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If you’ve ever been mid-workout at CrossFit Influence and wondered why we do the movements we do (squats, deadlifts, presses, cleans, pull-ups, etc.), the answer is simple: because they’re functional. These movements aren’t random, flashy, or designed just to make you sweat. They’re deliberately chosen because they translate directly into real life.
What Are Functional Movements?
According to the CrossFit Level 1 Training Guide, functional movements are those that are “universal motor recruitment patterns”, meaning they’re found everywhere in daily life. Think about standing up from a chair (that’s a squat), picking up your groceries (that’s a deadlift), or putting something on a high shelf (that’s a press).
Functional movements are:
- Natural: They’re built into the way humans move.
- Essential: You need them to live independently and move well for life.
- Safe and Efficient: When performed correctly, they allow you to generate the most power safely and effectively.
CrossFit focuses on these movements because they give you the greatest return on investment. You get stronger, faster, and more capable not just inside the gym, but in every part of your life.
Why Functional Movements Matter
The Level 1 Guide says that functional movements are “the core of life’s activities.” The stronger you are in these foundational patterns, the more capable you are outside of the gym. Carrying kids, shoveling snow, or loading a suitcase into the car, all of these are easier when your body is trained to move functionally.
That’s also why our workouts vary constantly. Life doesn’t always ask you to move one way or at one speed. Training with constantly varied, functional movements prepares you for whatever life throws at you, whether that’s running up stairs, pushing your mower, or helping a friend move furniture.
The Power of Compound Movement
Another key concept from the CrossFit Level 1 manual is that functional movements are compound movements. They use multiple joints and muscle groups at once. A deadlift, for example, works your posterior chain from your hamstrings to your traps, while a bicep curl uses one joint and one muscle group.
By focusing on compound, full-body movements, you’re building coordination, balance, and power, which are all critical components of real-world fitness.
Real Fitness for Real Life
At CrossFit Influence, our goal isn’t just to make you better at workouts, it’s to make you better at life. The functional movements we practice in the gym are the same ones that help you move well, avoid injury, and stay independent as you age.
That’s the beauty of CrossFit, it’s not about chasing aesthetics or just getting a “good sweat.” It’s about training your body to perform at its best through the full range of human movement.
The Bottom Line
We train functional movements because they’re the foundation of true fitness. As the CrossFit Level 1 Training Guide reminds us, “The magic is in the movement, the art is in the programming, the science is in the explanation, and the fun is in the community.”
So the next time you pick up a barbell, do a burpee, or hit a set of squats, remember, you’re not just working out. You’re practicing to live better.
