Last updated on April 25th, 2023 at 07:21 am
There are a seemingly endless number of options in the fitness space when it comes to mobility and movement programming. Everything from free YouTube channels to costly in-person guidance is available.
One of the more visible options these days is the 10-week online postural dysfunction course by Functional Patterns. Backed by a good number of 5-star reviews and a very persuasive marketing campaign, it’s an attractive option for anyone with movement issues, postural difficulties, or chronic pain.
After seeing the impressive case studies that Naudi Aguilar (founder and lead instructor at Functional Patterns) shares on Instagram and other social media outlets, I decided to take the $200 plunge and see if this course could help with my own movement, posture, and pain issues.
$200 is a lot for me to spend on what appeared to be essentially a mobility program, but as a long-time sufferer of back pain, I figured it was worth a shot. I’m always looking for new tools for my pain relief toolbox.
I bought the course (on sale for $149!) and followed it for the prescribed ten weeks.
Over that time, I committed 1 hour a day, six days a week, to the material. Based on that time investment, and in conjunction with a thorough knowledge of and working experience with other modalities, I feel I can give an in-depth review that will help you decide if this course might be right for you.
My Quick TLDR Review of the 10 Week Course
I do not doubt that the Functional Patterns system can work wonders when administered by a certified trainer, in person, for an extended time. However…
The Functional Patterns 10-week online course is not something I can recommend. Its few redeeming qualities are outweighed by the fact that it’s hard to follow, understand, and use. It’s missing some critical elements that all good online courses should have, and there are far better options on the market.
Is it worthless? No. Any decent program followed consistently can produce results. If you buy and follow this program, you will most likely see some improvement in your posture and ability to move with reduced pain. Especially if you don’t do anything now. This course is clearly better than doing nothing at all.
The problem is that there are much better systems available that are easier to use, cost less, and produce markedly better results.
Or, if you want to modify your training to correct postural imbalances, you can’t do any better than the MAPS Symmetry program by Mind Pump. You can see my full review of that program here.
Who is the Functional Patterns 10-Week Course designed for?
This type of programming can benefit anyone willing to put in the work. Virtually no one has perfect posture, core stability, or gait biomechanics. Because of this, we all have imbalances, and often, those imbalances result in chronic pain.
That said, I don’t think this course is beneficial if you already have an established movement practice. If you already have a well-designed mobility and stability practice in place, you’ll get very little from this course. If you do not, there will be a lot here for you to take in. But as I already mentioned and will outline at the end of this article, there are much better options available for most people.
What’s included with the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course?
- One year of access to the course material
- 12 hours of content presented over almost 100 videos
- Three weeks of myofascial release instruction
- One week of posture training
- Six weeks of integrated corrective exercise programming
The course is presented over ten weeks. Each week has a specific focus, and the weeks are laid out to build upon each other. One feature that I liked is that you cannot move on to the next week until seven days have passed since completing the previous week. This keeps you focused on the current week and its lessons.
Each week contains an average of ten videos that explain that week’s concepts in detail. The videos are high quality and well made with good audio.
What equipment is needed to complete the Functional Patterns 10 Week course?
I used five implements in working through the course material. You could probably get by with fewer, but I already owned four of the five, so I didn’t mind buying the fifth (a massage cane). Here’s the list of what I’d recommend having on hand when working through this course (I’ve provided a link to Amazon for each so you can see what they are along with pricing):
- Foam roller
- 10 lb medicine ball
- Massage cane
- A short piece of PVC pipe
- Lacross ball or small mobility ball
What’s the cost of the Functional Patterns 10 Week course?
The listed price of the course at the time I’m writing this review (October 2021) is $197.49. I’ve seen the retail listed as high as $300 in some of their marketing material, but I think that’s so they can show a more significant discount when having a sale.
If you follow Functional Patterns on social media, you’ll see regular sales that bring the course down to $149.
What are the pros and cons of the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course?
