Buzz
In recent decades, 'functional' fitness has been everything from a niche activity to a passing trend to even a punchline. The training methods that identify as 'functional' range widely, including exercises like pushups, lunges, kettlebell routines, and barbell lifts. But what does functional fitness truly mean?
Functional fitness often feels more like a trendy buzzword than a distinct training method.
When you ask a coach of functional fitness, they'll likely explain that it's about engaging in exercises that directly improve your day-to-day life. This could mean carrying heavy dumbbells in farmer's walks to help with lugging all the groceries in one trip. Or it could involve performing countless air squats to make bending down to lift your kids easier. It might even be balancing on a Bosu to reduce the chance of slipping on a slippery sidewalk during winter.
Historian Conor Heffernan traces the origins of functional fitness back to exercises originally intended for general health, rather than focusing specifically on strength or athletic performance. These exercises sometimes incorporated unique equipment, such as pulleys and weighted balls, or modern-day tools like battle ropes and suspension trainers.
Modern trainers often contrast functional fitness with what they consider 'traditional' fitness. For some, traditional workouts consist of isolated exercises like bicep curls, so they counter with compound movements that engage the entire body. For others, traditional training involves heavy weights, so they view functional training as using lighter weights or relying solely on bodyweight. Still, for others, traditional training involves resting between sets, while functional fitness keeps you active throughout the entire session.
In essence, 'functional' might simply refer to any exercise that your trainer prefers.
Sometimes, it's just a euphemism.
Just when it seemed like the functional fitness trend was fading, more gyms and trainers are reviving the term. But this time, there's a twist: 'Functional' now seems to refer to 'CrossFit-style exercises' without actually being associated with the CrossFit brand itself.
CrossFit combines barbell training, gymnastics, calisthenics, and cardio exercises. The workouts might include skill drills, strength building, and, most notably, timed 'WODs' (workouts of the day) that demand strong cardio endurance to get through.
However, the name CrossFit is trademarked, tied to a specific company with some unsavory history. If you enjoy the workout style but aren’t interested in the actual CrossFit brand, you just call it something else.
No exercise is non-functional.
The concept of training to improve everyday life is a solid one. We all require strength and mobility to navigate life without constantly complaining about our knees and backs, and this need only grows as we age.
But does this mean you need a specific kind of exercise to achieve it? Not exactly. Simple, traditional barbell squats might not be considered 'functional' by some, but they still build significant leg strength to help with tasks like picking up your kids. Anything that boosts an aspect of your fitness is beneficial for your day-to-day life.
If there’s one lesson to take from functional fitness, it’s that you’re not confined to any one idea of fitness. Balance training can be enjoyable and beneficial; so can grip training, core exercises, interval cardio, and various activities you might not usually consider in the gym. Gaining new skills is a workout for your mind as much as for your body, and it’s worth it—even if you never find a 'functional' reason for something like handstand pushups.
