You’ve probably heard the term functional training thrown around at gyms, on social media, and in fitness programs. But what does it actually mean?
Is it standing on one leg while holding a kettlebell? Doing complicated exercises on a BOSU ball? Or maybe doing a bunch of movements that look like they belong in an obstacle course? 😂
Not necessarily.
At its simplest, functional training is training your body to move better and become stronger for the things you actually do in everyday life.
And honestly, that’s what I love about it.
Fitness Should Help You Live Your Life
Exercise doesn’t have to be about constantly chasing a smaller number on the scale or trying to lift as much weight as possible and getting huge muscles.
Those things can certainly be goals, but fitness can, and should, be about much more. Ask yourself:
- Can you carry your groceries without struggling?
- Can you pick something up off the floor safely?
- Can you get up and down from the floor?
- Can you climb a flight of stairs without feeling completely wiped out?
- Can you lift your suitcase into the car?
- Can you play with your kids or grandkids?
- Can you go hiking, travel, garden, golf, run, or simply get through your day feeling strong and capable?
Those are the things that matter. That’s where functional training comes in.
What Is Functional Movement?
Our bodies aren’t designed to move one muscle at a time in isolation all day long. We squat, bend, push, pull, twist, carry, reach, step, balance, and rotate a lot during the day.
Functional movement focuses on those types of movements and helps your body become stronger and more coordinated/balanced while doing them.
A GOOD functional training program should include some of these exercises:
- Squats and squat variations
- Hip hinges and deadlift variations
- Lunges and step-ups
- Pushes and pulls
- Carries
- Rotational movements
- Core stability exercises
- Balance and coordination work
The goal isn’t to make every exercise complicated. In fact, some of the most effective exercises are the simplest ones!
It’s about choosing the right movements and progressing them appropriately for your body and your goals.
Functional Training and Strength Training Go Hand in Hand
One thing I think that gets misunderstood, is that functional training and strength training are completely separate things. This is not true. Strength training is a HUGE part of functional fitness.
As we get older, maintaining muscle and strength becomes increasingly important, as we lose muscle mass, especially for women. Strong muscles help us perform everyday activities, support our joints, maintain balance, and stay independent.
However, strength isn’t just about how much weight you can lift, it’s about what that strength allows you to do. For example:
- Being strong enough to lift a heavy box is useful (especially when you’re moving things around in your house).
- Being strong enough to lift that box with good mechanics and control is even better (so that you don’t hurt your back).
- Being strong enough to lift it, carry it across the room, put it down (correctly), and go about your day without your back complaining afterward?
THIS is what being strong is about!!
You Don’t Have to Be “Fit” to Start
Let’s be honest, THIS is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about personal training. You don’t have to get into shape before you start working with a trainer. This is what the training is for no matter your fitness level.
A good program should meet you where you are and NOT where some influencer on Instagram tells you that you should be. You might be completely new to strength training. Maybe you’ve been exercising for years but feel like something is missing, or you’re coming back after a long break. You might want to improve your mobility, balance, strength, or endurance. And finally, maybe you simply want to feel better and more confident doing the things you enjoy.
Your starting point doesn’t have to be perfect. You meet yourself where you are! And wherever that is, it’s OK!!
Why One-on-One Fitness Coaching Can Make a Difference
There is a lot of information available about exercise these days. You can find thousands of workouts online in about five seconds. However, having more information doesn’t necessarily make it easier to know what you should actually be doing. Chad, Jimminy, and Claudë (sorry, I give names to my AI) are not going to look at you and correct your form. Totally funny if they did! LOL
This is one of the benefits of one-on-one fitness coaching with a trainer that focuses on functional and strength training. Instead of following a generic workout designed for everyone, your training can be adjusted to your current fitness level, goals, movement patterns, strengths, and areas that need more attention.
A trainer can also help you learn proper form, understand how to progress your exercises, and make adjustments when something doesn’t feel right. Also, sometimes having someone there to keep you accountable is exactly what you need to keep going.
Train for Life, Not Just for the Workout
I think this is really what functional training comes down to. Your workout is only one small part of your day. The real goal is what you do outside of the gym. We want you to be able to move through your life with more strength, balance, confidence, mobility, and independence. We want you to feel capable.
Being fit isn’t just about how you look. It’s about being able to do the things you love today, and hopefully keep doing them for many years to come. You need to think, “Train for life, not just for the mirror.” THIS is what functional training is all about.
So…….Are You Ready to Get Stronger for Life?
If you’re looking for a PERSONALIZED approach to functional training, strength training, and functional movement, Robert Stephens offers one-on-one personal training at Grounding Fitness in The Woodlands.
Robert works with beginners through intermediate clients and creates individualized programs based on where you are now and where you want to go. Training takes place in our private studio, with a focus on building strength, improving movement, and developing practical fitness that carries over into everyday life.
Ready to get started? Contact Robert at robert@groundingfitness.com to set up a FREE consult and let’s build a training program that works for you and your goals!!
