Forget gym machines — study shows this type of exercise is the most effective at building strength, muscle and power

Young athletic man doing push-ups physical workout in gym.

It’s not all about making your workouts look fancy or slick for Instagram, particularly if you’re a beginner; research shows that there’s a type of exercise that trumps most, and it’s really simple: functional training.

Functional workouts use movement patterns that translate to your everyday life and tasks, like squatting, throwing, lunging, crawling, or even jumping.