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Over the past few months I’ve come across a couple of articles about functional training. Gym Jones used it to train the cartoon-like warriors in 300 and then I caught an article in Outdoors about the Monkey Bar Gymnasium, a non-traditional gym with no machines or mirrors.

What is functional training?

From Wikipedia:

Functional training involves mainly weight bearing activities targeted at core muscles of the abdomen and lower back). Most fitness facilities have a variety of weight training machines which target and isolate specific muscles. As a result the movements do not necessarily bear any relationship to the movements people make in their regular activities or sports. Functional training attempts to adapt or develop exercises which allow individuals to perform the activities of daily life more easily and without injuries.

That’s a bit dry, isn’t it?

From Monkey Bar Gymnasium:

Natural fitness uses a series of free range of motion movements and body weight training. You use your own body weight with or without resistance in order to build functional strength. Strength you can actually use for everyday activities such as shoveling snow or cleaning the house. Weight machines isolate your muscles and restrict your movement to the track of the machine. Training isolated movements restricts your body from developing stability and support muscle around your larger muscle groups. Stability muscles prevent injury! Your muscles were never meant to be isolated; they are designed to work together for overall functional strength.

Why is functional training interesting?

Well, I have felt for a while that going to the gym is a bit of a waste of money and that it is better to get out into the world and get your exercise, walking, cycling, hiking, running. I’m just more inclined to actually do those things. But, I’ve not really found a good way of matching those cardiovascular exercises with good, free, go anywhere strength exercises. I think that functional training might do the trick.

The Monkey Bar Gymnasium has its daily routines online, including a no-weight training programme.

Link

Related posts:

1. The humble push-up
2. Core Workout for Functional Fitness
3. Weight training versus aerobics for fat loss
4. Outdoor Magazine exercise programme
5. Smarter Strength Training: Learn Proper Technique

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