What do you do if your Functional Training skills need a refresher?

No matter how diligent we are, what we learn fades over time. The human brain is very efficient at offloading information we don’t use on a regular basis, so we need to find ways to let it know that the information we have stored is still relevant. What this means in a learning and development context is that most employees need to review important concepts now and again. And this is where regular refresher training comes into play. Refresher training courses are designed to take learners back to basics so they can review fundamentals they may have forgotten or upskill on new information they may be unaware of.

The fitness industry is moving at an interesting pace. With so much unverified information available, and so many new pieces of research being conducted it can be hard to not over consume and lose track of your main coaching values. If your skills need a refresher I think it’s important to understand in which direction you want to take your FT programmes and who are the main group of clients you want to work with. Functional training is meant to make your daily activities easier. And your daily activities could be siting down and getting up, but also martial arts or construction practices. So take some to refresh which functional patterns are needed to better your input and create the best tailored programmes for your target audience.

The fundamental principles and concepts set the foundation of a great functional training program. Here are a few questions I ask myself when designing a program for a client or myself: 1. Do the exercises mimic real-life and their real life goals (Such as picking up their grandkids.) 2. Do the exercises involve core engagement? Do they specifically need to focus on bracing the body? 3. Are the three plans of motion covered? This is extremely important to prevent injury. 4. Are all the basic movement patterns covered? And should some be focused on more than the others (based of the daily activities of the person the program is for.) Asking these questions can help ensure the fundamental aren't neglected.

Following a structured, well though out program is a great way to cover all aspects of fitness. All programs should include a warm-up. Warm-ups should not be optional. Try to focus on multi-joint exercises to get the most out of your workout and the time that you have. Your program should be goal oriented and progress should be measurable. Make sure you are hitting all the fundamentals (core stabilization, working in the 3 planes of motions, involving all movement patterns, etc.) Remember recovery, flexibility, mobility and stability should all be part of a structured program. If you are unsure how to structure your program seek professional guidance.

A qualified fitness professional can teach you a lot about your functional training program. A coach or trainer can help you assess your skills and identify weakness. Because we can't see our bodies completely (even with mirrors) we may be missing important cues, or losing form at a certain point and are unaware. A coach/trainer can see our bodies from different angles and help us perfect form. They can also provide us with different techniques or ways to think about an exercise to help us perform better. A trainer can help you customize a program for your goals. Working with a professional can give you the skill set, knowledge and motivation to be confident in your ability.

Inspiration for functional training comes from everywhere because it's how we move daily. You can learn a lot from watching how babies, dogs and cats move. They naturally move, stretch, rest as they need to, throughout the day. Take inspiration from everyday life ❤️