Nineteenth century Chicago architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase in this context:
“It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic,
Of all things physical and metaphysical,
Of all things human and all things super-human,
Of all true manifestations of the head,
Of the heart, of the soul,
That the life is recognizable in its expression,
That form ever follows function. This is the law.” (source: Wikipedia)
When a “thing” is “functional” it can be described by Random House dictionary as having or serving a utilitarian purpose; capable of serving the purpose for which it was designed.
The body was designed to move, and to move efficiently. Our current lifestyle, wrought with desks, makes movement difficult so it’s up to us to put the function back in our form!
Take the time to learn some exercises you can do in a mere 5-10 minutes throughout your day to get oxygen to the brain and muscles, and to keep your form in tip-top shape for its true expression. Functional exercises work to keep us strong and poised in our bodies as we perform everyday, utilitarian tasks.
If you haven’t done a functional exercise other than a standard push-up or sit-up in a while, you’ll notice, at first, that it’s hard to balance or lift or twist without a creak here or a pop there. Ease your way back into your form by lifting, twisting or stretching only to the point of slight discomfort, not pain. Done carefully, slowly, those creaks will subside leaving you strong and supple.
If supple is too gushy a word for you, consider the fact that a recent study showed Yoga (a kind of functional training) eased chronic low back pain substantially. Low back pain is responsible for massive productivity losses in the US each year.
One last word from Sullivan: “We require from buildings two kinds of goodness: first, the doing their practical duty well: then that they be graceful and pleasing in doing it.”
Below is a great leg and core combo exercise from Olga to get you started.
For You in Your Workplace:
- Create “functional” stations.
- Send out inter-office emails with “stand up and do” exercise break ideas.
- Choose a “break ambassador” each week who can go around and remind people to stop and do the exercise break of the day.
- Start meetings with a functional exercise, or agree to stop every 30 minutes and do an exercise together – you can still talk, problem solve, and brainstorm ideas while moving!
Recognize the life in your body that goes beyond the simple task of sitting. Honor the expression your body craves and move more!
See you on the PATH Ahead.
Olga Instructions:
Standing on one leg, arms out to your sides for balance, reach your free leg slightly behind you and so a one-leg squat – bending at the knee and hips equally. Don’t let your knee push over your toes.
Press back up to standing, and without touching your free foot to the floor, swing your free leg out to the side keeping the leg bent at the knee. Swing out until your thigh is parallel to the floor with your knee facing forward. Repeat 10-20 times and switch legs.