“So, is that when you’re having fun while you’re working out?”
Well yes, but… Functional fitness mimics the way we would use our body naturally-it’s one of the top health & wellness trends for 2015! Most of us spend our days sitting behind a steering wheel or a desk not using much of our physical bodies, let alone how they were intended to be used. In functional fitness rather than doing bicep curls or using the pectoral fly machine you might be doing pushups or burpees. Hamstring curls? Try lunges. Functional exercises tend to be multijoint & multimuscle exercises that mimic the movements our bodies are designed to do. Instead of only moving the ankles doing calf raises for example, a functional exercise might involve the elbows, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles.
Who Can Do FF?
Functional fitness is great for anyone, but may be especially helpful as part of a program for older adults to improve balance, agility and muscle strength, and reduce the risk of falls. If you’re over 40, haven’t exercised in awhile, are pregnant or have health problems, be sure to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program.
Where Can I Do FF?
Functional fitness can be done at home or in the gym. Check out your local gym to see if they’re offering functional fitness classes or have a trainer that can get you started! There are a number of offerings in Prince George.
Why Should I Incorporate FF Into My Life?
As you add more functional exercises to your workout, you should see improvements in your ability to perform your everyday activities. More unsupported squats will help in getting out of a chair for example, lunges will make vacuuming a breeze! Improvement on your quality of life? I think so!
Go on now, have some fun!