What Is Functional Fitness?
And Do You Really Need It?
Functional fitness has been a buzzword for many years now. However, what exactly is it, and do you need it?
First, functional fitness is a classification of exercises that prepares the body for real-life movements and activities. Also known as functional training or functional movement, “it trains your muscles to work together and prepares them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work, or in sports”—Mayo Clinic.
A functional workout consists of compound exercises like squats, lunges, and deadlifts. These exercises move more than one joint, activating more muscles while also requiring your body to work as a unit.
Exercises like this build your strength, balance, and mobility.
Now, you may be thinking,’ I don’t do a lot of deadlifts in my day-to-day life, PJ, so how is this functional?’ Great question. While you may not be doing a ton of beautiful-looking deadlifts IRL, I can guarantee that you do a lot of hinging from your hips and leaning forward.
Whether it’s to pick up a grandkid off the floor, a fur baby off the couch or reaching into the trunk of your car to grab the groceries.
Functional exercises also help improve our balance and coordination, which can be especially important as we age.
With this said, please don’t unfavour every workout with an isolated exercise, like bicep curls. Isolating muscles periodically is a great way to build strength in a specific area. Isolation exercises are also a fantastic way to target weaker muscles, ensuring symmetry in our muscles.Functional exercises encompass a range of movements and activities, including squats, lunges, push-ups, planks, and deadlifts.
They can also include chest presses, rows, hang cleans, and snatches. Other examples include carrying heavy objects while walking or performing movements on unstable surfaces, such as a stability ball or BOSU ball, as well as working with the TRX.
Coles-Notes:
- Functional exercises work multiple muscles
- Functional fitness mimics daily tasks and improves overall physical function.
- One of the main benefits of functional fitness is its ability to improve overall quality of life.
- Program about 60-75% of your workout to include functional exercises
- Or, keep it simple & easy for yourself and just follow my Workout Calendar that we offer all of our subscribers on Over Fifty Fitness 😁
Hi, I’m PJ Wren.
I’ve been working with people of all ages, all fitness abilities, and varying fitness goals for over two decades.
I’ve helped thousands of women over the years who are just like you, feel more energized, stronger, and more confident in their bodies. I turn gym goers and non-believers of getting fit at home into believers, with at-home workouts that will give you the results you want, no gym equipment or crazy diet required!
I’m passionate about women over 40 because I am over 40 myself.
I know what it feels like to be middle-aged, and what it’s like to have a hot flash while looking for my bloody reading glasses.
I’m honoured you choose me, in the HUGE ocean of fitness professionals, to help you get fit, get strong and get fierce.
I promise to only give it to ya straight while listening to what you want, and what you need.
ox PJ
