WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL TRAINING?

Functional training broadly refers to training the body for the activities performed in daily life. It’s origins are found in rehabilitation, describing the way physical and occupational therapists would retrain patients with movement disorders using specific exercises relevant to the patient, taking into account that patient’s needs (for example a violinist may need to work on specific digital dexterity while a courier might need to focus on the core strength needed for lifting heavy packages). Treatments would therefore be designed in relation to what each patient wanted to achieve, rather than prescribed because the exercise itself was considered a useful one.

In the context of the fitness industry, functional training doesn’t necessarily bear any relationship to the specific movement a person undertakes in their daily occupation (especially with so many roles nowadays being based around a sedentary/seated position). Instead it focuses on core strength and balance (in addition to pure cardio fitness or muscle strength) and if performed well, should lead to better joint mobility and stability as well as more efficient motor patterns. Improving the quality of an individual’s movement decreases the potential for injury and can lead to improved performance.

It’s of massive benefit whether you are an athlete playing a sport, or simply someone who wants to go about your day without pain or restriction. These benefits may arise from the use of training that focuses on the body’s natural ability to move in the 6DoF. SH1FT combines high intensity effort with functional movement patterns based around the 6DoF. SH1FT not only builds a leaner, stronger body that looks good, but also helps improve range of movement, joint mobility and agility which are all major factors in injury prevention and long term good health.