Functional fitness is more than just lifting weights or running on a treadmill—it’s about training your body for the movements and challenges you face in everyday life. Whether you’re carrying groceries, playing with your kids, or improving your athletic performance, functional fitness builds strength, stability, and mobility to help you move better in real-world situations.
At The Club at Prairie Stone, we focus on functional fitness to help our members develop practical strength that enhances daily activities while reducing the risk of injury. Let’s explore what functional fitness is, why it matters, and how you can incorporate it into your workout routine.
What Is Functional Fitness?
Functional fitness training involves exercises that mimic and strengthen natural movements your body makes throughout the day. These include pushing, pulling, squatting, lunging, and rotating—actions you perform when lifting, bending, reaching, or twisting. Unlike traditional weight training, which often isolates specific muscles, functional fitness focuses on full-body engagement, improving overall coordination and balance.
Key Benefits of Functional Fitness
Research supports the effectiveness of functional training in improving strength, endurance, and flexibility:
- Reduces Injury Risk – A study published in the National Library of Medicine found that functional training significantly decreases the risk of injury by enhancing balance, flexibility, and core stability.
- Enhances Everyday Performance – According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), functional training improves overall movement efficiency, helping people perform daily activities with less effort and strain.
- Improves Athletic Ability – Functional movements are used by athletes to enhance sports performance. A National Strength and Conditioning Association study revealed that incorporating functional exercises into workouts leads to better strength gains than traditional resistance training.
How The Club at Prairie Stone Supports Functional Fitness
At The Club at Prairie Stone, we provide a variety of functional fitness classes and equipment designed to help you train for real-world movement and strength.
Functional Training Areas
Our 15,000 sq. ft. renovated fitness space is equipped with everything you need for functional workouts, including:
- Free Weights & Kettlebells – Develop strength and control through multi-joint movements.
- TRX Suspension Trainers – Engage your core and improve balance with bodyweight exercises.
- Stability Balls & Resistance Bands – Improve coordination and flexibility.
- Sleds & Battle Ropes – Build endurance and explosive power through dynamic movements.
Functional Fitness Classes
We offer specialized group fitness classes that incorporate functional training principles:
- TRX Circuit: Uses bodyweight and resistance training for total-body strength.
- HIIT Strength: High-intensity intervals combined with functional movements to improve endurance and power.
- Power Sculpt: A blend of compound strength exercises to enhance balance, flexibility, and coordination.
How to Incorporate Functional Fitness into Your Routine
Functional training doesn’t have to be complicated—you can start by integrating these essential exercises into your workouts:
- Squats: Builds leg strength and mimics movements like sitting and standing.
- Lunges: Improves balance and coordination for walking, climbing stairs, or bending down.
- Push-ups: Strengthens upper body and core, supporting pushing motions in daily life.
- Deadlifts: Teaches proper lifting technique to prevent back injuries.
- Medicine Ball Rotations: Enhances core stability for twisting and turning movements.
Start Your Functional Fitness Journey at The Club
If you’re looking to improve your movement, strength, and overall fitness, The Club at Prairie Stone has everything you need to succeed. Our state-of-the-art equipment, expert-led fitness classes, and supportive community make it easy to incorporate functional fitness into your routine.
Take the next step today!
- Explore our functional fitness classes here.
- Join a TRX, HIIT, or strength training session to enhance your real-life movement.
- Schedule a tour and see why The Club is the best place in Hoffman Estates for fitness and wellness.
