Calisthenics: The Secret to Getting Strong Fast!
The Information and Equipment You Need to Up Your Strength Game
Body weight workouts are widely credited as being one of the most important pillars of fitness, but all the information available can be overwhelming!
The goal of this article is to organize some of the information available on the internet, and share a bit of my experience as an athlete in my calisthenics journey.
The Body Weight Basics:
Body weight workouts are a great way to get in shape without having to go to the gym. They can be done anywhere, at any time, and they don't require any special equipment. Plus, body weight workouts are effective and can help you build muscle, lose fat, and improve your overall fitness level.
If you're looking for a workout that is convenient, affordable, and effective, look no further than body weight workouts. Here are some of the benefits of body weight workouts:
-They're convenient: As we mentioned, body weight workouts can be done anywhere, at any time. All you need is your own body and some space to move.
-They're affordable: You don't need to spend any money on gym memberships or fancy equipment. All you need is your own body and some space to move.
Body weight exercises are a fundamental pillar of any fitness journey, mastering your body weight in multiple planes of movement allows you to build strength that will transfer on to any other physical activity. Mastering your body weight is essential in fitness, as it teaches you the correct technique of movements, and can help prevent injury in the future.
Weight training in specific offers many benefits, but one major pitfall of weightlifting is only working one plane of movement, up and down. The 3 major weight training movements, Squat, Deadlift, and Bench press, all work the same plane of movement, up and down (along with things like lateral raises, calf raises, bicep curls, triceps extensions, rows, etc). Not to put down weight lifting at all, but there is a place for supplemental training to truly get the most gains. One saying I like is that someone who has mastered their body weight will be good at weightlifting and other expressions of strength, but not the other way around. I see too many people who can squat 400+lbs and bench 200+, but cant do 5 unweighted pushups, or get a full depth squat.
One benefit of body weight training is that it works multiple planes of movement, you can alter exercises for different difficulty levels and muscle engagement, and so much more!
Calisthenics are helpful because they can be done with no equipment, but that's not to say equipment doesn't help. Below are some of the best body weight movements, and affiliate links to some helpful equipment I have used to up my strength game.
Essential Calisthenics Equipment:
Pushup Board: Target different muscle groups more effectively by using a pushup board. The altered grip also helps with wrist pain you could have by doing a regular pushup, and with an affordable price and easy storage, a pushup board is a must have in many athletes gym equipment list, myself included.
Resistance Bands: With numerous different uses, from adding resistance do movements like pushups and squats, to extensions and curls, to helping stretch, a good resistance band set like this one are another essential piece of equipment.
Squat Wedge: Squat wedges help you get full range of motion, and can also be used for movements like calf raises, and are a great addition to a workout program.
Paralletes: Something for those of us who really want to up our strength game, paralletes are the gateway to more advance body weight movements like handstands, handstand pushups, planche, and more!
With quality equipment, and armed with the best knowledge, athletes can go forward knowing they have the mind and equipment needed to get the most out of your workouts. But the learning doesn't stop here, I encourage everyone to do more research into calisthenics, and become the best athlete they can become.
Overall, body weight workouts have a lot of benefits. They improve strength, flexibility, balance, sports performance, and protecting your body from injury. They are also a great way to burn calories, loose weight, and build muscle! Body weight workouts can be done anywhere, at any time. So what are you waiting for? Look at some of the products listed, they are super affordable and extremely helpful. Happy training!
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