It is hard to accept that as we age, our bodies change. And with that change, so must our workouts begin to change, too. We can improve and maintain a high quality of life, regardless of our age, if we learn to train right. One such way is functional training. Still incredibly popular in its usage, functional training does exactly as the name suggests: it prepares an aging or weakened body for daily functions to be more efficient, maintain power and mobility, and prevent injuries doing daily work.

 

Functional training can help maintain the best of health. While the gym visits of our youth will change, now a new exploration of working out can start. Previously, we lifted weights by isolated muscles using machines or specialized free weight moves. Functional training, however, introduces the moves that make muscles work together. It focuses on how to use your own body for balance, the skeletal structure for support, and free movements that replicate daily events.

 

While keeping up on cardiovascular workouts like swimming or hiking, and keeping a healthy diet, are all-important, preventing injuries is key as we age. There are many different types of workouts a certified functional aging specialist may offer to develop the perfect functional training workout circuit for you. For example, if you love to garden and spend a great deal of time lifting heavy bags of soil, a trainer may have you do the Wall-Ball Squat. Using an exercise ball pressed between a wall and your back, start in a mostly standing position. Slowly lower until almost sitting in a chair, pause for a beat, then stand up, all the time rolling up and down the ball.

 

For the most effective workout, have a personal trainer in Flatiron help develop just the right circuit for you. Functional training experts everywhere, including Upper East Side personal trainers and Midtown East personal trainers, can provide feedback and guidance once a routine is established.