Functional Fitness

Functional training is a classification of exercise which involves training the body for the activities performed in daily life. You need to be strengthening your muscles daily and stretching those same muscles to continue living a functional and healthy life.

Performing Daily Activities

So, what prompted this blog post is my wonderful mom. She is the Director of Wellness in Spring Branch ISD and is leading a seminar on functional fitness today and asked me to describe what functional fitness meant to me. So, I brainstormed a little and thought, it’s actually really simple.

What do you want to be able to do each day and can you do those things? Sure, maybe now you can, but what are you doing in your life that’s supporting proper movement so you can extend the years that you can do these things.

I immediately start thinking about gardening and all of the movement that you need to do this pain free. Bending over, squatting, kneeling and pulling those darn weeds. Right now, I’m in month 3 of recovery from hip labrum repair arthroscopy surgery, and I can definitely not do any gardening, but I’m getting closer :) 

I have been going to Physical Therapy 3 times/week to do my functional exercises to get me there some time this year (which is really exciting!). My functional movements have been extremely limited the past 3 months, unable to shower on my own, unable to shave my legs (big thank you to my mom for keeping my legs smooth when I had to go out in public!), couldn’t put socks or shoes on myself, couldn’t sit all the way down on the toilet without a hand rail, and the list continues. I saw how fast you can lose your strength and range of motion, and always want to train my body to be able to do what some people say are mundane tasks, like getting in and out of the car, or getting into the bath tub. I am in my late 20’s so I have gained my strength back pretty quickly, even though 3 months does not seem quick AT ALL! But, I can’t imagine being a little older when it is much harder to re-gain strength and range of motion.

Start Training Now

So, my point in all of this is to address the serious need for daily functional fitness. You never know when you are going to be limited, or lose your range of motion. Having some consistent training plan, will prep your body whenever that time comes (hopefully never for everyone) but realistically it could happen to any of us! It’s better to have something to work with than nothing and it’s better to start NOW than tomorrow.

Not to get too philosophical, but this life is a gift and we should all be doing everything we can to enjoy it, take care of ourselves, and take care of our beautiful bodies. Even if you think you’re “not in shape” to “get in shape”- you need to let that go and just start. Start walking, take an easy yoga class, show up for a workout and do whatever you can! Just start and DO IT.

My goal for 2018 is to get functional and encourage others to do the same! 

Functional Activities

Here are some common functional activities you need to be able to do, whether you think about it or not.

• Getting in and out of the car
• Lifting Boxes
• Carrying Groceries
• Getting out of bed
• Stepping off a curb
• Sitting in a chair/on toilet
• Shaving your legs
• Washing your hair

Functional Training

Here are the important areas you will focus on with functional training (what your body needs for functional movement).

• Stabilization
• Mobility
• Full Range Of Motion

Here are some common functional training movements to help keep you living the life you want!

• Squats
• Lunges
• Shoulder Mobility
• Leg Raises
• Push Ups
• Planks
• Bird Dogs

Functional Movement Screening

At Yoga Athletex, Patricia and I are both certified in FMS (Functional Movement Screens) in order to identify imbalances, limits in range of motion, and any asymmetries.

We assess the body through various movement patterns and then put together a plan corrective exercises. We make personalized plans just for YOUR body, because we are all so different, and help you know what functional movements may be limited for you. We all have to start somewhere, and we believe we have created the perfect place to do it.

Get Started with a movement screen

Much love,
Kalynn