What is functional movement training and why you need to try it

Bodybuilding. Strength training. Conditioning. Cardio. HIIT. Functional movement training. There are so many terms in the fitness world and it’s easy to get confused! Of course, the type of training you choose will depend on your goals and personal preferences. But today, let’s chat all about functional movement training and why that might actually be the all-around winner for your health! 

What is functional movement training?

With functional movement training, you build strength holistically, not just one muscle group at a time, but approaching your body as one moving part and training several muscle groups at once — everything is connected. Humans were not meant to be sitting 8 hours a day and then laying on the couch for the rest of day. We used to climb trees, run from predators, and chase prey. And while today we enjoy a much more comfortable lifestyle, our bodies greatly benefit from mirroring the type of exercise we used to get in the “before” times — this is part of the functional movement training philosophy. 

Functional movement training benefits

This type of training is particularly useful in daily life as it can improve your mobility and prevent injuries if you fall, because you are strengthening your joints and thus your body can react better in a crisis. In fact, one of the main purposes of starting functional movement training is often to prevent injuries! 

Functional movement training is not only good for health, but for your confidence too — with a consistent practice, you will look toned, lean, and fit. It also improves neuromuscular control and coordination, along with mental stimulation and improving your cognitive ability all the while — the balance, stability, and strength training of functional movement challenges your brain, which is good for us!  

Functional movement training exercises

You might have heard that a strong core is vital for your body — it protects your internal organs, which is especially important as we get older and our skin elasticity softens; strong core also contributes to the beautiful straight posture many of us desire, and it protects the spine from injuries.

Turns out, the basis for all functional movement training is core exercise! Examples of functional movements include:

• Squats, jump squats
• Pull-ups and push-ups
• Lunges

In fact, the best functional movement training programs incorporate the seven basic movements the human body can do: Lunge & Hinge, Rotation (like oblique twists) & Gait (running or jumping), Pull & Push, and Squat.

How to add more functional movement into your life

Besides training in the gym with the exercises mentioned above, consider your daily lifestyle — if you sit all day behind a computer screen, can you sit on the floor instead and open your hips?