwing and catching) that require resistance to an external weight.

While many of the movements performed in MovNat could be considered "body weight training" by lovers of gymnastics, our practice is not limited or exclusively focused on movements that only use the body. Our focus is on the practical applicability, adaptability, effectiveness and efficiency of our physical abilities.

What is the difference between Movnat and Crossfit?

CrossFit is a General Preparedness Program (GPP), which is carried out with high intensity and is mainly based on Olympic lifting, gymnastics and GPP exercises. MovNat, on the other hand, is completely based on the entire spectrum of natural movement skills and focuses on practical applicability and adaptability to the environment. Most jumps in CrossFit, for example, are jumped up and down from a plyobox for reasons of metabolic conditioning, with little or no emphasis on technique and quality of movement. MovNat, on the other hand, includes many more jumping techniques that are performed on different surfaces and where efficiency and quality of movement are the most important factors. 

The same applies to crawling, climbing and most other movement techniques. Although the range of exercises in CrossFit is considered to be broad, it is actually quite limited compared to the amount of techniques taught in MovNat and the number of exercises trained. For example, CrossFit does not even include practical skills from real life, such as balancing. In addition, many CrossFitter mobility problems need to be addressed through specific mobility exercises, while MovNat includes many natural movements that naturally involve, challenge and promote all mobility without feeling like an additional, time-consuming task.

Don't get me wrong, MovNat also emphasizes the ability to work, and some of our trainings include high intensity circuits for metabolic conditioning. The difference with CrossFit is that we focus on technique, movement efficiency and quality, ensuring not only scalability but also progression through solid programming - making the workout less prone to overtraining, stress related and/or movement pattern inefficiency injuries. For this reason, we observe that a larger number of CrossFitters are learning MovNat techniques and adopting aspects of our training approach.

What is the difference between Movnat and Parkour?

MovNat and Parkour have similar roots (The "Methode Naturelle" of the French sports pioneer Georges Hebert) and both focus on practical and adaptable, natural movements. However, Parkour is not as inclusive as MovNat - it does not include the manipulative skills of lifting, carrying, throwing, catching or fighting and aquatic skills - and at the same time (mostly) emphasizes jumping and jumping movements, mostly in urban environments.

Compared to MovNat, the scope of the skills, techniques and movement variations covered in Parkour is therefore reduced. It is a fair statement to say that MovNat is a complete natural movement practice and method, but Parkour is not.

Finally, the coaching methods and the quality differ considerably from trainer to trainer, since there is no official or standardized coaching system in Parkour.