Functional fitness and crossfit are part of the same family and are sometimes considered one and the same. There are differences, however, and deciding which program is best for you should always take into account those differences.
There's also a debate within the fitness world over which is better — functional or crossfit. The best answer is probably what works best for you, your fitness goals, and overall health.
What Is Functional Fitness?
The foundation of functional fitness is based on training your muscles for performing the daily tasks of living. This is accomplished by simulating common movements that you might perform at home or in sports. Functional fitness also emphasizes core stability by using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time.
For functional fitness experts, the emphasis is on a truly fit lifestyle, which emphasizes how fit one lives rather than how fit one looks.
What Is An Example Of A Functional Fitness Exercise?
A squat is considered a functional exercise because it trains the muscles you use when you rise up and down from a chair. It's an example of preparing your body to function well in an everyday task. Functional fitness exercises can be done at home or in the gym. Fitness balls, kettlebells and weights are often used in functional fitness workouts.
What Are The Benefits Of Functional Fitness Training?
Functional fitness is effective in that it involves multiple joints and muscles. Instead of targeting a specific body part, a functional exercise might involve your elbows, spine, hips, shoulders, knees and ankles. Properly applied, these exercises can make everyday activities easier and reduce your risk of injury.
Additionally, functional fitness exercises can decrease your risk of everyday injuries, such as lower back injuries, which come from lifting something heavy, such as a potted plant or a soil bag.
How Is It Different From Crossfit?
To be clear, functional fitness grew out of the crossfit movement, but functional fitness is based on the concept of moving away from machines that simulate exercise towards movements that involve the entire body. Like crossfit, you'll be able to participate in High-Intensity Interval Training, but in a more relaxed environment. If you've found crossfit to be too intense in the past — with its routines of push ups, burpees, sprints and weightlifting — then functional fitness might be for you.
The Downtown Athletic Club of Amarillo now offers an LRX Functional Fitness class. This class incorporates High Intensity Interval Training with strength and conditioning through the use of functional movements.
There's also a debate within the fitness world over which is better — functional or crossfit. The best answer is probably what works best for you, your fitness goals, and overall health.
What Is Functional Fitness?
The foundation of functional fitness is based on training your muscles for performing the daily tasks of living. This is accomplished by simulating common movements that you might perform at home or in sports. Functional fitness also emphasizes core stability by using various muscles in the upper and lower body at the same time.
For functional fitness experts, the emphasis is on a truly fit lifestyle, which emphasizes how fit one lives rather than how fit one looks.
What Is An Example Of A Functional Fitness Exercise?
A squat is considered a functional exercise because it trains the muscles you use when you rise up and down from a chair. It's an example of preparing your body to function well in an everyday task. Functional fitness exercises can be done at home or in the gym. Fitness balls, kettlebells and weights are often used in functional fitness workouts.
What Are The Benefits Of Functional Fitness Training?
Functional fitness is effective in that it involves multiple joints and muscles. Instead of targeting a specific body part, a functional exercise might involve your elbows, spine, hips, shoulders, knees and ankles. Properly applied, these exercises can make everyday activities easier and reduce your risk of injury.
Additionally, functional fitness exercises can decrease your risk of everyday injuries, such as lower back injuries, which come from lifting something heavy, such as a potted plant or a soil bag.
How Is It Different From Crossfit?
To be clear, functional fitness grew out of the crossfit movement, but functional fitness is based on the concept of moving away from machines that simulate exercise towards movements that involve the entire body. Like crossfit, you'll be able to participate in High-Intensity Interval Training, but in a more relaxed environment. If you've found crossfit to be too intense in the past — with its routines of push ups, burpees, sprints and weightlifting — then functional fitness might be for you.
The Downtown Athletic Club of Amarillo now offers an LRX Functional Fitness class. This class incorporates High Intensity Interval Training with strength and conditioning through the use of functional movements.
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