Pros
- Good video quality
- Well organized and easy to navigate
- Laid out in weekly classes
- Thorough instruction
- Clearly demonstrated techniques and movements
- The fundamental ideas are practical and effective if applied
- If you follow the course, you will see at least some results
Cons
- No refund policy
- 12-month access only
- Lacks specific programming
- No diagnostic tool or evaluation
- No test/retest
- Hard to navigate once the course is complete
- Intense time commitment (much more than other, more effective courses)
- Too much jargon makes it confusing and hard to follow
- Lessons could be half the length and just as effective.
Things I liked about the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course.
The course has high-quality videos and a lot of them. The system is well laid out in a thoughtful approach, and each section builds upon the previous one.
Each week has a comprehensive explanation and demonstration of all of the movements and exercises for that week. They are detailed and relatively easy to follow along with visually.
The movements and exercises are all practical and accessible for most people regardless of their current physical condition. If an appropriate amount of time and consistency is applied, most people will likely see some results.
One thing I particularly got a lot out of was the postural training week. Naudi’s explanation of how to stand up straight, starting with your feet and working your way up, is the best I’ve seen. I find myself using this lesson multiple times per day as I struggle to stand with good posture.
Things I didn’t like about the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course.
For me, there are two huge red flags right out of the gate. There is no refund policy or 30-day trial, and you only get access to the program for 12 months.
In today’s world of online courses, virtually all legitimate and helpful courses will have a no questions asked refund policy. Investing a non-refundable $200 before ever seeing the course content is a big drawback.
Another standard practice for online courses is that one-time payment courses all come with lifetime access and free updates over time. This is the kind of material you will want access to down the road. The fact that you don’t get that is another huge drawback.
When it comes to the material itself, I found myself disliking many aspects of it. That started at the very beginning when there was no diagnostic or screening tool. When it comes to mobility courses, it’s critical to have an upfront evaluation and have retests along the way to test your progress. This course offers neither.
Everyone has different mobility and movement issues, and without a test to evaluate your specific issues, you are flying blind. You have no way to know which areas need work and which don’t.
The course is so non-specific to individual needs that Naudi Aguilar, the course instructor, continually states that “you’ll just kind of have to figure things out for yourself.” Um, Naudi, I didn’t just pay you $200 to figure things out for myself. That’s your job!
To make this issue even worse, while there are many exercises and movements presented in the course, there is absolutely no specific direction as to which movement should be used, how often, or for how long. In other words, this is NOT a program. It’s a series of exercises (none of which I haven’t seen in other places) all given to you with no specific plan or direction on how to use them.
Instead of spending time on actual programming, we are subjected to Naudi using excessive jargon (apparently, we will need to figure all of that out on our own, too) to explain things. This is a common mistake you’ll see a lot of inexperienced personal trainers making. In their attempt to impress you with their knowledge (or to try to prove to you just how much they know), they unknowingly lose your attention and their effectiveness by making things virtually unintelligible.
Every video is riddled with this jargon. One random example, so you can see what I’m talking about, is, “When you go into an anterior pelvic tilt, you exacerbate your hyper lordotic curvature.” Ummmm, what?!?
The mark of a true master instructor is when they can take technical concepts and explain them so everyone understands them. Naudi has a very long way to go in this department. For more examples, watch nearly any video he posts on social media.
Does the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course produce results?
Yes. If you can make your way through the jargon, somehow figure out what to do with all the movements demonstrated, and devote an hour or more a day to this practice, you will see results.
The problem is that no self-directed course should need all those disclaimers.
I want to make sure I’m clear in that I have many more issues with the course itself than the concepts. I’d be willing to bet that if you hired a Functional Patterns certified coach who could give you an evaluation, design a program specific to your needs, meet with you regularly, and give you highly personalized instruction, you’d get amazing results.
And those are the same results that Functional Patterns shows on social media. It’s almost always people that have worked with one of their coaches and seldom people who have only used this particular course.
What are some alternatives to the Functional Patterns 10 Week Course?
