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features
Functional training: Putting the ‘fun’ in functional
It’s easy to get stuck in a functional rut, relying on the same old burpees and ball slams. We ask for inspiration on how to put the fun back into functional training
Published in Health Club Management 2020 issue 4
Les Mills
Bryce Hastings, head of research
Even the most effective workout is useless if no one wants to do it, so the ultimate aim must be delivering fun. Our research indicates that a focus on experience is key. While technique and good coaching are important, we know it’s the experience that ultimately brings people back and keeps them engaged.
Non-conventional exercises that use external equipment can help to add more interest to a workout. For example, tyre flipping and battle ropes – which are also great for intensity – add an element of complexity and cognitive function.
Movements which participants wouldn’t necessarily have access to everywhere they go add that extra element of interest.
Bryce’s Les Mills faves
Les Mills Grit and Les Mills Tone classes.
"The ultimate aim must
be delivering fun"
Auster Fitness
Andrew Siu,
CEO and system developer
These movements can be synchronised and repeated to the beat, creating elegant synched movements. This will improve sporting performance and also be a fun way to train.
Andrew’s Auster faves
Power straps and dynamic resistance bands, separately and in combination.
"Learning new skills can
be hugely rewarding"
Pavigym
Daniel López, programme manager
We also try to include accessories or technological elements from the beginning of each session, in order to encourage users to both train harder and get more enjoyment. Our star exercise is our ‘fast feet’ competition, where users run on the spot and sensors count their steps. It’s the perfect end to the session that encourages both collaboration and competition, increasing the fun factor and sense of belonging for all users.
Daniel’s Pavigym faves
The Prama Combo unit – a wall and floor combination with 18 sensors in two square formations, all controlled by software.
"Collaboration and competition
increase sense of belonging"
Matrix Fitness
Matt Gleed, head master trainer
Functional fitness is completely transportable, it’s the fitness journey that you can take with you when you travel, meaning you can do functional training anytime, anywhere in the world, in some of the most scenic locations.
Matt’s Matrix faves:
The Matrix MX4 small group training programme, which is centred around the concepts of functional fitness, working with the Matrix Connexus range.
"You can do
functional
training
anytime,
anywhere"
Precor
Erica Tillinghast, global education manager
Gamifying workouts with leaderboards, incorporating new exercises that will help enhance skills outside the gym, and partnering up and including interactive exercises will also add a fresh lens to functional training.
It’s important to remember that ‘fun’ means something different to everyone. There is no one-size-fits-all workout that will captivate every exerciser. Offering a range of programme choices that map to different exerciser values and aspirations is your best bet to long term programme success and ingenuity.
Erica’s Precor faves:
Queenax, paired with Precor’s PT workshops, and Precor’s new launch, Studio Ignite, a comprehensive high intensity interval training programme.
"Incorporate
school-inspired
games to provide
throw-back
excitement"
Physical Company
Lawrence Price, master trainer
The key is to remember the relevance to real-life movements and not to fall into the trap of pursuing overly elaborate exercises and routines at the expense of sensible training methodologies.
Many people struggle to connect with traditional fitness methods but find great enjoyment in being able to express themselves physically through the multitude of formats functional training brings – from dance to cross training fitness tests.
Lawrence’s Physical Co faves:
Physical Company wall balls and battle ropes.
"Remember the relevance
to real-life movement"
Technogym
Stu Gatherum, educator and master trainer
I always encourage trainers to introduce games, especially in warm ups. Games help people let go of tension and get rid of any frustrations they’ve brought into the gym. This kind of play and movement help people feel less self-conscious, which can be a key barrier for many – especially at the start of a session. Games get the heart-rate up and get people using the space and moving in different ways.
It’s a great way to encourage people to loosen up and relax into the session. It will also bond a group quickly.
Stu’s Technogym faves:
Technogym speed ladders, jump ropes, plyo boxes, slam balls and Skillmill.
"Games help people let go
of tension and frustrations"
Life Fitness
Paul Street, national health and fitness manager, Serco Leisure
What’s also proven popular for us is having the ability to shift a session outdoors and use our training yard. There’s something about being outside that adds a smile to any workout. Interestingly, we’re seeing people smiling even when they work out in the wind and rain! While people love working out in the sunshine, there’s definitely a special kind of camaraderie that comes from exercising as a group when the weather’s not so nice.
