This type of walking tests strength, balance and coordination.
“Gorilla walking” is a type of exercise involving the major muscle groups of the body. It has become popular in gym classes and is part of the initial warm-up. For its practitioners, moving like a gorilla using all the muscle chains is fun and beneficial because it works parts of the body that are not used on a daily basis. In fact, the movements that primates make are excellent for developing mobility in the hips, shoulders and wrists in addition to working the main muscle groups of the body, including the trunk.
Although human beings have been accustomed to walking upright for a long time, long before, they moved on all fours like monkeys or gorillas. And according to research, doing this move — at least for a few minutes — might be just what people need to build more strength and better mobility without the help of external things like weights or gym machines.
To practice it, start in a low squat position with your heels slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and your knees in the same direction as your big toes. The spine should remain neutral without bending to activate the core. Once this is done, we begin to gently rock the body from side to side, letting the arms become heavy, but keeping the shoulders back. The hands are positioned in front of you and the greatest force to perform the movement is made with the core/trunk. The legs should follow the movement of the torso and arms and it is suggested to perform the exercise in one direction then return in the opposite direction.
Among the benefits, those who practice this walk daily highlight the improvement in balance and coordination. By using limbs that one is not accustomed to moving around, great coordination is required to synchronize legs and arms. Likewise, the exercise works on hip mobility. In an age where we tend to spend most of the day sitting, the hip movement is nil, hence, it eventually becomes weak. Gorilla walking activates the flexors and extensors by moving forward, backward, side to side and rotationally. Finally, gorilla walking strengthens the shoulders and wrists. It is no coincidence that gorillas have large arms and appear muscular. This is the consequence of walking and balancing their body weight with their arms.