Functional fitness is an important addition to any workout program because it supports you in real-life, real-world movements. While gliding back and forth in an elliptical machine is great for cardio and lifting dumbbells behind your head in a tricep press can build upper arm strength, neither of these movements are typical in day-to-day life. By mimicking real-life movements, functional fitness can prevent injuries, improve balance, and make everyday activities easier. Here are some tips on incorporating it into your routine.
Understand the Differences
The easiest way to differentiate between functional fitness and traditional strength training is thinking in terms of movements instead of muscles. When you bend down to pick up something heavy, you’re engaging core muscles, quads, and glutes all at the same time. Functional fitness trains these same muscles as a set, rather than individuals, so they get equally strong, and the movement itself can be performed with maximum ease and efficiency.
Take Stock of Your Day
Are you in front of a computer all day, or do you spend most of the day standing? Do you often pick up small children or walk a large dog at regular intervals? Any of these activities can put strain on specific muscle groups and/or keep you in awkward postures that can cause tightness and imbalance. Make a quick list of your day-to-day activities so you know which functional fitness areas to prioritize.
Map Your Day to Your Training
From there, map out specific functional fitness exercises that support your daily activities.There are numerous resources available online, at your local gym, and neighborhood community centers to help you with the specifics.
For example, if you spend your day in front of a computer, it may not seem like you’re moving, but your muscles are working hard. Your occipital muscles at the top of your neck, sternocleidomastoid muscles in the front of your neck, pec muscles, and deltoids can all become shortened and fatigued. While traditional strength training focuses on bulking up these muscles individually, functional fitness helps them stretch, strengthen, and relax at the same time. Chin tucks and standing shoulder shrugs are two examples of functional fitness training for “screen neck.”
Revive & Recover
Rest and recovery are important components of any fitness routine, and functional fitness is no exception. You can amplify the benefits of rest by supporting your body with supplements that boost your natural recovery mechanisms.NextEvo’s Revive CBD with Curcumin helps tame inflammation and strengthen natural immunity, and Complex and Body Recovery Cream provides a soothing, cooling topical treat for hard-working muscles.
Balance it All
Functional fitness is part of an overall body wellness regimen. Cardio, bodybuilding, stretching, and mobility training are also important, and you’ll enjoy the most balanced form of fitness by incorporating each of these disciplines. Add quality sleep, healthy food, and mental health support like meditation and journaling, and you’ll be at peak levels of mind/body/spirit fitness!