First, as I mentioned above, if you want to dive into the Functional Patterns system and like Naudi Aguilar’s approach, seek out one of their coaches. Skip the self-directed course and go straight to someone who can work with you in person.
Outside of that, I have three highly effective recommendations that I’ve used for a very long time and love.
For those who want a one-time payment complete mobility and corrective exercise system, you can’t go wrong with MAPS Prime Pro by the guys at Mind Pump. I’ve written a comprehensive review of that system based on years of use that you can see here.
For those that are more interested in using resistance training to correct imbalances, I can’t recommend the MAPS Symmetry program by Mind Pump. You can see my review of that program here.
For those that want something a little more structured and that provides you with daily guidance tailored to your specific needs, Kelly Starret’s The Ready State system will blow you away.
I’ve been using this system and app for about six months now, and the results have been astounding. I want to use it for a bit longer before writing a review, but you can check it out here.
The Ready State has an evaluation tool, gives you a score for several areas of your body, and then offers customized programming that addresses your specific results. It’s an incredibly deep and well-thought-out program and is produced by the single most highly respected person in the field of mobility, Kelly Starret. If you don’t mind a subscription-based model, this is a must-have tool in your fitness arsenal.
Conclusion
Being in pain and having movement and mobility issues is no fun. I know as I’ve battled them for a very long time. Chronic pain will cause you to try just about anything to alleviate it.
The marketing for the Functional Patterns course would like you to believe that all other modalities are not effective and can even be harmful. To me, this is an irresponsible approach.
Always be wary of someone who promotes themselves by tearing everyone else down. That’s never a sign of someone with much value to give.
I had high hopes for this course but was significantly disappointed. A big part of my reason for creating GymCrafter.com is to help people get the most from their home training. That not only means recommending things I love and use, but it also means being honest when I’ve wasted my money.
This is one of those times when I’ve wasted my money. Hopefully, this review will help at least some of you not do the same.
There are a lot of positive reviews on their Insta page and on their site. Why does your review differ? I find it hard to believe that so many people have positive things to say and you don’t.
Great question. 1. Before and after pics and testimonials can be bought. Easily and cheaply. 2. I actually did the program to the letter. I’ve also done many other similar programs. Most of the testimonials you see are from people who have nothing else to compare this to. ANY program done consistently will produce at least some results. But great programs done consistently will produce life changing results. I’ll very honest, I think this guy is a pompous, condescending, money first person. Going through the program, he couldn’t stop bragging about himself and how he’s the “only” person to have figured this stuff out. He spends more time knocking other people and strokinghis own ego than anything else. The programs okay at best. YOu will get some results if you do it. But, in my experience, you’ll get better results doing other things.
Thank you for the review. I was looking into Functional Patterns and I am in their FB group. Wanted to buy the program. Some people like it program but many are lost and cannot figure out what to do. For me the jargon is a red flag. I am not a native speaker and I do not know anatomy. Having to sit with a dictionary and search engine and at the same time when trying to follow the program would not be sustainable for me. I will chech out the other programs you recommend.
I’m really glad the review helped! And you are right! Anytime someone goes to great lengths to impress you with big words and technical jargon usually doesn’t actually know what they are doing and this is no exception. Another red flag is when people say they have a “secret that only they know”. Naudi seems to say that every other sentence. Thanks for the comment and feedback, I really appreciate it!
I wish I’d found this before I bought this program. I literally couldn’t listen to this guy’s instructions. He spent so much time talking about his company it was gross. He also kept saying that he discovered some special system that no one uses, but everything in this program can be found elsewhere.
Agreed. Anytime someone has found the super secret hack to the universe that no one else knows about, you can be 110% sure it’s a scam.
How did you fall for this guy’s stuff in the first place? Like what made you buy the program? Even a casual glance at his Insta page and you can see he’s a scammer. Sitting there in the dark on what looks like a throne? Using big words to make himself look smart and bashing literally anyone else doing similar work. He has all the hallmarks of a cult leader and it blows me away that anyone would fall for his message let alone give him money!!!
