In the previous Fitness Article I defined Functional Training as the performance of strengthening exercises that incorporate multiple muscle groups working together to perform a task that closely mimics what the body is capable of doing on a daily basis. A functional training routine attempts to incorporate exercises which allow individuals to perform the activities of daily life more easily. Functional training is focused on the movement of the body through the three anatomical planes of movement (sagital, frontal and transverse) as opposed to your traditional bodybuilding training routine which is focused specifically on isolating individual muscle groups moving through one plane. Some basic examples of functional exercises are lunges and squats and if you have ever trained with me, you know exactly what those are. As opposed to doing a leg extension or leg curl the lunge and the squat incorporate many muscles groups that mimic everyday movements such as going up and down stairs as well as getting up from a chair. You would be surprised if you broke down 'getting up from a chair' into the muscles that need to be activated to perform that movement.