Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Get Functional




As you may know I work at a fitness club. Nautilus and Body Jetics 24/7 Fitness. I love it! I love helping people meet their goals, its awesome!

Functional Fitness is my favorite. Its for people of all fitness levels. Functional fitness is great because it will help you in your everyday task. When you lift weight at the gym or in your home you concentrate using one muscle at a time. Functional Fitness is using different muscles together. For example when you are grocery shopping you don't grab a can of beans off the bottom shelf and curl it 10 times. You do squat down turn stand up and place the can in your cart ( yes this is exercise!).

Wouldn't it be more useful to exercise muscles that help you in your everyday duties!?

I like to use a 7-9 lb Medicine Ball. You can use anything really a heavy book is an idea or even two cans of bean. Whatever you can find around the house will work. I find its easier for me when using one object with both hands on it. Its easier to balance.

A couple exercises to try:

*hint* keep your eyes on the book, it will force you to move with the book, using more muscles.

* The wood chop: Stand with your book above your head. Arms fully extended, legs a little more than shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent. Bend from the waist and swing the book between your legs then right back to the start position. I do 3 set of 12.

* The side chop: Standing the same way hold your book straight in front of your chest, come down between your legs, back to start position then turn as far as you can to your left side repeat motion 3x12 then do the same to your right side. (Arms stay at chest level not above the head.)

This is just two but give it a try! Let me know if you hurt in a good way the next day!

No comments: