There is as new fitness trend starting to gain some popularity and its called “Functional Fitness.” Functional fitness is a type of training that helps make it easier for you to do everyday activities you might do at work or at home. It incorporates a lot of compound movements which focus on core strength, balance, and muscle coordination. The truth is these type of exercises aren’t anything new, they have just been grouped together and given a hip new name.

I am by no means against this new form of exercise, in fact I am a strong believer in what it tries to promote. Any kind of exercise routine that mimics natural body motion is a good one if you ask me. I have been incorporating these type of exercises in my workouts for years, as well as my boot camps and with personal training clients. Doing these types of exercises can drastically reduces your chance of injury as well as promote even muscle development.

The problem is too many people rely on machines for their workouts which isolate or only focus on a specific muscle. Machines neglect to target stabilizing muscles which help with balance and coordination, but they can also overdevelop muscles which can lead to pain and discomfort. Although weight machines have their place in the gym, I like to compare them to the fast food industry because they are convenient and easy.

If your workout consists of mostly machine exercises, consider a change. Challenge yourself to some free weight exercises, or if you are a little timid, try body weight exercises as they can be just as challenging. Keep it up for an extended period of time, and I know you will notice changes in your body as well as your ability to perform everyday tasks.

-Scott