The short answer is that I hoped to separate the message from the messenger. As a long time sufferer of chronic pain, I’ve literally tried everything to help it. I don’t rule anything out and hope that I at least get something useful for my pain toolkit out of it. Also, I get a lot of questions emailed to me about them, so I figured I’d get first hand experience before answering questions. Everything you state is true, in my opinion. Hopefully my mistake can save others from the same thing.
Your review is quite confusing. The 2 alternatives you give are programs which have different porpuses!
Functional patterns its mostly for people with postural problems. And is revolutionary as works for hard cases with horrible imbalances, scoliosis, flat feet and so on.
And the 2 courses you recommend as alternative, are basically to build muscle.
So Idk why you would campare them.. Functional patters its one of his kind..as far as I understood.
However I agree, that for somebody who wants results may be better to look for another program (within Funtional Patterns) or work directly with a FP coach to get specific directions and workouts.
FP does nothing but promote its owner. It is not unique and contains zero new information. Naudi is not a pioneer and instead spends his time using big words to impress people. The alternates I recommend, MAPS Prime Pro and The Ready State have ZERO to do with muscle building. They are mobility and corrective exercise programs exclusively. I also recommend MAPS SYmmetry, which IS a muscle building program because, guess what, imbalances are caused primarily by muscle imbalances. The way you correct them is to strengthen the weaker muslces to create balance. That’s why EVERY SINGLE physical therapy program has a strengthening component to it.
I also think you missed a very, very, very important thing I pointed out in the review. I specifically said that this do it yourself, at home program is not beneficial, BUT if you went to see an FP trainer in person, you would certainly benefit from that. If you want to do things at home by yourself, there are much better options than FP. If you look in their FB group, you’ll see people complaining en masse about exactly this. They are unable to even do the program without further help and explanation. And what do you know, that further help almost always steers them towards an in person trainer, NOT on how to use the program effectively.
Sorry if that sounds harsh, but I’ve talked to numerous people who have gone backwards after this program and now have an even bigger hole to dig themselves out of. So instead of watching Naudi talk about how he’s going to start selling mirrors because they are “hard to find” (really? mirrors are hard to find?), people should be following someone who actually can help them instead of indoctinating them into an “exclusive, one of a kind” system that is neither exclusive nor one of a kind.
Thank you for this well written review. I feel like you purchased the program with true hopes to say “yeah this is okay”. To share what you experienced and your opinion is helpful.
I have been working as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the health field for over 30 years. When someone comes out as advertise they have the secret snake oil that know else has known about I am skeptical. I would respect the guy more if he just came out and said he feels he has learned some great ways to cue improved movement patterns. And as it goes for Naudi Aguilar..It is very difficult (maybe impossible ) to find out what his educational background is in.
And just to put it out there–functional patterns are not new. But hey when you got classes and equipment to push….
Thank you so much for posting this! I absolutely, 100% wanted his program to work. I suffer from chronic pain and joint issues and am always looking for the best way to fix things. I did the program exactly as laid out, almost an hour a day. Even when I had my suspicions it wasn’t worth the effort, I completed it anyway. The whole reason i started this site was to help other people. If I can spend my money first and let others know if it’s worthwhile for them, that’s a huge win for me. All of your points are spot on and thanks again for sharing your expertise!
I was considering their training as I liked a lot of their concepts from their Instagram page. A real red flag for me was when I’d make a statement in the comments I’d get jumped on by cult like followers of Functional Patterns. Then all of a sudden I’d get a DM from a salesperson. Thanks for your review!
Same! You are absolutely not allowed to ask questions or cast doubt on anything they preach. And yes, they are a sales company first and foremost. Thanks for sharing!
The advertising for Functional Patterns and this online program spoke to me like many others. I almost bought it and saw your review. I’m 58 years old, have chronic pain and sleep issues. I need postural correction and don’t think going to a chiropractor weekly is my answer. I want to keep my mobility and build muscles. Postural correction is my priority. Do you have a program recommendation that I can look into?
I have to start with the caveat that I am not a doctor and this is not qualified medical advice. Always check with a doctor before beginning any new program.
