I'm sure you've all been there. You're in the gym, minding your own business and trying to better yourself through physical activity. You see someone doing some wacky movement with a perplexed look on their face and think to yourself, "What on earth is the point of that?" Well, my friends, that person is engaging in functional training. And today, I'm here to tell you all about it.

Functional training focuses on 'purpose' through movement patterns. The purpose of your training depends on your age, fitness level, current health and goals - so a workout could be sport specific to enhance the performance of an athlete or it could be focusing on bettering the movements that people make in daily life such as lifting a child, standing up out of bed or reaching for a highly placed object. Essentially, functional training improves the performance of everyday movements and the quality of your life.

Now that we know what functional training is, let's talk about some of the benefits.

The benefits of functional training:

1. Increased muscular strength and endurance:

Functional training involves using multiple muscle groups at once which results in increased muscular strength and endurance. Not only will this help you through your everyday activities, but it can also help prevent injuries as you age.

2. Improved balance and coordination:

Functional exercises often involve moving your body through space while maintaining balance. This helps to improve coordination between your mind and body which can result in improved balance and coordination overall.

3. Enhanced cardiovascular health:

Many functional exercises are performed at a high intensity which can help to improve cardiovascular fitness levels. This is especially beneficial for those looking to improve their overall health or lose weight.

4. Greater flexibility:

Functional training often incorporates stretching and other exercises that help to improve flexibility and range of motion. This can lead to decreased risk of injuries as well as improved performance in everyday activities or sports.

5.Improved functionality:

As the name suggests, functional training helps to improve the way your body functions in everyday life. By targeting specific muscles and movement patterns, you can train your body to be more efficient in performing mundane tasks such as carrying groceries or climbing stairs.

6. Fun!:

Let's be honest, working out can be pretty boring sometimes. But with functional training, there are endless possibilities for new and exciting workouts that will keep you coming back for more! Plus, who doesn't love feeling like a kid again when they're flipping tires or crawling around on the floor?

Functional training is a type of exercise that focuses on improving the performance of everyday movements through specific movement patterns. It has many benefits including increased muscular strength and endurance, improved balance and coordination, enhanced cardiovascular health, greater flexibility, improved functionality, and last but not least - it's fun! So next time you're in the gym and see someone doing something strange with a weighted ball, don't judge them - they're just trying to live their best life!