What is Functional Fitness?
You may have heard the term “Functional Fitness” from time to time and wondered what exactly it means. We are all good at throwing these terms around, and thinking we know, but let's make sure…
Well, in a nutshell, Functional Fitness is a type of exercise that mimics everyday movements to improve strength, mobility and balance. It can help you perform daily tasks like lifting, pushing, pulling and bending with ease and can even help with health longevity.
Fab! But what Functional Fitness exercises can I do in the gym to help improve my everyday life and assist me living longer?
You may not realise it, but certain exercises can help us improve particular movements at home. Just imagine…
Squat Thrusts with a wall ball - By holding a wall at chest height, squatting as low as you can, coming up and extending your arms fully, high above your head, you can mimic tasks such as bending down to pick up something to then put back up on a high self (an example of this might be putting the shopping away in cupboards after the big shop!)
Running on the treadmill or skill mill - the more you jog or run on these machines, the easier it will be for you to take long walks outside of the gym and enjoy the fresh air. Things like hiking, trailing, or even just manoeuvring around your home will become so much easier!
RDLs - Romanian Deadlifts can help you bend over a lot more easily outside of the gym.
This movement helps with jobs such as picking up a washing basket or bending over to tie your shoe laces.
Sandbag carry - By placing a sandbag over the meaty part of your back and walking (or even walking lunges if you’re feeling brave) can help you pick up heavy items at home and transport them with ease. Yes, the grandchildren are included in this too! (Not that we condone putting them on the meaty part of your back to carry them! But lifting them when their tired, little legs hurt will feel so more easier to do if you put sandbags into your routine)
Farmers carry - Carrying kettlebells, one in each hand, can actually help you with daily tasks such as carrying the shopping bags into the house, or even taking the binbags out!
Using a Barbell collar - Placing a lock on the outside of the weights on your bar can actually help with tasks as simple as opening a bottle lid! The squeezing motion required to adjust the barbell lock will improve the flexibility in your hands in order to carry out tasks such as opening lids too!
Squat onto a box or step - By squatting low onto a step and then coming back up (with or without a weight), you will improve the way you stand up from sitting down. Just imagine having a nice chill at home, sitting on the sofa and then needing to get up. Well, if you carry out this functional fitness exercise in the gym, you may not even have to place your hands down to assist you at home!
Putting on trainers - It might sound silly, but the more you put on your trainers before a gym session and remove them at the end will improve how easy it is for you to throw a pair of slippers on when you get home!
Happy Functional Fitnessing!