The issue with postural correction programs is that there are so many possible causes, it’s impossible for that type of program to actually help a lot of people.
The FP program makes the assumption that it’s your walking gait that’s the issue. That may or may not be the cause. Programs like The Ready State, which I highly recommend and use daily, don’t specifically address posure, but they do address many of the root causes (tight muscles, lack of range of motion, etc).
So, what finally helped me fix my own postural issues was finding the cause first and then addressing that. For me, that was muscle imbalance from years of sitting wrong and playing rotational sports that used only one side of my body. That meant that evening out the strength imbalances I had/have is what helped the most.
In general, if you can teach yourself to move through all 6 foundational human movement patterns (squat, hinge, push, pull, carry, lunge – some also include a 7th, rotation) with correct form, and then load those patterns to build strength in them, that corrects a ton of issues.
All that said, I look at postural correction as needing a toolkit. The more that toolkit pertains to your specific issues, the better off you are. Here’s my toolkit, hopefully some of this helps you.
Books:
Built From Broken – Scot Hogan
Rebuilding Milo – Aaron Horschig
The Roll Model – Jill Miller
Tools:
STRENGTH TRAINING!!!
Yoga Tune Up Balls
Foam roller
Lacrosse ball
Programs:
MAPS Symmetry
The Ready State
Dr. John Rusin Foundations program (if you haven’t trained before or are coming off of a break)
To be very honest, I didn’t make real progress on fixing postural issues until I got help. I found a great PT (who I told I couldn’t afford long term, but paid for an evaluation and movement recommendations).
I also paid to work one on one with Dr. John Rusin through his private coaching program. He worked with me specifically on strengthening through movement pyramids to rebuild my posture from the ground up. You can see an example of how he trains this here:
https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/how-to-train-through-back-pain-and-be-unstoppable.html
So, long story short, as I mention in this FP review, there is no substitute for working with a pro in person. Having someone be able to watch you and give specific fixes is invaluable. As much as I’ve healed myself over the years, finally biting the bullet and getting a trainer allowed me to do in 2 years what would have taken 10 on my own.
Best of luck and I hope that very long winded answer helps!
Tim!! I am SUPER grateful for you! and all this information.
With current physical issues, I am on a path to rise above! and make correction by looking for the RIGHT help and guidance.
My background – I am not a “regular” athlete, but I have an athletic body and want to engage it MUCH more going forward. (outdoor activities ((on water)), and acrobatic & circus activities). Because of some injuries and reoccurring pains, I have become afraid to “make things worse” so it’s caused me to be MORE sedentary!
This is NOT how I want to move forward!
I am looking for the RIGHT HELP and direction.
SO far I found a yoga therapist which seems ok, telling me I am too flexible (stretched out joints), have imbalanced pelvis, and weakened smaller muscles of my pelvis I need to strengthen, but it may be missing the whole body connectivity, which led me to a Functional Patterns practitioner. They observe that my yoga body is over flexible, and disconnected in its coherence of functionality of the parts together and I need a lot more drawing in of my core, etc. Now they are selling me on $200/hr sessions and the 10 week program.. I almost started the 10 week today until I saw your post.. !
…I’ve also been a bit put off by the FP “vibe”…
I am VERY NEW to the personal training and conventional workout world,
(Most of my workout have been electronic music dance floors, circus activities and too much over flexible yoga.)
I need direction and to learn these different terms and which ones I need to understand.
I will keep researching through resources you provided, a best fit path for me, as a beginner into training. I want to address my SPECIFIC issues.
I’m not clear yet, but it may benefit to do an initial assessment session with the FP practitioner also…
but I’d LOVE to talk to you more as well about these different options. It’s been so helpful. Thank you for who you are!
Thanks for the feedback! My best recommendation is to work with someone in person. He’s a bit expensive, but I had great success working with Dr. John Rusin in his one on one program for 2 years. When I went to him, I had a litanny of issues. He patiently listened and then stated something that has stuck with me since… “Everything is better if you are stronger.”
