Functional Strength 101
4.71 (1 review)
Stronger & Smarter in the Gym
Program Description
This introductory gym guide will get you familiar with basic functional movement patterns and gym equipment. While the program is geared toward beginners, it's easily adaptable to all levels by simply increasing the weight of your lifts.
Program Overview
Coach | Justina Ercole |
Level | Beginner |
Equipment | Full Gym |
Time Per Workout | 45 minutes |
Days Per Week | 3 days |
Program Length | 8 weeks |
Week 1
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
World's Greatest Stretch | 1 | 5 | - |
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Glute Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Dead Bug | 1 | 10 | - |
Good Morning | 1 | 10 | - |
Kettlebell Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Seated Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Goblet Box Squat | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Seated Overhead Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Incline Shoulder Taps | 3 | 20secs | - |
Skaters | 3 | 20secs | - |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Hip Cars | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hip Shift | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Hold | 1 | 20secs | - |
Kickstand Good Morning | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hops | 1 | 20 | - |
Goblet Split Squat | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Bridge March | 3 | 14 | @4-6 |
Kickstand Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Leg Lift | 3 | 6 | @6-8 |
Power Squat | 3 | 6 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Rainbows | 1 | 3 | - |
Scap Cars | 1 | 30secs | - |
Loaded Beast | 1 | 5 | - |
Y-T-W | 1 | 5 | - |
Body Saw | 1 | 10 | - |
Floor Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
SA Bent Over Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
1/2 Kneeling SA OH Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lat Pullover | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Bicycle Twist | 3 | 20secs | - |
Week 2
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
World's Greatest Stretch | 1 | 5 | - |
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Glute Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Dead Bug | 1 | 10 | - |
Good Morning | 1 | 10 | - |
Kettlebell Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Seated Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Goblet Box Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Seated Overhead Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Incline Shoulder Taps | 3 | 30secs | - |
Skaters | 3 | 30secs | - |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Hip Cars | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hip Shift | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Hold | 1 | 20secs | - |
Kickstand Good Morning | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hops | 1 | 20 | - |
Goblet Split Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Elevated Bridge | 3 | 12 | @6-8 |
Kickstand Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Leg Lift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Power Squat | 3 | 8 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Rainbows | 1 | 3 | - |
Scap Cars | 1 | 30secs | - |
Loaded Beast | 1 | 5 | - |
Y-T-W | 1 | 5 | - |
Body Saw | 1 | 10 | - |
Floor Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
SA Bent Over Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
1/2 Kneeling SA OH Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lat Pullover | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Bicycle Twist | 3 | 30secs | - |
Week 3
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
World's Greatest Stretch | 1 | 5 | - |
Supine Hip Flexion | 1 | 10 | - |
Banded Pull Aparts | 1 | 10 | - |
Banded Good Morning | 1 | 10 | - |
Deep Squat Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Kettlebell Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Seated Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Goblet Squat | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Chest Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Kick Thru | 3 | 20secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Hip Cars | 1 | 5 | - |
Adductor Rocks | 1 | 5 | - |
Iso Split Squat | 1 | 15secs | - |
Kickstand Good Morning | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hops | 1 | 20 | - |
Offset Split Squat | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Single Leg Bridge | 3 | 8 | @5-7 |
Kickstand Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Leg Hold | 3 | 20secs | @6-8 |
Jump Squat Reset | 3 | 6 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Cat Cow | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling T Spine Rotation | 1 | 5 | - |
Prone Snow Angels | 1 | 5 | - |
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Marching | 1 | 10 | - |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
DB Push Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
SA Bent Over Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Incline Push Up | 3 | 6 | @6-8 |
Pallof Press | 3 | 6 | @5-7 |
Week 4
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
World's Greatest Stretch | 1 | 5 | - |
Supine Hip Flexion | 1 | 10 | - |
Banded Pull Aparts | 1 | 10 | - |
Banded Good Morning | 1 | 10 | - |
Deep Squat Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Kettlebell Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Seated Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Goblet Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Chest Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Kick Thru | 3 | 30secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Hip Cars | 1 | 5 | - |
Adductor Rocks | 1 | 5 | - |
Iso Split Squat | 1 | 15secs | - |
Kickstand Good Morning | 1 | 5 | - |
Lateral Hops | 1 | 20 | - |
Offset Split Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Elevated SL Bridge | 3 | 10 | @5-7 |
Kickstand Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Leg Hold | 3 | 30secs | @6-8 |
Jump Squat Reset | 3 | 8 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Cat Cow | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling T Spine Rotation | 1 | 5 | - |
Prone Snow Angels | 1 | 5 | - |
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Marching | 1 | 10 | - |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
