Fitness training without devices in line with the trend

Functional Training: fitness training without equipment

04/03/2014

Visiting a fitness studio has been part of everyday life for many people for years. More and more people are using the so-called functional training there. This sports trend does not train on fitness equipment, but rather on classic exercises such as push ups or squats. The training should stress the whole body.

Trend to well-known methods
Fitness studios have been trendy for years. For many people, regular training is no longer an integral part of their everyday lives. But not all train there on the fitness equipment, but bring their body with well-known methods, such as push-ups or squats in the form. Experts speak of so-called functional training, in which the entire body is to be claimed. Gone are the days when, without thinking, only the same movements were practiced again and again.

Currently the biggest trend in the fitness industry
More and more gyms offer their members a training without any technical aids and machines. from „currently biggest trend“ In the fitness industry, Dustin Tusch speaks of the employers' association of German fitness and health facilities (DSSV). This refers to Functional Training. Here, the exercisers can get in shape with their own body weight or simple aids such as dumbbells or balls, so only with their own physical strength and without technology. Professor Christoph Eifler, Head of Training Science at the German University for Prevention and Health Management in Saarbrücken, also confirms the new sports trend: „The Functional Training is clearly recognizable as a trend, not only in the studios, but overall in recreational sports.“ However, he sees this new trend more as an additional offer and not as a competitor for the conventional strength training on equipment. „The extent to which Functional Training will establish itself is open“, so eager.

Training makes you more resilient in sports and everyday life
The pedagogical director of the German Fitness Teachers Association (DFLV), Michael Branke, assesses the situation in a similar way: „The tendency is there, yes, but whether it is offered anywhere is another question.“ In Germany, there are about 6,000 studios, but not everyone has room for the offer. In addition, it depends on the clientele, since older customers would not be so strongly addressed by this training. However, newly opened studios are geared towards it, according to the expert. According to Professor Eifler, the roots of functional training lie in high-performance sport. The goal is to make the professional athlete more resilient for training and a competition. „It serves to prevent injury, thus reducing the risk of injury and at the same time improves performance“, so eager. The focus is on training entire muscle groups and not just individual games. „That not only makes me more resilient in sports, but also in everyday life.“

Made famous by Jürgen Klinsmann
Volker Ebener from the German Fitness and Aerobic Association (DFAV) explains that Functional Training focuses on the overall performance of the musculoskeletal system and not the strongest muscle. He also points out that the trend is not really new: „For a very long time, from the early 1960s to the mid-80s, fitness training focused on free-weight training, which always claimed multiple muscle groups.“ Various fitness chains offer options such as free-weight areas („McFit“) or so-called „freestyle zones“ („Fitness First“), where customers can work freely with small devices such as medicine balls, kettlebells or sling trainers. Alex Steudel, editor-in-chief of the magazine „Fit for Fun“, explained that Functional Training first became famous a few years ago by football coach Jürgen Klinsmann.

Healthy but no muscle
Also, because gyms now have more and more female customers, the classical weights-Stemmen no longer so much in demand. Rather, the training should be freer and also more fun. In addition, it is also about a lifestyle issue, because people wanted to stay healthy, but by the necessary sport not to muscle packages. DFLV expert Branke explains that, for example, squats and lunges are typical exercises that work with your own body weight. The athlete makes the squat initially in the held version with his back against the wall. Later, he trains freestanding or on unstable surface and can increase the intensity with dumbbells in his hands. Another popular tool is the barbell, which is lifted with or without weights.

Functional training also requires a head
A swing component is added when training with the kettlebell. The exerciser, for example, squats, has the kettlebell between his feet and holds them by the handle. He then stretches his knees and swings the ball in front of the body until the arms are at a 90-degree angle to the upper body. According to Professor Eifler, similar things happen when working with „Sandbags“, which are about the size of a sports bag, they are raised and swung. Beginners should always be instructed by trained personnel well in the individual exercises. The training is only efficient if the recreational athlete can handle his own body properly, stresses Branke. In contrast to training on fitness equipment, functional training also requires the head and not just the muscle.

sport is healthy
No matter if you decide on the new trend Functional Training, classic gym equipment or other sports: Sport is healthy. Thus, sufficient physical activity has been proven to have a preventive effect on obesity, cardiovascular disease, arteriosclerosis and many other diseases, not least because the sports activities also strengthen the immune system. Basically, although sport should be fun, but the body should not be constantly overwhelmed. (Sb)