Paul’s Life Fitness faves:
The Life Fitness Synrgy360 rig.
"There’s something about
being outside that adds a
smile to any workout"
Escape Fitness
Ben Hackney-Williams, head of content
Ben’s Escape faves:
Escape’s Strongbox – an all-in-one workout station.
"Encourage members
to train for something"
Pulse Fitness
Ben Steadman, business development director
When I was training as a Prison Service PTI, we used to race using wooden benches, med balls, sticks and about anything else we could lay our hands on. We utilised team games that were both functional and fun. The fact you have so many exercises and formats available to use in functional fitness gives you so much flexibility.
Ben’s Pulse faves
Medicine balls, kettlebells, plyometric boxes, ropes, rings and bands.
"Use weird
and inanimate
objects"
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More features
Editor's letter
Into the fitaverse
Fitness is already among the top three markets in the metaverse, with new technology and partnerships driving real growth and consumer engagement that looks likely to spill over into health clubs, gyms and studios
Fit Tech people
Ali Jawad
Paralympic powerlifter and founder, Accessercise
“Users can easily identify which facilities in the UK are accessible to the disabled community”
Fit Tech people
Hannes Sjöblad
MD, DSruptive
“We want to give our users an implantable tool that allows them to collect their health data at any time and in any setting”
Fit Tech people
Jamie Buck
Co-founder, Active in Time
“We created a solution called AiT Voice, which turns digital data into a spoken audio timetable that connects to phone systems”
Profile
Fahad Alhagbani: reinventing fitness
“Let’s live in the future to improve today”
Opinion
Building on the blockchain
For small sports teams looking to compete with giants, blockchain can be a secret weapon explains Lars Rensing, CEO of Protokol
Innovation
Bold move
“Our results showed a greater than 60 per cent reduction in falls for individuals who actively participated in Bold’s programme”
App analysis
Check your form
Sency’s motion analysis technology is
allowing users to check their technique
as they exercise. Co-founder and
CEO Gal Rotman explains how
Profile
New reality
Sam Cole, CEO of FitXR, talks to
Fit Tech about taking digital
workouts to the next level, with an
immersive, virtual reality fitness club
Profile
Sohail Rashid
“My vision was to create a platform that could improve the sport for lifters at all levels and attract more people, similar to how Strava, Peloton and Zwift have in other sports”
Ageing
Reverse Ageing
Many apps help people track their
health, but Humanity founders
Peter Ward and Michael Geer
have put the focus on ageing,
to help users to see the direct
repercussions of their habits.
They talk to Steph Eaves
App analysis
Going hybrid
Workout Anytime created its app in partnership with Virtuagym. Workout Anytime’s Greg Maurer and Virtuagym’s Hugo Braam explain the process behind its creation
Research
Physical activity monitors boost activity levels
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have conducted a meta analysis of all relevant research and found that the body of evidence shows an impact
Editor's letter
Two-way coaching
Content providers have been hugely active in the fit tech market since the start of the pandemic. We expect the industry to move on from delivering these services on a ‘broadcast-only’ basis as two-way coaching becomes the new USP
Fit Tech People
Laurent Petit
Co-founder, Active Giving
“The future of sports and fitness are dependent on the climate. Our goal is to positively influence the future of our planet by instilling a global vision of wellbeing and a sense of collective action”
Fit Tech People
Adam Zeitsiff
CEO, Intelivideo
“We don’t just create the technology and bail – we support our clients’ ongoing hybridisation efforts”
Fit Tech People
Anantharaman Pattabiraman
CEO and co-founder, Auro
“When you’re undertaking fitness activities, unless you’re on a stationary bike, in most cases it’s not safe or necessary to be tied to a screen, especially a small screen”
Fit Tech People
Mike Hansen
Managing partner, Endorphinz
“We noticed a big gap in the market – customers needed better insights but also recommendations on what to do, whether that be customer acquisition, content creation, marketing and more”