🐾 Why Crawling Heals: The Case for Quadruped Movement

Six months ago, I could barely hold a quadruped position for 10 seconds. My wrists ached, my core collapsed, and my knees said an emphatic no thank you. But I started gently. With softness, not shame. And over time — something started to shift.

I didn’t begin this for aesthetics or “gains.” I started because my body was asking for something deeper: grounding, connection, integration.

And this movement? It offered all of it.

I’ve always been inspired by Katy Bowman and her philosophy of nutritious movement — a return to the kinds of natural, functional motions our bodies were designed for. Crawling is one of them. And if you’ve ever felt disconnected from your body, your strength, or your sense of trust in movement… this one’s for you.

🌀 The Forgotten Power of Crawling

Crawling connects us back to the very beginning — the developmental stage when we first built coordination, stability, and awareness.

It’s not just child’s play. It’s nervous system gold.

Revisiting quadruped movement helps to re-pattern motor skills, especially if trauma, pain, or chronic stress has altered the way your body moves and feels.

💪 What Quadruped Movement Strengthens

This isn’t just a "core exercise." It’s a full-body integration tool that works from the inside out:

• Wrists, Shoulders & Scapula Stabilizers — you’ll build strength and mobility in places modern life leaves tight or weak

• Core & Spinal Alignment — the spine learns to move with rhythm and breath

• Hips, Knees & Ankles — reconnecting to natural patterns of locomotion

You won’t just feel stronger.You’ll feel safer and more capable in your body.

🌿 Why It’s Nervous System Gold

This is what makes crawling healing movement instead of just exercise:

• Gentle & Low-Impact — perfect if your body’s been through a lot

• Grounding — hands and knees on the earth (or mat) tell your brain: we’re safe now

• Rhythm, Breath & Proprioception — each movement teaches your body how to come back home

You don’t need a gym. You don’t need hype. You need movement that meets your body where it is.

🪶 How to Start (No Punishment Required)

If the word crawl sounds intense — start even smaller. These are all part of the same family:

• Bear Holds — hands and knees down, knees hovering just an inch off the ground

• Rocking in Quadruped — forward and back gently to strengthen and stretch

• Cat/Cow — let your spine breathe

• Bear Crawls — slow, intentional steps, if it feels good

And always: breathe, pause, listen. Let your body lead.

🧘‍♀️ Why It’s More Than Fitness

This isn’t about burning calories or chasing goals.

This is about:

• Restoring primal confidence — knowing your body has wisdom, not just wounds

• Moving energy — not punishing yourself

• Coming back to joy, curiosity, and aliveness — even in a simple hold

This is healing. This is fitness — for your soul.

💌 Want to Go Deeper?

If you’re curious about healing movement that meets your body and your nervous system with love — I’ve got something beautiful on the way.

Make sure you’re on the list so I can send it straight to your inbox. Because you don’t need to be “further along.” You just need to be met with gentleness, right where you are.

👉Msg me via the chat function