Monkey – Animal Style

About This Class

This 45-minute foundation-level monkey-style class from the animal movement series guides practitioners through a full-body warm-up (neck, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, wrists) before diving into a series of progressively complex monkey locomotion patterns. Core movements include the open squat "curious monkey," the single-leg "monkey press," the traveling "monkey wave" across the floor, and the "turning monkey" — a rotational variation that loads the hands and transfers weight dynamically. The class builds these patterns into flowing combinations that challenge lower-body strength, hip mobility, wrist resilience, and full-body coordination. Throughout, the instructor emphasizes listening to the body, working at one's own level, and prioritizing quality of movement over quantity or speed. The session closes with a floor-based cooldown: butterfly stretch, seated forward fold, and a series of glute and hip stretches including figure-four variations. Modifications are consistently offered, and the instructor explicitly cautions those with knee or joint issues to back off whenever pain arises.