Functional Training

Functional training is exercising to improve activities you do on a daily basis. Functional training is commonly used to help the elderly but this isn’t the only use. This is  used commonly by occupational therapists, physiotherapists, as well as chiropractors in order to re-train a person's muscles to improve their quality of life. 

This type of training mainly involves weight bearing activities targeting the core and lower back muscles. 

 Lately I have been incorporating this type of training into my daily routines. Since starting I have noticed a good improvement in my ability to move during the day. Functional training is NOT just for older adults.For these tasks to be effective they need to be based on the functional tasks in a person's life, it is individualized, integrated (flexibility, core, balance, strength and power), progressive, repeated frequently and is measured in some sort of feedback.

Below are some basic exercises you can try:

• Push ups 
• Squats 
• Lunges 
• Single legged lunges 
• Flutter kicks 
• Jumping jacks (star jumps)
• Superman
• Planks
  

These are some easy exercises you can perform HIIT style (30s on and 30s off). Pick 3 to 4 of these exercises repeat the each one in sequence 4 times and you have yourself a Functional Training HIIT style! 

Ex. push ups (30s on), rest (30s),  squats (30s on), rest (30s), jumping jacks (30s on), rest (30s), side lunges (30s on), rest (30s) AND repeat 4 times!

Functional training can help you improve strength, balance, coordination as well as mobility. These are improvements that everyone can benefit from. Try and end every workout out with a quick functional session or create a whole workout around these movements.

Yours truly, 

Meg