Georges Hebert, an old french navy pilot before the years of WWI, formed a physical education paradigm called “methode naturelle”. After observing tribesmen playing and hunting, he developed this method to counter the dogmatic and physically limiting forms of swedish gymnastics and dance that were popular at the time.

His primary mantra was this, in regards to physical movement:

“The final goal of physical education is to make strong beings. In the purely physical sense, the Natural Method promotes the qualities of organic resistance, muscularity and speed, towards being able to walk, run, jump, move quadrupedally, to climb, to keep balance, to throw, lift, defend yourself and to swim.”

The human body should be a celebration of many different varied types of movement, including all of the above. Hebert was ahead of his time indeed. The human animal is the only animal that can do all the movements listed above, and although mankind is not specialized in any one movement, we do them all reasonably well. Therefore, it would make sense that we move in a way that celebrates our multi-faceted movement potential.

Every physical therapist will tell you that repetitive movement in the same plane of motion will wear out joints and lead to injury and limitation down the line. This is another case for varied, yet functional movements.

Here is a great video of a modern methode naturelle enthusiast playing in the wilderness with no fancy equipment. In fact, he isn’t even wearing shoes or a shirt!

When was the last time you went outside barefoot and crawled around? When was the last time you climbed a tree? When was the last time you hopped or skipped? It doesn’t just have to be for kids, it can be for adults too.

CR

Charlie Reid Uncategorized