As unbelievable as it sounds, he had me deadlift and squat my way to healing my chronic back pain. Now, we started with variations of both of those movements that fit my body and abilities. We didn’t start with pulling a barbell from the floor or deep, heavy back squats. We started with goblet box squats and trap bar deadlift with a significantly elevated trap bar. But very long story short, it wasn’t until I focused on strength that everthing else improved. I highly, highly recommend checking his stuff out.
Specifically, the “too flexible yoga body” is a common thing and the answer, in my experience, has always been to start strength training.
As far as terms and jargon go, I avoid trainers and coaches who use it like the plague. The best trainers in the world never use hard to understand terminology. They meet you where you are instead. This is one of my biggest points of contention with Functional Patterns. I wish he’d stop trying to sound smart and just use basic terms everyone can understand. It’s like when a trainer tells their client to “supinate” their hand. What the heck does that mean to most people?! NOTHING!
But everyone understands turning you palm to the sky. Why not just say that? No one actually cares about your kinesiology degree, they just need help!
I’d also point you towards the Prime and more specifically Prime Pro programs by Mind Pump. They offer free webinars for both so you can see exactly what they are like. Prime Pro sounds like it might be a great fit for you. They address over flexibility in that program (not a ton, but it is mentioned).
I hope all that helps a little! Good luck on your journey and please let me know if I can help in any way!
I think the main issue most users have with the Fictional Pattern 10 week is that they are looking for simplified answered to complex questions which is near impossible to provide for posterior corrections. It is not as easy a 1+1=2, and no person that wants to personally fix their chronic back pain should expect this. In the 10 week Naudi quite clearly does explain why certain correctives would be good for specific dysfunctions a viewer might have.
The reason self guiding is a main focus in this program is because when we talk about fixing posture there can be thousands of ways to approach the issue. The 10 week offers the tools and blueprints to find these solutions with careful progression and informative context. The “jargon” Tim speaks of is terminology you would see in anatomy books, and terminology that is explained in the 10 week. Sorry to say but if you want to understand how fix something as complex as human biomechanics you are going to have to learn a bit about human anatomy.
The expectation that Naudi is going to fix everyone’s chronic pain by having everyone apply the same practices step by step instead of allowing the viewer to try the techniques for themselves as the progress through the course, and see what works best for them is incorrect. That is the equivalate of asking a nutritionist to come up with a diet plan that is going to work for everyone. It is not realistic, and any program that makes you believe that is the case is lying to you. This course gives you the introduction and a foundation of how to approach to posterior training, and encourages you to reach out to certified Function Patterns practitioners for a more precise and efficient fix to the dysfunctions you might have.
The reviewer, Tim, states that despite other programs he has used and recommended, in the end, he still had to receive personal help and one on one training. Point being, despite whatever programs he used it was ultimately fixed by one on one assistance which is hwat the 10 week encourages you to seek out anyways. Unfortunately Tim did not seek the assistance of a certified Function Patterns practitioner for this help as he would have had a more catered approach to his dysfunctions, as well as a more in-depth analysis of why he maybe helping these dysfunctions to persist with his lifestyle.
As a personal user of the 10 week I find the review a bit lacking in context and it seems the approach and expectations of the course were just not correct for this particular reviewer. I do see why most people would have a difficult time with understanding the course. On the other hand however, the expectation that fixing years of dysfunctions would be easy seems unrealistic.
First, thank you very much for taking the time to post this response.
First, personal training and invdividualized attention will always win out over a self directed program regardless of how good or bad that program is. I think we’re both on the same page here.
Where I really disagree is the jargon point. I spent 30 years of my life teaching and training other people. The most succesful teachers and trainers in the world use ZERO jargon. What makes them great is the ability to teach complex topics to people at a third grade level. That’s when people actually get things.
