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As we get older, everyday tasks—squatting to weed your garden, reaching for a book on a high shelf—can become harder to do without pain or discomfort. It doesn’t have to be this way! Workouts that focus on “functional fitnessâ€� can help you prevent and even reverse these changes and so you can enjoy greater strength, power, flexibility, and mobility in everyday movements. 

That’s why Harvard Medical School created a NEW report, Discovering Functional Fitness: Exercise to keep you active as you age, make everyday tasks easier, and even improve your game.

Now you might wonder�

What the heck is functional fitness? 

Functional fitness improves your ability to carry out daily activities more easily and more confidently. This is the kind of exercise you need to stay active and independent, on your own terms, doing what you love to do. And the benefits go beyond muscle strength and mobility�

When you follow the workouts and exercises in Discovering Functional Fitness, you’ll enjoy better sleep, a lighter mood, lower stress, and even reduce disease risk.   

With the help of Discovering Functional Fitness you can:

• Lower your risk of falls and injuries because you’ll be steadier on your feetâ€�
• Enjoy relief from joint and back pain by strengthening muscles and increasing circulationâ€�
• By reducing your risk of frailty, you are more likely to live on your own, in your own home as you get olderâ€�
• Feel more confident and self-assured with improved balance.

Functional fitness targets multiple muscle groups at once—and specific body parts—for a whole-body approach. 

Wait until you see how your body transforms. You’ll be able to get out of bed…get in and out of your car…get down on the floor to play with your grandkids and get back up without holding onto something…pick up a jug of milk…lift a suitcase…walk up the steps…even sit on the toilet more easily and without struggling. 

Is it FUN? YES! What’s more, it’s not highly taxing or hard on your body. 

With these exercises you can prevent muscle imbalances, move in multiple planes of motion more easily, and gain greater range of motion. There exercises engage your core which is involved in almost everything you do from climbing stairs, to dancing the night away, or to turning to put your seatbelt on —and you don’t need to do a single sit-up or crunch. 

It’s easy to get started…whether you’re new to exercise or have been doing it for years.

Start with the foundational workout and work up to task-specific routines which target specific functions such as carrying grocery bags, washing your hair, or putting away dishes, for example. Love to play sports? Then the “Up Your Gameâ€� workout  is a great option for you. 

As always, your safety is of the highest priority, which is why the first chapter of the report is Safety First. You’ll also discover when you need to talk to a doctor before you start or ramp up any exercise program—especially if you have the health conditions on page 33. 

Find out if there are exercises you should avoidâ€� and to the optimal time of day to workout, especially if you have arthritis and want to reduce pain and inflammation . Plus, all exercises include safety tips and form pointers. 

Every workout series tells you “what you need� such as dumbbells, a chair, a mat or bands...how to perform the exercise…how to make it easier or harder…as well as tips and techniques for maintaining the proper form and getting the most benefit from the exercise.

Hurry, get moving! Improve your strength, power, agility, flexibility, and more through functional fitness—and make everyday activities and movements a snap.