People ask us this all the time, and it’s a fair question. Elements and Animal Flow both use ground-based locomotion as the foundation of training. We know Mike Fitch, we’ve worked with him, and a lot of our coaches hold certifications in both systems.
They look similar on camera. In practice, they do very different things.
The Core Difference
Animal Flow is a movement vocabulary. It teaches you a well-organized system of positions, transitions, and flows that you can practice freely, combine creatively, and develop as an ongoing personal practice. It’s open-ended by design.
Elements is a training program. It has a defined starting point, structured daily sessions, and built-in progression that advances you through increasing complexity and challenge. Autoregulation adjusts the difficulty to match your body on any given day. You follow the program, and the program builds your capabilities.
Both use animal-inspired locomotion. The difference is what you’re getting: a creative practice system or a progressive training program.
Quick Comparison
| Elements | Animal Flow | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Movement Based | Movement Based |
| Delivery System | Online App | Video Streaming |
| Cost | $150 Lifetime Access | • $19/month • $199/year |
| Format | Step-by-step daily program | Instructional and Follow-Along Options |
| Plan | Programmed each day for the length of the program | Create your own exercise routine from the instructional videos |
Which One Fits You
Choose Elements if you want structured training that tells you exactly what to do each session and progresses you systematically. Elements builds strength, flexibility, and motor control through the Bear, Monkey, Frogger, and Crab, delivered through the GMB app with daily sessions using our 5Ps framework (Prep, Practice, Play, Push, Ponder). You start where you are, and the program moves you forward.
Choose Animal Flow if you want a creative movement practice you can develop on your own terms. AF teaches you the components, and you build your own flows from there. It’s excellent for people who already have a solid movement foundation and want an expressive, self-directed practice. The On Demand subscription gives you tutorials, classes, and new flows every week. Workshops go deeper.
Do both if you want the best of each. Use Elements to build (or rebuild) your foundational capabilities. Use Animal Flow for creative practice and flow development. Come back to Elements when you need to address a specific limitation. Mike himself used to recommend Elements to his certified coaches for exactly this reason. A lot of people cycle between the two, and the skills transfer cleanly in both directions.
For a deeper look at what Animal Flow offers and how the system works, read our full Animal Flow review.
Build the Physical Foundation for Any Movement Practice
Elements gives you structured daily training that builds strength, flexibility, and body control, progressing as you improve.
Hi, I'm Andy Fossett đź‘‹
A lifelong martial artist and former schoolteacher, Andy’s deeply concerned with autonomy and fitness education. As CEO of GMB Fitness, he’s dedicated to providing an open, accessible culture for both clients and staff to enjoy exploring more of what they’re truly capable of.
He's best known for his wildly off-topic rants on the GMB Podcast and spends the majority of his time eating burgers, sipping bourbon, and reading books.