When Naudi talks, he is clearly using jargon to gain credibility. Is it accurate? Yes. Is it helpful? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Casually throwing around terms like kyphodic lordosis only serves to try to impress people. “Instagram Ass”, on the other hand, translates to all people. I whoelheartedly disagree that people “need” to learn these terms. Simply saying that dissuades a large portion of people who could potentially be helped. People don’t want a technical biology class. They want help getting out of pain and improving function. Using accessible terminology is key to that.
In fact, this is a large part of the education for physical therapists. They never train those folks to rely on the technical jargon of their trade with their patients. Instead, they are taught how to communicate complex principles using langauge a child can understand.
For someone like you or I, the terms are at least familiar. For the average person, they immediately shut off if they have to stop to look things up. I also disagree that Naudi take the time to explain these terms in the course. He does not for many terms, and glosses over others. In any case, he shouldn’t be using them at all if his goal, as he states, is to help as many people as possible.
Simply look in the FP FB group. It’s overrun with people asking about those terms and what they mean. So many confused people there. Many have reached out to me directly after reading this review.
Watch Kelly Starret teach the exact same principles as an example. Anyone can follow along and if he does use jargon, he explains it visually every single time.
Last point… ALL programs like this should be lifetime access and also have a 30 day return policy. Not having those two things is a gigantic red flag that the key motivator is profit, not helping people.
Sorry to sound so harsh as I really do appreciate your perspective and response. Genuinely, thank you for posting it, it will be helpful to add this opinion to the review.
To be upfront, I am an FP enthusiast and know what it takes to produce results, and it’s a lot of precision (in terms of how to position bones and joints relative to each other) that is necessary and every bodies dysfunctions are different.
As far as jargon goes, I agree, it might be confusing for some people. I think Naudi isn’t completely aware of that some people don’t even know what a lordosis or kyphosis is. I get it.
As far as measurements goes, yes, I agree. There should at least be example before and after’s to see what to look for. The course isn’t perfect and that’s something they could work on for the next version of the 10 week course, no doubt!
Do other courses produce the same results? Doubt it, I tried many and none of them decompressed my spine as FP did and I don’t see the same results from other programs. Maybe isolated mobility measurements, but that’s about it from what I see from other methodologies.
The point of the course is to teach you the first couple joints / bones and how they need to be places relative to each other, so that you can figure out our own dysfunctions.
The point is not to give you a step by step simple solution to a complex problem. Unfortunately the body is a bit too complex for that and has too many ways of compensating with one joint /bone for the other, and anybody who is trying to give you an absolute solution to a relative problem is most likely lying to you.
But again, I agree with the jargon and measurement part, that’s something that should be improved.
It’s really awesome that you found relief in this program. As someone with chronic back and joint pain, I’ve tried literally everything I can find and have come to learn over time that each program has a subset of people that really click with it. FP is no different.
From my experience, there are a myriad of other programs, books, and approaches that achieve better results (and faster) than FP and are far easier to follow and understand.
At the same time, postural correction and pain management can and should be much simpler than Naudi presents. If you read any of Dr. Stuart McGill’s work (THE preeminate doctor dealing with back pain today. Absolutely no one knows more, has more experience, or has more positive patient outcomes than he does!), you’ll find it very clear, straightforward, and simple to follow. For me, he is the gold standard against which everyone else should be measured.
Thank you for taking the time to post this comment. I really value the varying opinions of the people that read my site. My ONLY goal is to help people. As someone who has struggled with back pain and physical health my entire life, I hope that my experiences can help at least a few other people.
