SEEKING FITNESS                                      

Often time's fitness seekers enter the gym and without much thought or planning begin their usual gym ritual.  Some of these rituals include going machine to machine or visiting the cardio room for a long session planted in front of a television.  Another example of a popular gym ritual is doing the same strength training routine they have done for years, training one muscle at a time and doing multiple exercises for the same muscle (or two) every day during the week.  None of the above regimens are high on the list of training principles for developing your overall fitness.  In fact long bouts of cardio, isolating single muscles, or simply using a variety of fancy machines are not necessarily productive and may even be counter productive if not implemented with other types of workouts.  Strength and endurance indeed, are measurable factors of fitness but other components such as flexibility, balance, stability, coordination, agility and speed may also be included.

FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

Enter the benefits of functional training.  Functional training is centered around movement not focused on muscles.  Isolation exercises are replaced with whole body exercises using your own body weight and multiple joint exercises using moderate weight with loads and repetitions appropriate to the individual.  Some good examples of more familiar functional types of movements are squats, lunges, and push ups.  Proper use of equipment such as steps, stability balls, medicine balls, jump ropes and free weights are also instrumental in a functional training program.

READY-SET-GOAL!!

As a trainer I have the opportunity to study and research new training techniques and modalities, but I also take advantage of educating myself in basic movements and lifts that have worked for decades.  As with any endeavor in life a plan is essential when striving toward a goal.  Once you have a fitness goal don't be random, develop a plan.  If you need help consult a professional and get on track!  Get engaged, have fun and learn to train for function!