Fitness Tip: Functional Fitness vs. Machines

Welcome to the Fitness Together - West Seattle Tip of the Week. Each week we will include a note to inspire, motivate, and educate.

Functional Fitness vs. Machines
At Fitness Together, you won't find a lot of big weight training machines for individual body parts. In fact, we only need a few key pieces of equipment that are geared towards "functional fitness." What exactly does that mean?

FUNCTIONAL FITNESS
Functional fitness works on training your whole body as a unit. Your body works together as a unit to move and perform work. For example, when you reach up to get a plate from the top shelf of the cupboard, you may balance on one leg, reach your arm, and lift the plate off the shelf, then slowly lower it so it doesn't slip and break. Our workouts can train your body to lift overhead while balancing. We can help make everyday movements easier and more efficient.

MACHINES
All those machines you see at a big gym are not designed with functional fitness in mind. When you sit down to use a machine at the gym, you are able to isolate individual muscle groups, which is more for body building, but the rest of your body goes to sleep. It rests while your biceps get strong.

Using functional movements, we work your back, legs, core, shoulders, and biceps all at the same time. Combining functional movements shortens the workout, increases the intensity (which burns more calories), and you get more accomplished during your training session. Clients who train with us move more independently, stay active longer, and feel better enjoying time with family and friends.

Remember to make YOU a priority in 2009!