Functional fitness programs are designed around exercises and activities that closely mimic the activities of daily living. Throughout our workdays, time spent playing with our children, and activities performed with our friends and families we move in a variety of different ways, it is not often that we sit on a bench and push something forward, lie on our backs and push something up, or shrug our shoulders up and down repeatedly. However, bending, twisting, changing direction, and lifting at various speeds in multiple settings are a part of our daily lives. While working out on machines or performing a typical bodybuilding routine do build strength, endurance, and burn calories, they do very little to prepare you for the movements of life. In fact, most common injuries occur while performing activities outside of the gym. Functional fitness exercises can increase strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance by using exercises that mimic real life movement patterns.