Functional training (FT) promotes benefits in various physical abilities; however, its effect on autonomic modulation, cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life in the healthy adult population is unknown, and thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of FT on these variables in healthy young women. The study consisted of 29 women, distributed into two groups: the FT Group (FTG; n = 13; 23 AE 2Á51 years; 21Á90 AE 2Á82 kg m À ²) and the Control Group (CG; n = 16; 20Á56 AE 1Á03 years; 22Á12 AE 3Á86 kg m À ²). The FTG performed periodized FT for 12 weeks, three times a week. The following were evaluated: autonomic modulation (heart rate variability), cardiorespiratory parameters and quality of life (SF-36 Questionnaire). The Student's t-test for unpaired data or the Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the differences obtained between the final moment and the initial moment of the studied groups (P<0Á05). The FTG demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life and autonomic modulation (P<0Á05), but not in the cardiorespiratory parameters. Functional training was able to produce improvements in autonomic modulation and quality of life.