Gauri Chopra is a Cross functional training queen, she lives and breathes this type of training. We caught up with her to find out why she thinks this is the best way to maximise your training.
"One of the main reasons you’ve come to check out this post is to find out what cross functional training actually is… Let me clear that up for you!
Cross Functional Training is an umbrella term used to bridge the gap between various styles of training to create a workout that challenges the movement patterns we use in every day life. Think about it...lifting heavy items off the floor such as shopping bags, babies or moving furniture around. We also walk or run more than we think when we commute to work or sprint for the train!"
Here are 10 reasons why you might want to train cross functionally!
1. CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS
Ever felt like your heart was going to burst out of your chest just from just climbing a flight of stairs? Whether we’ve been ill, or just going through a rough patch in our health and fitness journey, I feel like we’ve all based our fitness levels on that feeling at least once in our lives! Even things like carrying or running after your kids,… They’re all forms of functional fitness that will improve with a cross functional training approach!
2. BUILD MUSCLE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYDAY LIFE
Now before my fellow ladies spark some concern- I don’t mean you’ll end up with a ‘bulky’ looking physique, but a well rounded, strong, lean, athletic physique.
One that speaks for itself and can carry you through life looking and feeling strong and independent!
3. WORKOUT ANYWHERE ANYTIME
No need to spend ages waiting around for equipment in a busy gym, the beauty of cross functional workouts are that all you really need is your body and a bit of space! Use your surroundings, and USE YOUR BODY- get as creative as you like! You’ll soon realise your body is the best and possibly only piece of workout equipment you’ll ever really need!
4. SUITS A FAST PACED LIFESTYLE
One of the best things about cross functional workouts is that you can make them as short and intense, or long and paced as you like! Most exercises encompass full body movements that give you the most bang for your buck- so throw a few big moves together to create a quick intense circuit and you can’t really go wrong!
5. FIT FRIENDS
Most exercises require minimal equipment so you can use each other as motivation and workout together. Better yet, get all your friends involved in a workout where you start on different exercise stations, or get competitive and pair up to beat each other’s numbers! The possibilities are endless!
6. BURN IT UP
Compound, full body movements FAST; it’s a simple recipe for a fat furnace with lots of calorie burning involved!
7. PROGRESSIVE AND MEASURABLE
You’ll realise quite early on where your weaknesses lie. Either by the weight you lift, the time it takes you to do a certain number of reps, the distance you can perform on a CV machine. All those aspects will easily improve as you either gradually increase the weight you’re lifting, or the speed/time you spend on your cardiovascular exercises each week!
8. BODY BALANCE
Provided you have a well balanced plan targeting both the anterior and posterior chain, the mix of free weight and body weight exercises will not only help improve your general proprioception, but also have you on your way to a well-balanced posture!
9. FUN FACTOR
You can never really get bored of cross functional training because YOU make the rules! Combine your favourite exercises from body weight, to bodybuilding, to gymnastics, yoga, CrossFit, endurance to develop workouts based on your mood... Pretty much anything goes!
10. FEEL ENERGISED
Say goodbye to unexplained aches and pains from poor posture, making multiple trips to carry your shopping to and from the car, and say hello to climbing monkey bars and trees with your kids (or friends if that’s your thing!), and helping your elderly relatives/friends out of their chair with ease... More movement = More life!
If that isn’t enough to persuade you to get FUNCTIONALLY FIT, I don’t know what is!
4 min read time
