Breaking down the biggest fitness trend of 2023

As is true with every aspect of our health—the diets, exercise plans, and nutritional supplements du jour tend to cross over into the wellness spirit in the shortest of moments. Here at Camille Styles, we believe that optimal health comes from simplifying our routines and focusing on what makes us feel good. ours the best – not what others are doing. However, we also love diving into the emerging science that helps us take better care of our bodies and minds. And right now, all signs point to primal movement being the most accessible way to integrate fitness into our lives.

The Pinterest Predicts 2023 Trends Report states that the primary movement – ​​“primitive, anti-tech workouts” ie. exercise to support the way our bodies are designed to move – will be the biggest fitness trend of the year. That’s right, mobility is a major concern and fighting “tech neck” is more important than achieving that coveted six pack. This writer’s opinion? thanks goodness. We’re finally getting back to basics, making fitness more inclusive and accessible to everyone. And the best news of all: primary movement has been proven effective.

Featured image from our interview with Kate Waitzkin by Michelle Nash.

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Primal Movement: The Trend That’s Transforming Fitness

Over the years, we’ve seen all kinds of complex and technology-dependent fitness. There are mirrors that double as home gyms, machines I can’t begin to wrap my head around, and the deeply intertwined relationship between wellness and consumerism. With endless options, it’s no wonder fitness is overwhelming at best, exhausting and disabling at worst. Therefore, when I first caught wind of the primal movement, I sighed perhaps the deepest.

But what does this trend—which isn’t really a trend at all—look like in practice? And are its benefits really all they’re cracked up to be? (Spoiler: yes.) For answers, I spoke with Triana Brown, director of talent and product development at solidcore. We discussed all the ins and outs of primal movement, including how it can improve your fitness routine, how to incorporate it into your practice, and whether or not primal movement is just a passing trend.

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What is primary motion?

Like I said, back to basics. Just as intuitive eating (trusting your body to make food choices you enjoy) has grown in recent years, primal movement relies on you moving your body in a way that feels natural and instinctive. Primary movement functions to sustain us in our daily lives. Whether it’s playing with our kids, hauling in groceries, or making up for sitting at our desks all day. Primary movement is concerned with how good you feel in your body, not how it looks.

Brown agrees, noting that “primal movement means listening to your body, exploring how your body naturally moves, and testing your body’s physical and mental strength.” More than that, and perhaps what I love most about primal movement, is that you move in a way that feels intuitive to You, empowers you to connect with your inherent body wisdom. “You meet your body where it’s at, make the necessary modifications, and push yourself further to your heart’s content,” says Brown.

What are the benefits of primary movement?

While many trainers and fitness experts could share insights on the trend, I reached out to Brown because primary movement is a key element of [solidcore] workout. According to Brown, it consists of “a slow and controlled primary movement to overload and break down the target muscle’s slow-twitch muscle fibers” (these are red fibers that contain more blood-borne myoglobin and therefore help you move or stay still more long).

The benefits of this move? Because you work with resistance, the obvious happens: you build visible strength. However, Brown notes that this method not only “sculpts strong muscles,” but also helps “prevent future injuries.”

In addition to being able to move through your day with greater ease, Camille Styles’ wellness editor, Eddie Horstman, has previously written about the benefits of primal movement (especially when done as “workout snacks”). They include:

• blood sugar stability
• increased mobility
• more frequent endorphin rushes
• the ability to incorporate exercise more consistently into your day, rather than just one big chunk

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How to incorporate primal movement into your exercise routine

As mentioned above, primary movement can be done in so-called “exercise breakfasts”. These are short bursts of movement, usually lasting 1-2 minutes. And while you might initially think that a longer workout would lead to better results, the cumulative effectiveness of exercise snacks makes them an effective form of exercise.

However, it is important to note that the primary movement can also be part of a larger workout. Below are some key poses and movement exercises that will help you bring primal movement into your routine. Before starting any fitness program, talk to your doctor or health care professional about what works best for you.

Brown explains that each [solidcore] class includes combinations of these movements, noting that each focuses on “pushing and pulling muscle groups” (ie, those muscles that are used in either a pushing or pulling movement). “Rotating muscle focuses enable recovery, prevent plateaus, and create balance throughout the body and self.” Yes, yes, and yes, please.

Why is primary movement more than a passing trend?

What it all boils down to is: can we expect primary movement to continue to be a focus for years to come? Brown says yes, and it’s obvious why. When we focus our intentions around movement on living our lives to the fullest and not holding ourselves to certain standards of beauty, we are thinking long term. We think about the pain we prevent and the ease of movement we promote for years to come. “Primary movement […] it will allow your body to function more smoothly,” says Brown. “You’ll be able to carry out daily activities with ease.”

She cites everything from movement patterns to coordination to physical and mental strength as benefits — and the ability to realize your strongest self. Whether it is through a [solidcore] workout or breaking through a set of squats at the gym – primal movement is here to stay.