Does My Gym Really Need to Include Functional Fitness?
Yes! Fitness trends come and go, but functional fitness is definitely here to stay. It’s popular because it can apply to every body and every body type. There are many ways to modify it for accessibility, and it helps users fully customize their workouts. If you’re planning your own gym or fitness space, having functional fitness tools (and a dedicated space to use them) is essential.
Here’s everything you need to know about incorporating functional fitness into your gym design plans.
What is functional fitness?
According to the Mayo Clinic, functional fitness “trains your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work, or in sports.” For example, think of all the things you do in everyday life that require strength and coordination: picking up something heavy from the ground, reaching for something on the highest shelf, or even getting out of your car. All of these things require your body to function properly. Hence, functional fitness.
Aspects of functional fitness include strength, balance, coordination, power, range of motion, and mobility.
It lends itself to every part of physical fitness and helps you get stronger in a way that you can feel in your everyday life. Plus, functional fitness is a completely customizable form of exercise. There are so many options for workouts you can do that you can tailor it to meet your specific needs and goals.
What are the benefits to functional fitness?
Unlike traditional gym equipment, which typically only works out one or two muscle groups at a time, functional fitness uses multiple joints and muscles simultaneously for each exercise. When properly utilized, this kind of training can reduce your risk of injury and make everyday activities easier to perform.
Along that vein, it can actually help improve your muscle memory for performing certain tasks as well as increase your mobility. It’s also a great option for people of all fitness levels and backgrounds as it’s completely customizable.
What functional fitness equipment should I include in my gym?
If you’re planning your own fitness center or gym, we highly recommend adding a variety of functional fitness tools and equipment to your space. You should also set aside a specific zone or area for users to perform functional fitness exercises.
When it comes to which products and equipment to select, here are some recommendations from the Advantage Sport & Fitness team:
The Basics
The great part about functional fitness is you don’t need a ton of fancy equipment. We provide our gyms with high-quality equipment from Escape Fitness.
Just set aside the right kind of space within your gym, mark off specific sections, and provide tools and equipment like these for your users:
Corebags
Sandbags
Core Momentum Trainers (CMTs)
TIYRS
Gym balls
In addition, you should equip your gym with plenty of equipment for strength training. Weights of different sizes and shapes can be easily incorporated into any functional fitness training. For example, check these out:
Rubber or studio kettlebells
SBX or urethane dumbbells
Horizontal dumbbell racks
The key is providing the right variety of equipment types. This way, gym users can select what works for them and craft the exercise routine that’s going to have the biggest impact.
Full-Throttle
Take your gym to the next level by combining the equipment we mentioned above with dynamic stations where they can be used. We outfit gyms and fitness spaces with Escape Fitness Functional Frames.
Depending on the size and available space within your planned gym, these are a great way to section off stations for functional fitness. They are highly versatile, meaning you can outfit them with different accessories and tools to keep users engaged. Plus, with options for small, medium, and large frames, they’re ideal for almost any fitness space.
Check out these design concepts for an idea of what we can create in your facility:
400 square feet
Featuring the Escape Freestanding HTS90
600 square feet
Featuring the Escape Freestanding Single-Sided Hit Hub
900 square feet
Featuring the Escape Freestanding Single-Sided Hit Hub and Escape Anchored Double-Sided Hit Hub
Who can help me design and plan a gym with functional fitness?
At ASF, we work closely with every client to ensure that their gym or fitness space is expertly planned and designed with their needs in mind. Designing, planning, resourcing equipment, and putting everything together on installation day: we do it all.
For more information or to start a quote, please reach out to us today: