It is not a silly question. Many people (even in the industry), know very little about functional fitness/training. It DOES NOT involve doing the the typical exercises, such as squats, deadlifts, good mornings, crunches and reverse crunches, pushups, etc. in the traditional manner.
Functional training is the latest craze in fitness. It is a comprehensive training approach based on sound scientific principles. It focuses on training, reconditioning and rehabilitating the body. Functional training integrates the physical components of strength, balance, flexibility, core stability,
neuromuscular efficiency , reaction, acceleration, deceleration and agility. It is perfect for toning and firming the legs, glutes, and rest of the body, while developing core strength and helping to gain flexibility, proprioception, balance and stability.
One of the most important aspects of fitness training is core conditioning. Functional training, or functional movement, is the ability to move and respond to daily activities without restriction. Activities like playing with our kids, carrying groceries, playing softball, or stepping off a curb are functional tasks we should be able to do without injury or pain. In nearly everything you do, from lifting a child to vacuuming the house to lifting the groceries, your core is involved.
The core region is the band of muscles that wrap around your mid-section. This includes your lower back, and your abdominals. Functional training is a strength training option that focuses on exercises that can be transferred from in the gym to activities of daily work, sport or life to ultimately enhance the quality of life.
Simple and effective “toys” are things such as stability balls, medicine balls, foam rollers, Aeromats, gel pads, rocker boards, Bosu balls, bands and tubing. Because of these items being unstable, you are constantly challenged to maintain posture by contracting the abdominals, lower back and gluteal muscles. While doing a multitude of different exercises, the trunk musculature works simultaneously to balance and stabilize the body.
There are many equipment suppliers available. One of my favorites is Power Systems.
http://www.power-systems.com/CoreBalanceTraining.html. Juan Carlos Santana (a leader in the fitness industry) also has some awesome videos available, although they somewhat geared toward trainers.
Funtional Exercises....????
Thanks alot!
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