In a world brimming with fitness trends and jargon, “functional fitness training” stands out as a key concept. But what exactly is it, and why should you consider it for your fitness journey? At Unbeaten Fitness, we’re here to demystify functional fitness training and explore its benefits.
What is Functional Fitness Training?
Functional fitness training is about preparing your body for real-life movements and activities. It incorporates exercises that mimic or enhance the actions you perform in daily life. This type of training focuses on building a body capable of doing real-life activities in real-life positions, not just lifting a certain amount of weight in an idealized posture created by a gym machine.
Examples of Functional Movements
- Squats: They mimic the act of sitting and standing, a fundamental daily movement.
- Deadlifts: These simulate lifting objects from the ground, a common everyday task.
- Shoulder Presses: Useful for any overhead lifting in day-to-day life.
- Farmer Carries: Great for enhancing your ability to carry heavy items over distances.
- Kettlebell Swings: Improve hip mobility and power, aiding in actions like jumping or running.
Functional Training vs. Bodybuilding and Powerlifting
While bodybuilding focuses on muscle growth, size, and symmetry, and powerlifting aims at maximizing strength in specific lifts, functional fitness training has a broader scope. It aims to enhance your overall physical abilities, including cardiovascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy.
The 10 Functional Fitness Domains
Functional fitness training involves a variety of workouts, emphasizing full-body movements and free weights over machines. It’s about creating a versatile fitness regimen that enhances your capability in these ten domains:
- Cardiovascular/Respiratory Endurance
- Stamina
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Power
- Speed
- Coordination
- Agility
- Balance
- Accuracy
This approach ensures well-rounded physical development, preparing you for a range of physical tasks, both in everyday life and in sports.
Is Functional Training for You?
Functional fitness training is an excellent choice if you’re seeking overall fitness improvement in a fun, varied, and challenging way. It’s especially beneficial for those who want to be well-prepared for a variety of physical tasks. However, if you have specific goals outside of general fitness, such as bodybuilding or powerlifting, other training styles might be more suitable.
At Unbeaten Fitness, we’re committed to helping you find the training style that aligns best with your personal goals. Whether it’s functional fitness training or another method, our expert coaches can create a tailored plan to ensure your success.
Interested in functional fitness training or exploring other fitness options? Book a free consultation with us at Unbeaten Fitness Magee or Unbeaten Fitness Richland to discover the best path for your fitness journey. Let’s work together to achieve your goals!