What is Animal Gymnastic Yoga and its health benefits: a word from a founder of the technique Konstantin Ronin

Animal Gymnastic Yoga is a modern technique for the comprehensive development of human bodily functionality. By incorporating various methods of working with the body, both modern and traditional, the technique sets itself the task of developing all five qualities: strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination and reaction.

The founder of Animal Gymnastic Yoga, as well as the co-founder of the HardbreakfastClub project, Konstantin Ronin, specifically for VITAGURU talked about the basics of AGY, as well as about the harmonious and holistic development of the human body and consciousness.

Konstantin Ronin is a certified yoga trainer who has been teaching for over 10 years. One of the first teachers of the animal movement in Ukraine, a participant in yoga festivals, marathons and conferences, a specialist in movement, has been studying both traditional and modern methods of training the body and mind for many years, putting them into practice in his training. He is the author and presenter of mobile or field seminars on AGY both in Ukraine and abroad.

“The AGY method is a modern attempt to adapt the traditional approaches of human development to our realities. This adaptation has become necessary and is dictated by the modern lifestyle of the average person.

Whatever direction of fitness or health practices we choose, we always develop one or several qualities. There are only five of them: strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination and reaction. AGY training sessions are designed to work with all five qualities in one session. Thanks to this we develop as harmoniously and holistically as possible,” says Konstantin.

The basis of the AGY methodology is composed of highly coordinated movement from various disciplines, such as: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, yoga, elements of capoeira and gymnastics.

At the heart of all health or combat systems is the principles of movement from simple to complex. By developing basic patterns of movement, all further practice methods are built. Each system has a set of such basic patterns that is different, and depends on the goals and objectives of a particular system.

The AGY approach is based on the implementation of functional movement – a single manifestation of motor intelligence that has developed during the evolution of the natural pattern of movement in space, optimal in terms of the ratio of energy costs and efficiency, aesthetics.

According to Ronin, various systems of human development focused on working with the body, which arose in different places, cultures and even eras, have much in common. All these methods basically have the idea of ​​natural light movement and reducing the usual tension in the body.

“Current fitness trends are only coming to this idea. All traditional systems regard the body and mind as a single whole, as a single psychophysical process in which changes at one level affect the other parts. Traditional methods strive to teach a person to be more relaxed and natural, by eliminating all types of stress, both physical and mental.

With the help of unusual motor patterns, it is easy to see how far our self-image is from the intended one. Familiar actions form a self-image, and this process begins in deep childhood. Systematic work on changing self-image will be more useful and effective than working on individual patterns. This leads us to understand the importance of working on principles, rather than practicing individual exercises” says Konstantin.

“It is important to understand that when speaking about the work of muscles during movement, we are talking about impulses of the nervous system that activate muscles. Improved movement can occur only after the functioning of the brain and nervous system improves. This is fully consistent with traditional methods of human development,” says Konstantin Ronin.

Based on his experience in conducting trainings, workshops and training seminars on Animal Gymnastic Yoga, Ronin believes that the most effective teaching format is courses.

“Over 20 years of experience in the study and practice of movement has allowed us to create a simple, understandable and holistic methodology. Deep immersion led to the understanding: the most effective format for teaching methods is courses. All of them have specific goals, being completely independent, but also harmoniously complement each other. Thus, gradually, as safely and effectively as possible, bodily functionality develops. In the courses, everyone receives the necessary amount of theoretical information and sufficient practical experience for further independent work” says Konstantin.