Why We Use Full Body Strength Workouts

When people start training at Core, one of the first things they notice is that we don’t split workouts into “chest day” or “arm day.” We train the whole body. Not just because it’s more efficient, but because it’s more functional. 

Our workouts are designed to support how your body actually moves in real life. Whether you're swinging a golf club, shoveling the driveway, trying to keep up with your kids or grandkids, or just trying not to slip on the ice, your body doesn’t work in isolated parts. It works as a system. So we train it that way.

When we build a training program, we start by making sure we’re checking the boxes on the major movement patterns:

• Squat

• Hip Hinge

• Lunge / Single-Leg

• Push

• Pull

• Carry

No, you don’t necessarily need to do every single one of these in every single workout. And no, there’s no “perfect” version of any movement. But over the course of a week or training cycle, we aim to cover these bases because they reflect how we actually move, both inside and outside the gym.

We say this a lot: there’s no single exercise you have to do. You don’t have to barbell squat. You don’t have to deadlift heavy. You don’t have to do pull-ups. (Although it’s cool if you do.) What matters more is that we’re training the pattern in a way that fits you: your body, your goals, your injury history, your comfort level. For example:

• If squats bother your knees, we might try box squats or a wall sit.

• If your back flares up during deadlifts, a trap bar or kettlebell hinge pattern might be a better fit.

• If overhead pressing causes shoulder pain, we’ll find an angle that works or try a landmine press.

We adjust the exercise. We don’t abandon the pattern.

Functional training is a buzzword these days, but for us, it has a clear meaning. We train to help you do the things you love, better, safer, and longer. That’s why full-body strength and these foundational patterns matter so much.

Here’s how it shows up in real life:

• Golf or Pickleball: A rotational swing starts from the ground up (legs, hips, core, shoulders). Training full-body strength with lunges, hinges, carries, medicine ball throws, and anti-rotation core work helps you generate power, move with control, and reduce injury risk.

• Gardening or Shoveling Snow: You’re squatting, hinging, twisting, reaching, lifting. Sounds familiar, right? Functional strength makes these tasks easier on your back and knees and helps prevent those “I tweaked something” moments.

• Slipping on Ice: Balance and quick reflexes come from single-leg strength, core stability, and total-body coordination. That’s why we train those patterns intentionally, not just for performance, but for safety.

• Playing with Kids or Grandkids: Getting up and down off the floor, carrying a squirming toddler, tossing a ball, running around the yard, your body needs strength, stability, and mobility working together. That’s exactly what full-body training supports.

Another reason we use full-body workouts? It’s sustainable. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym or train every day of the week. With two or three well-structured full-body sessions, you can hit every major pattern, build strength across the board, and actually see progress without burning out. And because we’re not hammering the same muscle groups every session, recovery is easier and more manageable, which is especially important as we age.

We’re not here to build bodybuilders. We’re here to help people move better, feel better, and live better, in and out of the gym. That’s why we use full-body training. That’s why we focus on movement patterns. That’s why we don’t chase soreness or sweat. We chase function and progress.

If your workouts aren’t making life outside the gym better, what’s the point? Let’s keep building strength that actually means something: for golf swings, shoveling snow, gardening, weekend hikes, and everything else life throws your way.