5 Functional Fitness Classes That Make Sense For Everyday Life

You can lift 160kg and Barry’s Bootcamp is a breeze, but when it comes to lugging your suitcase across the assault course otherwise known as London’s transport system you’re fighting a losing battle!

So maybe spending hours in the gym training your body isn’t necessarily the most effective way of training it to deal with everyday life? The answer: functional fitness, where classes incorporate exercises that help prepare our bodies to deal with real life challenges like carrying heavy boxes or sitting at a desk all day.

Focusing on building strength and endurance within multiple muscle groups, functional fitness is on the rise. From headstands to battle ropes, these classes might be functional but they’re certainly not conventional…

HEADSTAND AT LOMAX

Apart from the well-earned admiration you’ll receive after showcasing your new skills to your friends on a Saturday evening, the headstand class at Lomax offers some slightly more valuable benefits.

Mastering the move will help you to improve your body alignment and posture, which for those of you who spend the majority of your week hunched over a desk could prove to be vital.

Focusing on shoulder stability, arm and core strength, the small group sessions allow for hands-on teaching and attention to form, which is great news for anybody lacking in balance.

But if you fancy more of a challenge, thrill seekers can take on the handstand push up. Imagine the reaction that will get?

Taking place place at 7pm every Tuesday and 11am every Saturday

www.lomaxpt.com

SANDBELLS AT FITNESS FIRST

Forget dumbbells, it’s all about the sandbell at Fitness First. Using squishy bags filled with (you’ve guessed it) sand, the class encourages participants to carry out everyday movements such as throwing, pushing and pulling to engage the muscles and improve mobility.

The 45-minute, high-intensity class switches between a range of weights from 3kg to 12kg and because of the fluidity of the sandbags the body is forced to constantly adapt. This means that your strength and balance is pushed to the limit. And if you ever wondered why they use sandbags in the Strongman competition, after one of these classes you’ll soon understand.

On the plus side, carrying your grocery bags will now feel like a walk in the park.

At selected Fitness First gyms: www.fitnessfirst.co.uk

FITNESS FIVE AT VIRGIN ACTIVE

Taking on these five pieces of equipment (Bulgarian bags, TRX rip trainer, plyo boxes, battle ropes and TiYR) will require pure grit and determination, but if you can muster up the strength to make it through the challenge you’ll be able to face just about anything life throws in your way.

Targeting major muscle groups, taking your cardio to the next level and adding a new dimension to your usual gym workout, Fitness Five aims to build muscle, increase stamina and condition your body.

After flipping tyres and swinging ropes, you can rest assured if you’re ever stranded on a desert island you’ll have the ability to climb, carry and throw with ease after completing this class.

Fitness Five is available to try at selected Virgin Active gyms: www.virginactive.co.uk

CAVEMAN AT GYMBOX

If you think that having a lack of gym equipment means you can’t workout, then think again. Taking inspiration from our ancestors, the caveman class at Gymbox goes back to basics, using bodyweight and natural resources to produce a workout so tough you’ll be thanking your lucky stars treadmills and free weights now exist.

The animalistic techniques used in the class focus on plyometric, agility and speed training and just when you think you’ve reached your breaking point, you’ll find yourself pulling a weighted sled.

There is one silver lining though – at the end of the class you’ll get to leave the ‘cave’ and go back to the comfort of your home.

Caveman classes are available at varies times depending on the Gymbox location www.gymbox.com/classes/caveman

ROPE AND AERIAL CONDITIONING AT CROSSFIT

You may wonder how the movements used to dangle from a vertical rope while performing acrobatics will translate into everyday life, but learning how to twist, roll and drop involves the entire body.

From power to balance, your core and upper body strength will be tested as you hang on for dear life, practising hip locks, pikes and leg lifts. And because the rope is unstable, no two movements will ever be the same – unlike most static equipment found in the gym.

Technique is what counts most in this class, so don’t be put off if your muscles are less than hulk-like. And when you finally master an upside down decent, you can run off and join the circus.

Rope and aerial conditioning takes place at 11:30 every Saturday: www.crossfitlondonuk.com/what-we-do/rope/