Functional Strength Training

Fitness Exercises Fitness Workouts Strength Exercise Exercise Workouts AB Workouts Functional strength training simply means training our bodies to better perform the types of movements we use for everyday life. The time spent developing dynamic strength, flexibility and agility carries over into your daily activities, making life a little bit easier. Our bodies go through a variety of motions every day : Functional Exercises
 * Lifting: Laundry basket, grocery bags, kids, etc.
 * Reaching and pulling: Opening the refrigerator or dryer, putting dishes away or picking things up from the floor
 * Power: Standing up from chair, going up stairs or walking up a hill
 * Balancing: Walking, holding multiple bags of groceries while carefully navigating the stairs or carrying a baby while talking on the phone and cooking dinner
 * Combinations of the above

To get better at these daily movements, strength training is a must and there are four functional exercises that will help you get the most out of your body. Performing these several times a week will enable you to do more with less effort and more confidence.

You can do them anywhere, anytime: Functional Equipment
 * Push-ups: Start with wall push-ups and progress to placing your hands on the kitchen counter. You can do 5-6 while waiting for the microwave to finish. These firm your chest, arms, abs and back.
 * Squats or lunges: Most reaching, lifting and bending movements involve an element of squatting or lunging. Remember to push out your tush and don't let your knees go farther forward than your toes. You'll strengthen your knees, quads and hips.
 * Grocery Bag Lift: Each time you go shopping strengthen your arms by lifting a bag 6 times to the front, side and rear. You can also do a modified bicep curl. Just remember to keep your shoulders back and abs tight while working your arms.
 * Lift: Pick-up that heavy pet food bag or laundry basket by squaring your feet shoulder width apart, squatting down, grabbing hold and pushing up with your legs. Put it down and do it again. If your knees hurt, practice lifting from a chair until you get stronger.

There are a variety of tools to help you get a little more functional including: Just as athletes train for their specific sport, we have specific household or recreational activities to train for. Make your training count; make it functional!
 * Dumbbells: Begin with 3-4 pounds and progress to 8-10
 * Body Weight: Combined with jump ropes or exercise balls, body weight is often challenging on its own, especially with lunges and push-ups
 * Resistance Bands and Loops: Replicate the exercises on a cable machine in the gym
 * Exercise Balls: A fun way to combine balance work with other exercises
 * Medicine Balls: Great for combo moves involving the shoulders