The Fitness Trend That’s Here to Stay

In a recently published article reviling the top 10 fitness trends of 2020 (Perth Sunday Times Jan 12th) it might surprise you that Functional Training came in 3rd. Yet Functional Training is not a fad, it’s been around for years however many people have not understood what “Functional Training” really is. We can tell you it’s not squatting on a fit ball while you use a battle rope. In this time of wellness, mindfulness mental and physical health functional training when performed correctly will tick all the boxes.

Walking into a functional training facility is something different all together. No machines, no treadmills or cross-trainers and often no mirrors. Replaced with tools such as kettle-bells, power bags, battling ropes, coloured resistance bands, foam rollers, bars and weights.

An effective and balanced Functional Training program is designed to help the body move how it was designed to move, and it is often the why behind the exercise that is missed by many Personal Trainers. Where traditional training methods are based on exercises for specific body parts, functional training focuses more on “Primal Movement” patterns such as pull, push, twist, hinge, squat, lunge, gait/carry.

(Justin Borg, Owner and creator of Beyond Limits, Master Functional Trainer and Educator with the Functional Training Institute)

Justin Borg, Master Functional Trainer, Educator with the Functional Training Institute and Owner of Beyond Limits, a small group Functional Training facility in Jandakot has been training his clients using functional movements for the past 5 years and says that this is no flash in the pan fad, functional training has been around for years and with today’s modern lifestyle will be here for a very long time.

“At Beyond Limits we follow a very simple philosophy with our training, Move as Mother Nature intended you to move, with a goal of improving our client’s physical health, not just their physical appearance. For years I trained in the traditional way. Legs day, chest, day, back day, cardio day and the reality was that that every morning I woke up with a sore back or joints. When I discovered Functional Training and a focus on full body primal movements, I was able to get all the benefits of traditional training but I was pain free. The moment I understood Kettlebell training and the why behind the movements I was hooked, I knew that this was a way to positively impact someone’s life through movement. I feel this is much more powerful than just improving one’s physical state.”

Many training methods these days are focused purely on aesthetics or pushing you until you need the bucket at the front of the gym,  where as a well-structured functional training program will provide a much more balanced approach.  Mobility and a workout specific warm up will be part of the Movement Preparation phase, Functional Strength and Conditioning form the Movement Phase, followed by a Recovery phase. Functional training is generally very low impact with a medium to high intensity and is  scalable to the individual. The focus is on quality over quantity.

Teaching the Kettlebell Swing

Justin attributes the rise of functional training to CrossFit and F45. “Both these brands have raised the profile of functional training however it is not because of their exercises. These brands have built amazing communities and followings on the back of an inclusive culture which is not generally seen in a traditional gym.

Functional Training when performed correctly will help improve the way your body moves, reduce join pain, improve your longevity and when coupled with correct nutrition improve your physical composition as well. The good news, it’s for everyone. The tools used by Master Functional Trainers like Justin enable people of all fitness levels to get started, enjoy the benefits and achieve their health and fitness goals.

To find our more about how a functional training program can help you contact justin@beyondlimits.net.au or why not grab a free 7 day trial and experience it for yourself.