Functional Fitness

As the boomers age there is another new kind of fitness focus (move over Zumba) trending now called functional fitness. The name pretty much says it all. The exercises involved all work to strengthen core muscle groups needed to function in our daily lives and prevent injury that would keep us from doing just that. The focus is on transferring what you’re doing in the gym to the real world (where you need it!). Exercises include such for reaching and rotating (think turning in the driver seat to check your blind spot), squatting and lifting (think picking up groceries or grandkids), and placing things overhead (think the overhead compartment on your next plane ride). Then of course there are the movements involved in getting up or down from the sofa or chair, or in and out of the car.

Reading the news on line I also saw instructions for DIY stand up desk because standing is better, fitness-wise, than sitting at your computer all the time. There were specific measurements for the height of the monitor and keyboard included. This project could easily be completed with just a little modification (easily removable too) to my regular work space.

Maybe my computer is trying to tell me something!