Quadrobics: New all-fours fitness trend sparks debate over furry label

A new fitness trend is prompting both curiosity and skepticism online: quadrobics, a practice in which participants move on all fours, mimicking animals such as cats or bears. Promoters say the movements are not about cosplay or identity but about pushing physical limits through a sequence of crawling, running, leaping and bounding. The trend has gained traction on social media, where clips show participants moving across indoor floors and rugged outdoor terrain, often with minimal gear or none at all.

Fans of quadrobics describe it as a demanding, full-body workout that targets strength, balance and cardio in a single session. Soleil, known to followers as wild.soleil on social media and who requested anonymity when speaking with The New York Post, says she has shed weight and gained visible definition since starting the practice. "It’s definitely a full-body workout," she says, adding that a five-minute session can leave a practitioner out of breath and challenged to recover.

Quadrobics sits at the intersection of various online communities, but its adherents insist it is distinct from therianthropy or furry cosplay. Some participants emphasize that the movements draw on natural human patterns rather than identity. Belgian-born documentary filmmaker Alexia Kraft de la Saulx, who says she does not identify as a therian, describes quadrobics as a way to move and play outdoors while tapping into a primal instinct. "I’m just a being that enjoys moving and playing around and feeling this primal instinct when I’m outdoors," she explained in discussions surrounding the practice. Kraft de la Saulx notes that her interest began through exposure to primal movement in 2021, which she encountered while scouting film subjects in Barcelona.

That encounter helped propel her work on Tarzan Movement, a primal-movement offshoot led by Victor Manuel Fleites Escobar. The two collaborated on a 2022 documentary, Tarzan Movement, during which Kraft de la Saulx observed her body move in ways she had not experienced even as an athlete in volleyball and running. She describes practicing barefoot and learning to move on all fours, climb trees and swing from branches, which she says contributed to greater upper-body strength, core stability and balance. She recalls developing thicker soles as her feet adapted to varied terrain and acknowledging soreness in the early months of training. "I could definitely see the difference, physically, in my body," she told The Post.

Primal movement and related practices such as animal flow overlap with quadrobics in emphasizing fundamental human motions—crawling, climbing, walking and squatting—while prioritizing natural patterns and functional strength. Proponents note that quadrobic training is dynamic and continuously challenges the body, which can elevate heart rate and aid in fat loss when paired with appropriate nutrition. Jarrod Nobbe, a personal trainer and USA Weightlifting coach, confirms that the regimen can deliver meaningful gains, particularly for the core. "Quadrobic movement is a full-body workout, but it really hits the core hard," Nobbe told The Post, adding that practitioners engage abdominals, obliques and deep stabilizers to support the spine and maintain balance. He also points to the shoulders, chest, lats, glutes and quads as heavily recruited during dynamic, all-fours work.

Despite the potential fitness benefits, quadrobics has sparked a broader social-media debate about perception and identity. Some observers worry the movements could be misread as sexual or fetishistic, given the animal-identity imagery that often accompanies related communities. Soleil stressed that those in the quadrobics circle reject such interpretations, explaining that the practice centers on movement, fitness and presence rather than any animal-like attraction. Kraft de la Saulx likewise emphasizes movement and embodiment over identity, noting that the practice can foster a meditative focus and a heightened sense of body awareness. "There’s a meditative aspect to it—being present and connected to how your body moves in space," Nobbe said, highlighting the mental benefits reported by many participants.

The trend’s appeal may partly lie in its accessibility and its appeal as a distinct alternative to traditional gym routines. Quadrobics requires little to no equipment, and its adventurous, exploratory nature resonates with people seeking functional, holistic approaches to movement. As fitness topics migrate online, practitioners argue that the practice offers a playful but serious path to improving mobility, stability and coordination while encouraging practitioners to explore their bodies in new ways.

As quadrobics continues to evolve, researchers and health professionals will monitor its safety, effectiveness and the social narratives that accompany it. For now, enthusiasts and skeptics alike are watching whether the activity remains a niche online phenomenon or becomes a broader workout option capable of delivering real gains in core strength, balance and mental well-being.