You may not have the patience, equipment or money to enroll in a high-intensity class like CrossFit. But it's still possible to reap the same benefits of functional fitness classes by borrowing from its many lessons that can power your own personal workouts, whether you're working out in your home or at the gym.
Here are some of those lessons to keep in mind as you strive to get the most out of your workout program while preventing injuries.
Proper Form Is Key
The key to staying safe during any workout is to master each movement. It's easy to become more focused on your appearance instead of learning how to do each exercise correctly. Learn fundamental moves in their proper form.
Set Clear Goals And Track Progress
It's sometimes hard to stay motivated when you're working out on your own rather than attending classes. That's why it can be a great idea to keep a journal, or track it online, of each of your workouts, then measure the same workout in three months to see if you've progressed. Having something measurable will help keep you focused and inspired.
Strive For High Intensity
Focusing on variety and high-intensity routines can help you burn more calories than the average workout routine. One way to do this is by incorporating sprint intervals or short bursts of burpees into your cardio and strength routines. You can do the same for your pool or elliptical workouts if your joints don't allow you to do high-impact routines.
No Excuses
You don't need a gym or the latest in equipment to improve your overall wellness, strength and mobility. Even basic movements like push-ups and air squats can burn calories and build muscle if done in simple 10- to 20-minute workouts. One quick and effective morning workout is to do 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups and 10 air squats, repeating the circuit five times. Record your results.
Use Full Range Of Motion
Strive to use a full range of motion in your workouts when your muscles and joints allow it. An example is lowering your chest completely to the floor when your doing push-ups, even if you need to do them from your knees to maintain proper form. Not doing so doesn't give your muscles the a full workout, which restricts development and function.
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