About Exuberant Animal
Exuberant Animal is both a philosophy and an organization. Spearheaded by Frank Forencich, its commmunity is an exciting array of fitness professionals, bodyworkers, health consultants, medical practicioners, counselors, researchers, students, PhD and MBA awardees, and other Exuberants. They hail from all points of the globe, from South Africa to Canada, from the UK to Australia. "Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student" when they walk into an EA event.
Philosophy:
Exuberant Animal promotes health, positive physicality and physical happiness through the benefits of play-based movement. These movements are actually functional fitness "exercises" that appear to the student as 'games'; they are fun, adaptable, scalable, transformable. These movements create cardio-, strength-, balance-, and coordination-stresses that force the body to become more efficient (eg: "functional fitness"). In addition, the creativity and robustness involved in these games also strengthens the brain's functioning by increasing neurotransmitters and cell connections.
These 'exercise games' can be scaled from the more delicate participants to the very robust athletes, allowing all ranges of participation. EA athletes have incredible balance, core strength, cardio abilities, social skills, good spirits, and innovative abilities. When activity and fitness is fun, people will do it more often. In addition, combining the safety of movement with others in a non-competitive format, participants can explore emotional and physical boundaries. Innovative, creative improvisational activities is commonly called 'play' - therefore, Exuberant Animal engages in "play-based fitness".
More information is shown on our Vision page, and by watching the video below - a presentation by the creator and founder, Frank Forencich.
Organization:
Exuberant Animal offers seminars, workshops, keynote presentations, and training for individuals and organizations.
Our training events are suitable for a broad range of individuals and abilities: from beginner-exuberants, to creative professionals, to body professionals. The goal of Exuberant Animal is to create an entire world where "exercise" is fun and persuades continuance for a healthy, engaged life. Therefore, Exuberant Animal seeks to create professionals interested in helping spread the play. Body- and exercise-professionals should visit our certification page for complete information, although we are currently revising our certification process.
Values
At Exuberant Animal, we value:
- healthy people, organizations and culture
- preemptive health activism
- authentic human relationships and community
- simplicity and functionality
- personal and social responsibility
- play, creativity and innovation
- sustainability and integration with the natural world
Activism
At Exuberant Animal, progressive action is an integral part of our mission. In addition to our regular work with individuals and organizations, we also donate a portion of our profits to the following organizations:
Doctors Without Borders - an international medical humanitarian organization working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe.
