Bizarre fitness trend has people running and jumping on all fours like animals for one specific reason
People have been trying out a strange new fitness trend, which might leave some onlookers scratching their heads.
It seems that each passing day brings a new way for people to get in shape, from CrossFit and Iron Man to Pilates and dance exercises.
But one trend has caught people's eye for its rather unusual premise, which has certainly raised a few eyebrows.
What's interesting about it is that it doesn't require a gym, or running shoes, or any specialist exercise gear whatsoever, really.
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Though having a thick skin might not be a bad thing, as you may turn heads if you start practising it in the park.
The fitness trend is called 'quadrobics', and the clue's in the name for how it works.
This involves getting down onto all fours and moving like an animal, which may include galloping, trotting, or cantering around.
It might sound like something more at home in a first-year drama major workshop rather than a gym, but some people swear by it as a way to get themselves in shape.
Alexia Kraft de La Saulx spoke on This Morning about it, revealing how she first came across it.
"I came across this bloke doing monkey movements in the park." she said. "Immediately I met him and thought, 'There is a story here'."
Suggesting that monkeys are an inspiration, Alexia said: "I think that's super inspiring, how can we learn to move in that way and use our toes to grip on certain things."
She swears by it too, adding: "I couldn't do a pull-up before quadrobics, and after months of practice, I could lift three times my weight."
And while she's 'used to it' now, she said that the soles of her feet are now 'quite hard', as well as having improved grip strength as she regularly climbs trees as part of her workout.
There is a very good reason why people who try the movement claim to see such strong results.
Trainer Jarrod Nobbe explained to The New York Post: “Primal movement, animal flow and similar practices are gaining traction because people are craving more functional, holistic and playful ways to move."
“Quadrobic movement is a full-body workout, but it really hits the core hard,” explained Nobbe. “You’re constantly engaging your abdominals, obliques and deep stabilizers (like the transverse abdominis) to support your spine and stay balanced.
“Your shoulders, chest, lats, glutes and quads are also heavily recruited. Because the movement is dynamic and constant, it also elevates your heart rate and helps with fat loss.”
Kit Roberts