Who is Darryl Edwards?
“I Play” has opened my mind to exploring countless new ideas, and changed how I feel when I open my eyes every day of my life.
Darryl Edwards MSc, FCIMSPA (Chartered), FBSLM, DFSEM(UK), DipExMed, ACSM-CES, CertLM is a London-based movement coach, author, speaker, and founder of the Primal Play Method®. The Primal Play Method® is grounded in evolutionary biology, exercise physiology, cognitive neuroscience, and play psychology. Darryl has 15 years of experience coaching and teaching movement, with a focus on long-term adherence through playful, practical activity.
After almost two decades working in investment banking technology, Darryl rebuilt his health through a back-to-basics movement practice. He now helps individuals, clinicians, educators, and organisations use playful, practical movement to improve long-term adherence, reduce sedentary time, and support physical and mental wellbeing.
He is a Fellow of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (since 2023). He is a Chartered Fellow Physical Activity and Health Practitioner with CIMSPA, a Diplomate Member of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK), and an ACSM Cancer Exercise Specialist®.
In 2025, Darryl received the US Play Coalition’s Stephanie P. Garst Distinguished Service Award, recognising advocacy for physical and social health through playful movement.
In 2026, Darryl is a confirmed keynote speaker at Playtopia: Make Way for Play in Boston on 28 March 2026 and will be speaking at ESMO (European Society of Medical Oncology) Breast Cancer on 6 May 2026.
Darryl’s TED talk, “Why Working Out Isn’t Working Out” (January 2019), explores why many people struggle with formal exercise and why enjoyable movement drives consistency.
He is the best-selling author of Animal Moves and released a children’s picture book My First Animal Moves. He also develops education for health professionals and the public on movement, play, and lifestyle-related chronic disease.
Darryl has created a range of fitness decks which have shipped to over 40 countries. The Animal Moves Fitness Decks are fun, fitness cards for adults, juniors (age 7-14), infants (age 3-6), office workers and fitness professionals.
His work has been featured internationally, including major press and broadcast documentary projects.
Darryl resides in London, England and publishes about living a healthy, playful lifestyle at PrimalPlay.com.
“His unique blend of knowledge and practical engagement makes Darryl’s approach to play so effective and memorable.”
Darryl Edwards key Achievements
Fellow (2025), Chartered Senior Practitioner, FCIMSPA (Chartered)
TED Talk - “Why Working Out Isn’t Working Out” (2019), 1.3M+ views
Books published: Paleo Fitness (2013) Animal Moves (2018), My First Animal Moves (2021).
Invited faculty and speaker for clinical and academic education, including Harvard Medical School programmes, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, and international conferences across exercise oncology, obesity medicine, lifestyle medicine, and exercise medicine.
Peer-reviewed publications on play, exercise adherence, and breast cancer prevention.
Fellow (2023), British Society of Lifestyle Medicine (FBSLM)
Stephanie P. Garst Distinguished Service Award, US Play Coalition (2025)
Certified in Lifestyle Medicine, CertLM (2024)
Diplomate Member, Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (UK), DFSEM(UK) (2025)
ACSM Cancer Exercise Specialist® (2024).
Featured in the BBC documentary ‘Doctor In The House’ with Rangan Chatterjee, 2017.
Featured in the BBC Series “Inside The Factory”, 2022
2023 - Featured in the New York Times
2025 - Featured in Forbes Magazine
Trustee for the British Holistic Medical Association (2020-2025)
Board of Advisors Primal Health Coach Certification
