The latest craze to hit the fitness industry are workouts and terms surrounding “Functional Fitness” or “CrossFit.” What most don’t realize is functional fitness has been around for 1000’s of years in everyday life. Below we will go over what this is and how it can benefit you.
Functional Fitness exercises train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, work, or in sports. While using various muscles in both your upper and lower body at the same time; also core stability is emphasized as the main pillar for its success. Exercises used in functional training are not restricted to being in a gym and can be done in your home, office park, etc. which makes it so appealing to almost everyone.
Like other forms of exercise, Functional Fitness can be broken down into three categories: high-intensity, moderate-intensity, and low-intensity. High-intensity training is for people in great physical shape. Exercises considered high-intensity include intensive cardio, strength training, and endurance training. Low-intensity functional training exercises are typically designed for older individuals who wish to improve their quality of life in areas of balance, strength, flexibility, and agility. Moderate-intensity exercises of course then fall somewhere in between high and low-intensity levels and like all exercises, it’s based on the individual’s current fitness level or limitations. Some exercises use bodyweight movements, others use free weights, kettlebells, ropes, medicine balls, foam rollers, benches, or resistance bands.
All of these are used in various combinations to engage muscle groups that aren’t used to working together to create a more well-rounded individual for what we may encounter in everyday life. Some of the movements used regularly are squatting, lunges, pushups, pull-ups, presses, and deadlifts.
If you have ever heard the term, “Jack of all trades, is a master of none,” chances are it was being used as a negative example. Functional Fitness is the full term, “Jack of all trades, is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Our series of articles will be breaking down the movements within Functional Fitness to better understand them and their importance to being a more well-balanced individual.
