Before you ever hit the gym, your muscles are working hard. That’s because living everyday life takes strength and effort physically. To get from one spot to another, you’re working your muscles. To do something as simple as making a snack, your body has to work.
Functional training capitalizes on the fact that you already have muscles that work hard and that you already exercise just by living. As a result of this kind of training, you have a stronger foundation to build off of.
Defined as movement or exercise intended to improve your ability to complete regular activities, functional training ensures that your “everyday muscles” are strengthened. As a result, your body is better equipped to meet specific fitness goals.
Since functional training is all about equipping your “everyday muscles,” it isn’t complex. The exercises activate the same muscles you use for things like sitting, standing, or lifting groceries and other ordinary things. Most of the exercises are familiar because many are learned in school gym classes.
Some of the top functional training exercises include:
There are many variations of these exercises that make them more effective for strengthening your muscles. For example, there are reverse lunges, side lunges, overhead dumbbell lunges, lunges with reach, etc.
Functional training also adds kettlebells, weights, stability balls, or resistance bands to these exercises, you take them to the next level.
There are a ton of benefits to functional training. Functional training does the following things:
While some functional training exercises can be performed anywhere because they simply rely on bodyweight, others require equipment or coaching. Texas Family Fitness, for example, has the equipment and instruction you need to capitalize on this smart form of training.
Sign up for your FREE 30-Day VIP Pass to try functional training today.