What is your motivation for dedicating time in your schedule to a workout routine in the gym? When you are lifting weights or putting in time on cardio equipment, it’s helpful to know your WHY. Are you setting these fitness goals because you want to feel better, look better, or improve your sports performance?
It doesn’t matter if you are an athlete or just getting started with beginner workouts: Understanding your fitness quest helps you set fitness and health goals to match your lifestyle. Regardless of your age, functional fitness is a great way to improve the quality and effectiveness of your workouts. In addition, this method of training in a fitness center helps to prepare the body for everyday situations, helping you have the strength and stamina for common daily activities, such as:
- Carrying the groceries into the house
- Pulling something off a shelf
- Running up the stairs
- Picking up small children
- Wrestling with the kids in the backyard
What Is Functional Fitness?
Functional fitness is a method of exercise done in a fitness club (or at home) designed to mimic everyday activities. These workouts incorporate multiple muscle groups simultaneously, helping to build stability, strength, and overall mobility. Using several muscle groups at the same time replicates the way your body actually moves throughout the day. For example, you might have a gym upper body workout, a core workout, and workout quads within the same set of movements using minimal equipment such as dumbbells, training bands and medicine balls, or no equipment at all.
Specific exercises vary from one training session to the next, helping you move toward your goals. Common activities for fitness exercise during these strength exercise or mobility sessions include:
- Pulling
- Pushing
- Squatting
- Lunging
- Hinging
- Rotating
- Gait training
These exercises prioritize natural movements. When you squat with dumbbells or incorporate training bands into these sessions, you challenge your muscles with additional weight and resistance. You can fit a variety of exercises into these functional movements: gym upper body workout, workout for core, workout upper chest, workout quads, and more.
Not only do you see your strength improve in your workouts, but you feel better in your day-to-day life. As you strengthen your body, you have better physical support to manage the small and big things that come your way. Your fitness quest helps improve every activity you encounter.
Undeniable Benefits of Functional Fitness
Why should you prioritize functional fitness over other forms of exercise? Performing functional strength exercises offers many benefits for your overall fitness and health. Here are a few reasons why you should include functional strength exercises and incorporate this fitness evolution in your life:
- Reduce the risk of injury in everyday activities by spending time working out in a health club.
- Work on the house without worrying about pulling or straining something
- Have more strength and endurance to enjoy time with your kids or grandkids
- Optimized performance on the sports field because a gym upper body workout improves accuracy when handling the ball – for both professional athletes and “weekend warriors”
- Improved mobility and coordination
- Burn more calories (compared to regular strength training)
- Increase muscle mass, helping to slow atrophy (muscle loss)
- Better balance to reduce the risk of falls (especially in aging adults)
- Enjoy fun, group experience at a gym near your home
The human body is capable of performing many different types of tasks. This fitness project helps you maintain the best functionality by engaging and stimulating a variety of muscles to improve mobility and strength.
Should You Start a Functional Fitness Exercise Routine?
As with other types of beginner workouts, it’s best to start small and increase your intensity and duration over time. If you have any medical concerns, it’s always smart to talk to your doctor for personalized recommendations.
Set a goal to stay consistent with a fitness 30-day challenge. When you get to the end of the month, you’ll feel great and have the momentum to continue with regular exercise routines.
Many people find functional fitness challenging to implement on their own. So, consider joining a fitness center or local classes, so you have the support of trainers and other like-minded workout buddies. Even though you can find workout free apps, gym garage ideas, or shop for gym equipment for sale, group training is fun and adds an element of accountability to improve your consistency and results.
We’re Here to Support Your Functional Fitness Goals
Method Health Club of Ashburn in Virginia is designed around individuals with personalized experiences that combine fitness, nutrition, recovery, and community with helping you feel healthy, capable, and empowered to achieve your own overall wellness. Your path to wellness begins right here and right now by taking advantage of our best offer to join OAK. Get started at our Loudoun fitness club by selecting a membership offer or call 1-571-462-6542 to schedule a tour and learn about Method Health Club!