Enthusiasm for functional fitness is a 2025 exercise trend that has been embraced by trainers. It is stated to be particularly appealing to trainers working with small groups and one-on-one. This versatile exercise modality can be helpful in a variety of ways. It can help with mobility and lessen the risk of injury. The overall goal is to provide exercises that enhance your ability to perform daily tasks. These exercises are designed to mirror actual daily movements. Activities such as walking can be incorporated to allow muscles to work together.
Along with muscle strength, functional fitness exercises focus on ligament strength. Balance and coordination are also focused on in functional fitness. Agility and flexibility are other areas of focus. Squats and straight arm planks are exercises that can be included in functional fitness programs. Squats can help with picking objects up from the ground. Straight arm planks can be helpful to gear up to raise objects above your head.
Functional Fitness Overview
OPEX is an organization that helps coaches optimize their coaching practices. OPEX states: “Functional fitness is a type of exercise that supports your everyday life.” Strength-building exercises within this framework are designed to improve functionality. Walking is one form of exercise included. Bending, pulling, and pushing are all movements addressed within this exercise modality. OPEX explains that the system’s premise is that “muscles work together and support each other.” Muscles collaborate during movement. Working together, muscles can help you perform tasks necessary during your day.
One potential benefit is that this exercise format can help reduce the risk of injury. During functional fitness exercises, you work on movements you do during daily activities. According to OPEX, this makes “the body… more likely to be able to withstand stressors.” The exercises promote strength in ligaments and muscles. This strength can help prevent muscle and ligament injury. Another potential benefit can be an overall increase in mobility. Along with muscle strength, you work on agility and coordination. You also work on flexibility and balance. Working on these fitness aspects can enhance your mobility.
Functional Fitness in 2025
The American College of Sports Medicine has a list of fitness formats popular in 2025. Functional fitness occupies the ninth spot on the list. The article in which this list features includes words from Alexios Batrakoulis. Alexios Batrakoulis holds multiple certifications and degrees. These include an EIM, a Ph.D., an ACSM-CPT, an ACSM-PT, and a FACSM. Batrakoulis states, “The variety provided by functional fitness may be critical for its popularity.” Batrakoulis states this varied approach appeals to fitness trainers working with individuals and small groups.
Prevention also focuses on the appeal of this format to trainers. Functional fitness appears on a Prevention list of fitness trends trainers notice in 2025. According to Prevention, functional fitness programs are comprised of “moves that make up daily life.” Prevention stresses that everybody can benefit from this fitness philosophy. Jerome Draculan, a personal trainer, is cited in the Prevention fitness trends article. Draculan is certified by NASM and is the operations manager at StrengthshopUSA.com. Draculan states functional fitness is “about having strength that you can utilize in life.”
Applying this Fitness Trend to Your Exercise Routines
This exercise format can help you stay strong and flexible. It can help maintain a fitness level that facilitates going through daily life with ease. Specific functional fitness exercises can help facilitate particular daily tasks. For instance, practicing squats can be helpful if you need to pick up ponderous objects. To build strength to lift objects overhead, you could try straight arm planks. Jerome Draculan states that, in general, these exercises can help with everyday activities. He mentions activities “such as playing with your children or carrying groceries.” You can find applicable functional fitness workouts to help you.