DB Push Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
SA Bent Over Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Incline Push Up | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Pallof Press | 3 | 8 | @5-7 |
Week 5
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Glute Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Kneeling Scapular Retractions | 1 | 5 | - |
Forearm Plank | 1 | 30secs | - |
Deep Squat Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
DB Front Squat | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Incline Chest Press | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lateral Bear Crawl | 3 | 20secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Supine Hip Flexion | 1 | 10 | - |
Single Leg Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Alt Runner's Lunge | 1 | 10 | - |
SL Deadlift X Reverse Lunge | 1 | 5 | - |
Skaters | 1 | 20secs | - |
Goblet Reverse Lunge | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lateral Step Down | 3 | 5 | @5-7 |
Single Leg Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Leg Rotation | 3 | 5 | @5-7 |
Jump Squat | 3 | 6 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Field Goal Rotation | 1 | 10 | - |
SS Dead Bug | 1 | 5 | - |
Seated Arm Circles | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling Book Opens | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Shoulder Taps | 1 | 10 | - |
Seated Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lateral Raise | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Bent Over Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Lower Push Up | 3 | 6 | @6-8 |
Cable Rotation Press | 3 | 6 | @5-7 |
Week 6
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Slides | 1 | 5 | - |
Glute Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Kneeling Scapular Retractions | 1 | 5 | - |
Forearm Plank | 1 | 30secs | - |
Deep Squat Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
DB Front Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Incline Chest Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lateral Bear Crawl | 3 | 30secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Supine Hip Flexion | 1 | 10 | - |
Single Leg Bridge | 1 | 10 | - |
Alt Runner's Lunge | 1 | 10 | - |
SL Deadlift X Reverse Lunge | 1 | 5 | - |
Skaters | 1 | 20secs | - |
Goblet Reverse Lunge | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lateral Step Down | 3 | 5 | @5-7 |
Single Leg Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Side Plank Clam Lift | 3 | 10 | @5-7 |
Jump Squat | 3 | 8 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Field Goal Rotation | 1 | 10 | - |
SS Dead Bug | 1 | 5 | - |
Seated Arm Circles | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling Book Opens | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Shoulder Taps | 1 | 10 | - |
Seated Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lateral Raise | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Bent Over Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lower Push Up | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Cable Rotation Press | 3 | 8 | @5-7 |
Week 7
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Inchworm | 1 | 10 | - |
Kneeling Ankle Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling Book Opens | 1 | 5 | - |
Anterior Rib Expansion | 1 | 45secs | - |
Body Saw | 1 | 10 | - |
Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
DB Front Squat | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
DB Overhead Press | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Lateral Bear X Kick Thru | 3 | 20secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Bridge X Knee Tap | 1 | 10 | - |
Bicycle Twist | 1 | 10 | - |
Side Plank | 1 | 30secs | - |
SL Deadlift X Reverse Lunge | 1 | 5 | - |
Single Leg Pogos | 1 | 15secs | - |
Offset Reverse Lunge | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Iso Split Squat | 3 | 20secs | @6-8 |
Elevated Stiff Leg Deadlift | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Single Leg Step Up | 3 | 5 | @5-7 |
Jump Squat X SL Land | 3 | 3 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Rainbows | 1 | 5 | - |
Prone Snow Angels | 1 | 5 | - |
Y-T-W | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Row | 1 | 10 | - |
Stability Ball Rollout | 1 | 10 | - |
Seated Row | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Ventral Raise | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Rear Delt Fly | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Dead Stop Push Up | 3 | 6 | @6-8 |
Offset Racked Hold | 3 | 30secs | - |
Week 8
Day 1
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Inchworm | 1 | 10 | - |
Kneeling Ankle Mobility | 1 | 5 | - |
Kneeling Book Opens | 1 | 5 | - |
Anterior Rib Expansion | 1 | 45secs | - |
Body Saw | 1 | 10 | - |
Romanian Deadlift (Dumbbell) | 3 | 12 | @6-8 |
Lat Pulldown | 3 | 12 | @6-8 |
DB Front Squat | 3 | 12 | @6-8 |
DB Overhead Press | 3 | 12 | @6-8 |
Lateral Bear X Kick Thru | 3 | 30secs | - |
-- |
Day 2
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Bridge X Knee Tap | 1 | 10 | - |
Bicycle Twist | 1 | 10 | - |
Side Plank | 1 | 30secs | - |
SL Deadlift X Reverse Lunge | 1 | 5 | - |
Single Leg Pogos | 1 | 15secs | - |
Offset Reverse Lunge | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Iso Split Squat | 3 | 25secs | @6-8 |
Elevated Stiff Leg Deadlift | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Single Leg Step Up | 3 | 5 | @5-7 |
Jump Squat X SL Land | 3 | 5 | - |
Day 3
Exercise | Sets | Reps | Intensity |
---|---|---|---|
Floor Rainbows | 1 | 5 | - |
Prone Snow Angels | 1 | 5 | - |
Y-T-W | 1 | 5 | - |
Bear Plank Row | 1 | 10 | - |
Stability Ball Rollout | 1 | 10 | - |
Seated Row | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Ventral Raise | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Rear Delt Fly | 3 | 10 | @6-8 |
Dead Stop Push Up | 3 | 8 | @6-8 |
Offset Racked Hold | 3 | 40secs | - |
What People Are Saying
4.7/5
KatieWoman, 23
6 weeks complete
3 years of prior experience
As expected strength gains
More than expected muscle gains
Marginal modifications
Program is really well rounded and makes it easy to progress to heavier weights and more challenging exercises
a month ago
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