When discussing which aspect benefits our health the most, we mustn’t forget to mention how important it is to focus on physical exercise. Keeping your body moving and active is a great way to make yourself feel better and happier. And one of the best ways to reap all the benefits of physical activity is by implementing functional fitness. It is important to understand the core of it so you can implement it in your life.
But before you incorporate this kind of functional approach to fitness into their lives, here are some things you should know:
Benefits of functional fitness
Increasing the overall quality of life is important. One way you can do this is by activating the muscles required for a certain task to be finished, without worrying about straining them. Functional workout sessions will allow your body to conquer your daily activities easily, and enjoy the rest of the benefits that come with it. These include:
- Increased muscle memory
- Improved stability, balance and posture
- Better mobility and flexibility
- Enhanced endurance
Types of functional fitness and what they do for you
Before you delve deep into the subject, you should know that this type of fitness will benefit all aspects of your life. Functional workout revolves around the fact that there are certain activities you can count as physical exercise outside of your gym. Trying to translate all the exercises you unconsciously do during the day into your training will help you become a fully functional athlete.
Functional workouts can include lifting boxes around the home or at work, walking a few flights of stairs, taking a stroll from the parking lot to your home or office and vice versa, and so much more. Some other functional exercises that you can practice intentionally include:
- Squats
- Incline chest press
- Plank
- Stationary lunge
- Single leg lift
- Downward facing dog
These exercises can work wonders for your body since they focus on activating more muscle groups. If you’re a beginner, do some research first; there are plenty of guides on the internet that will teach you how to do these exercises correctly.
How to fit them around your training/daily schedule
Experiencing a limited movement ability or tight muscles can be a pain, and if you are thinking of ways to make that go away, then functional exercises are what you should be after. Think about what you are doing in your life and incorporate that into your daily training schedule. For example, if you’re a parent of a toddler or if your job requires lifting heavier items, this is a good example of squats and deadlifts, which are a crucial part of every functional workout program. If you don’t feel like you have enough time to dedicate to a home or gym workout session, then try to think of ways to incorporate these functional exercises as you’re doing your daily chores.
When it comes to functional fitness training, there are many routes that you can take. Plenty of them have proven extremely beneficial and will certainly make a difference. If you cannot stick to a program, you can always commit to various routines such as stretching, running, hiking, etc. Try it for yourself and see that it works!
