What is functional capacity?
Functional capacity refers to your ability to perform everyday activities safely and independently. It encompasses a range of physical abilities such as:
- Strength: This allows you to carry groceries, climb stairs, and get in and out of chairs.
- Flexibility: This helps you bend over to tie your shoes, reach for objects on high shelves, and twist to check your blind spot while driving.
- Balance: This is essential for preventing falls, which can lead to serious injuries and a decline in independence.
- Coordination: This allows you to perform complex tasks like dressing yourself, preparing meals, and managing your medications.
In addition to these physical abilities, functional capacity can also be influenced by cognitive skills, such as memory and problem-solving, and mental health.
Why functional capacity matters from an young age
Think of your functional capacity as a bank account for your independence. The more you “deposit” through exercise and healthy habits, the more you have to “withdraw” as you age.
If you start with a well-stocked account (high functional capacity), even gradual declines due to aging won’t significantly impact your ability to live a full, rewarding life.
However, if you enter your later years with a low functional capacity (low deposits), even minor losses can quickly deplete your reserves. This can potentially lead to dependence on others for daily tasks.
Investing in your functional capacity now is an investment in your future independence.
A yoga course designed with functional ageing can be a fantastic way to make those deposits.
You’ll build strength and flexibility for tasks you do every day, improve your balance to prevent falls, and even gain skills to reduce stress, stay focused, breathe better and much more.
Functional capacity matters a lot. And we usually start realising it when we begin to lose it.
It doesn’t have to be this way!
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