I follow FP on insta and I really like a lot of their posts. The exercises make sense to me from the pov of someone who can deadlift a lot (nearly 70 yrs old female with a shit load of health issues ~ 100kg) but needs a walking stick (and yeah, i know they’re not the same thing). Deadlift/weight training fans are at least as fanatical if not more so as anything i’ve seen on FP. I’ve realised as an older person with multiple issues, I need to a) work in person and b) forget traditional weights for the time being. I AM going to do more fp type work which I can work out from the vids and not buy a course. I know I need more of those movements at my age for pain, and just to be able to move. I struggle with rotation, with bend and reach. I think rotation is WAY more important than you’re suggesting in your what to do. About self promotion. I mean COME ON!!!! That’s freaking disingenuous. It’s almost like you’ve spent zero time on sm ever. How do you think EVERYONE promotes their shit? That’s just bizarre. And you clearly know nothing about yoga if you think this guy is a cult leader. Let me introduce you to the yoga cults. Never mind the gainz clubs. The carnivore clubs (they are the worst for bullying btw but in terms of cults, yoga hands down). I’m almost 70. I’ve been online since pretty much the beginning. I won’t buy the course because I do badly with those things (and I have bought a couple). I do like Redefining strength but again, I’m lousy at follow through. however I bought something from her, didn’t spend heaps and she is very available on messenger personally. I also bought a somatic exercise program which I do like and complete some of it most days.
Totally agree with you! Most “influencers” online are kind of culty. But not all. You just have to look in the right places. For longevity, Dr. Peter Attia and Beth Lewis. For strength, Dr. John Rusin. I have a pretty long list of reputable people in almost every area of fitness who are absolutely nothing like most of the online people out there.
As for yoga, I’ve been doing yoga for almost 30 years. There are a TON of weirdos and cult like personalities in that field for sure! But if you find a good instructor that teaches the way you learn and isn’t dogmatic, it’s life changing.
I’m not sure why you think I don’t value rotation? I play competitive disc golf and play ball golf at least once a week. Those are explosively rotational sports and I train rotation (and anti-rotation) almost every day.
As for self promotion, I totally disagree with you. Yes, if you live terminally online, there’s a lot of folks all doing the same thing. But if we rejoin the real world, there are tons of people promoting helping people primarily and rarely shamelessly promote themselves. Those folks quietly develop a large following over time and help thousands of people. This is NOT Naudi. He literally spends part of each lesson in the course bragging about building his company and what products he plans to create. This has no place in a course like this. He has every mark of a culty personality. Every. Single. One. Including his totally creepy sitting on a kind of throne in the dark commenting on people’s videos and progress like he’s some kind of master in a field where many others are far more skilled, experienced, and successful.
All that said, I really do appreciate your comment. I love discussions like this and value people who can push back on my positions. I’ve changed quite a few of them because folks took the time to post comments or send emails. My ONLY goal is to help people and I cannot do that if I don’t hear back from those people! So really, thank you!
I came across FP training today, predominantly peaked my interest for my daughter who has rib flare and slightly protruding shoulder blades. She’s 13 and as is the case with most teenagers, is very self conscious. I was initially pulled in by before and after photos of similar postural issues on their sm and was in the verge of buying the program. However, I’m so glad I saw your review before I did – and your general honesty around the subject. Do you have any training recommendations I could pursue? I am UK based but happy to take online advice if necessary.
First, FP would be suitable if you see a trainer in person. Their stuff can work well, but it’s just too complex and involved to be a do it yourself class. The 10 week program is just a sales pitch for their trainers anyway, so if you go with FP, just skip straight to an in person approach.
Second, I’m not a PT or a doctor, please consult a physician or PT before starting any new program or set of exercises (required disclaimer and important!)
In my opinion, strength training needs to be part of the solution for all postural imbalances. Typically, I see a lot of teenage girls (I have two nieces with this issue) with severly forward shoulder and some rib flare. In my experience, it comes from hours and hours hunched over a phone. Whether it comes from that or not, the very first step is to stop doing what caused the problem in the first place (if you know).
Lots and lots and lots of band resisted facepulls are probably going to be key as well. I start and end every day with 3 sets of 30 and it’s done wonders for my posture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oM2I8cOMnrI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOKRwBQyHj0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMmWw4eP8Vs
Those three videos will be a great start for you.
Fixing postural issues is a painfully slow process and the exercises can often seem pointless. Whatever path you pursue will take daily effort. The old adage of you get out of a problem at the same speed you got into it definitely applies here. If it’s been several years of poor posture, it could literally take many, many months to correct it.
I hope at least some of that helps.