(Re)Defining Functional Fitness

What does the nebulous buzzword “functional fitness” mean?  It’s volleyed around in debates about what exercises have real-life application and what is completely frivolous. Many fitness professionals assert that fitness functions to achieve  “results.” Sometime in the future, you could achieve weight loss, lower your blood pressure, or build strong muscles. I propose reverse engineering instead. Start by asking, what do those results represent?  If you lost weight, would you feel hot? If your blood pressure decreased would you feel Continue reading

Resolutions: Fitness Goals vs. Yogic Intentions

The new year offers a renewed promise for healthier living. How do we go about change?  With one sneaker in the gym and a bare foot in the yoga studio, I observe two different approaches to self improvement. Fitness folks focus on outcomes like losing 15 lbs. or running a marathon. Goals provide measurable benchmarks and motivate us as architects of our future. Yogis set an intention called a sankulpa. Examples include, “I choose healthy foods” or  “I exercise my Continue reading