Imagine you are running to catch the bus, but the moment you get on, you feel out of breath and exhausted. Sounds familiar? Well, it might be time to consider functional training. Functional training is a type of workout that focuses on movements that are essential for everyday life, such as squatting, lifting, and carrying. So if you are new to workout or looking for ways to improve your overall health, let's start by understanding what exactly is functional training, how you can incorporate it and whether can it help you with your fitness goals and more.
What Is Functional Training?
Functional training is a type of training that prepares the body to carry out daily tasks and avoid bodily pains. The exercises which a person performs help by first improving strength, followed by flexibility, and balance.
Functional training exercises target multiple muscle groups and improve overall body composition. Unlike traditional weightlifting exercises that isolate specific muscles, functional training exercises simulate everyday movements and train multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
How To Incorporate Functional Training Into Your Routine?
Functional exercises can be done with bodyweight or resistance bands. Begin with simple movements like squats, lunges, and push-ups, then progressively increase the intensity and complexity of the workouts. Functional training exercises can be incorporated into your warm-up or as a standalone workout. For maximum benefits, undertake functional training activities at least two to three times each week
Also Read: Cardio Or Weight Training: Which One Should Come First?
Functional Training for Weight Loss and Muscle Building
The combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercises in functional training can help increase muscle mass, reduce body fat, and improve overall body composition. Performing functional training exercises to engage the core can help improve posture and reduce the risk of back pain. By incorporating functional training into your weight loss journey, you can achieve your goals faster and more efficiently.
Pro Tips For Effective Functional Training
1) Focus On Form
When it comes to functional training, it is critical to prioritise form over weight. Concentrating on the form allows a person to gain muscle faster while also lowering their risk of injury. The best method is to choose a weight that allows you to effortlessly execute 10 to 12 reps.
2) Increase The Intensity
The majority of people are unable to grow muscle or have reached a plateau because they continue to practise the same exercise. When you do the same workouts over and over, your body becomes accustomed and stops progressing. The most effective method is to raise the intensity of your workout every four weeks. This can be accomplished by raising resistance, increasing repetitions, or lowering rest time between sets.
Also Read: Power Training For Weight Loss: What Is It And How To Incorporate It In Your Workout?
3) Combine With Other Exercises
Perform supersets and include functional training exercises into your regular workout regimen to target multiple muscle groups and enhance overall body composition. To enhance the benefits, superset it with the opposite muscle, such as the bench press or pullover, if you do squats.
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