introduction to functional training
Hey, it’s that thing I’m always talking about, let’s learn a bit about it!
Outside of professional sports, most people who train physically just tend to kind of wing it, and this is where a lot of the disconnect with fitness comes from. Almost everyone has taken some kind of physical education or played a sport or something along those lines at some point, so why is it that most people feel intimidated by the idea of starting out at the gym? In my experience as an athletic trainer, the answer is usually surprisingly simple: fear of the unknown. No one wants to be bad at things, but that’s all just part of starting something new.
what is it?
In short, Functional Training is a method of physical fitness that focuses on strengthening or modifying the foundations of a specific discipline. Players in the NFL train with HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts geared toward movements common in their sport, whereas marathoners tend to train with lower intensity but longer duration sessions for theirs. You can even see examples of this sport-specific training at your local commercial gym, with some people striving for a specific aesthetic, and others for heavier lifts. Each of these are examples of functional training because each session builds up their aptitude for their chosen physical lifestyle.
what are the benefits?
Aside from the obvious benefits of literally getting better at the thing you like doing, there is also the distinct advantage of gaining routine consistency by default. Serious athletes might hate certain parts of their training regimen, but they know it will be a net positive in their lives, so they do it anyway. I absolutely detest stretching, but I do it after training sessions regardless because I want the flexibility, reduced soreness, and general maintenance that it comes with.
In my years as a personal trainer, I’ve found that those who have the most consistency and sucess are those who had not just a goal, but a plan. For example, every January I get inquiries from potential clients who have the goal of losing 25lbs or getting a visible six-pack or something along those lines, and those are typically clients that I can expect to have for a couple months. Every so often though, I get inquiries from people who want to improve their athleticism or reach the next step in their martial arts journey, and I know that these people will be in it for the long haul. The reason for this is that while the first group of people have an arbitrary goal, the second group has a goal that fits into and would benefit their lifestyles/careers/passions. Imagine planting two trees: one in a forest and one in a desert; both might sprout, but which one will flourish?
how does one start?
Instead of starting off your fitness journey a stand-alone goal like “get a bigger booty” or something vague like “be more fit”, try finding a physical activity that you enjoy. There are lots of popular alternatives to the gym, such as rock climbing, trail running, dance, parkour, and much much more. My fitness niche and personal passion is Martial Arts Tricking, that’s what I love to spend all my time on, that’s what I do for work, and that’s what I love to train people in via my online programs!
Finding something you can fall in love with doing might seem like a daunting task, but that’s actually one of the best parts: you get to try lots of stuff! Most communities are pretty welcoming to newcomers (there are people that just suck sometimes, it is what it is), and it’s a great way to make friends outside of work or school! Once you find your thing, you can either ask community members or online resources for ways to further your training with sport-specific functional workout routines.
