Functional Patterns Texas, Austin TX

As a physical therapist, my goal in life is to help those lead a pain free and optimal life. FP is the greatest methodology I have encountered for establishing my goals with every human body type and physiological condition I have encountered. It should be taught in universities, lead physed in grade schools, and practiced by all to live a physically balanced and pain free life.

Awesome studio. Awesome people. Awesome methods. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s helping me to move my body without pain and gain strength again. Incredibly valuable…

This review is long overdue. FP Texas, the team (Brandon, Jarrod, Ben, Kristie, and Katy), and the functional patterns method of reorganizing your body/muscles to be structurally integrated and move efficiently is the best thing I've done for my body in 40 years. I came from a swimming and endurance triathlon background and between two gnarly cycling accidents and a slipped disc (L4-L5, S-1) that resulted in sciatica and chronic pain in my right scap/trap/rhomboid, FP unlocked capacity in my body I had lost for nearly a decade. I'm still blown away to this day how much relief I got and how much more conscious I am about the mind body connection and muscle integration when I'm active or even sitting.

This is the type of programming I wish every child would learn at a young age and every aging parent would start ASAP as a preventative measure for injury and for bodily awareness. It's an incredible tool to correct and prevent the compounding of poor recruitment of muscle systems especially when our body adapts/compensates to injury by over relying on one muscle. From my slipped disc injury, I hadn't been able to recruit my left glute to it's true capacity in half a decade. FP completely changed that for me. The strength gains are also incredible.

Here's what you should know about Functional Patterns.
1. You should get 1: 1 private sessions to properly get your biomechanics assessed and movement adjusted. Learning often means spending 5-20 minutes on one movement correctly, parsing the movement to subparts that requires recruitment of multiple muscle groups. It's not uncommon to spend 5 minutes doing 1 rep. This time is critical to get your body to build muscle memory, get the nervous system to connect the dots, and rewire your overall movement.

2. This requires A LOT of your mental presence. This isn't a fitness/wellness modality that says just do X exercise and you'll be better. You really have to be consciously present to activate muscle groups correctly and have body awareness when you're under extreme tension. I'd often leave mentally exhausted but on an endorphin high. (Side note: Shout out to Brandon for being so patient with me on day's my mental focus wasn't there and creating adaptations for my mental state.)

3. Patience: This won't transform you overnight. It takes consistent practice and intentionality. If you're going to give it a try, I'd say the minimum you should give it a go before considering stopping is 3-4 months.

4. Do the Classes too: They're great reinforcement of your 1: 1 individual sessions. Also, there's a primary focus on technique ALWAYS vs other fitness systems where people prioritize max weight.

5. It's not cheap, but it's well worth it. It's the equivalent of spending good money on a pricey bed because you're spending 1/3 of your life in it. Same with movement. You're likely spending 2/3 of your life in some type of structural pose that requires good biomechanics (even if you're just sitting or standing)

Thanks to the FP Texas team! Shout out to Brandon for all your help and putting up with me!