What is Calisthenics and how can it help me ?

There are lots of different forms of exercise that people all around the world partake in. From simply walking and swimming, to weightlifting and mountain biking, the range of activities that we can enjoy in order to get fitter and lead a healthier lifestyle is vast.

At your local gym you will probably discover that there are various types of workout available to the members. Some are a lot tougher than others, so you will need to make sure that you speak to your fitness coach about which types of workout are the best for you. Everyone’s body is different, so what might be a good workout for one person may actually be potentially dangerous for another. 

What is Calisthenics?

One type of workout that has been very popular over the years is Calisthenics. It is a physical workout that focuses on using the person’s bodyweight, with the limited use of equipment and gym machinery. It revolves around a variety of different movements that you perform using the weight of your body, rather than weights in the gym. You should head over and visit calisthenics-gear.com where you can find lots of helpful information and advice.

These exercises are beneficial in that they help improve your motor skills, as well as strength, balance, flexibility and coordination. Exercises that you can do during such a workout will include push-ups, jumping, crunches and various others. These types of workouts are not only good for the body, but the mind as well.

A brief history

Forms of Calisthenics can be traced back in history thousands of years. The word is actually derived from the Greek language where kalios has the meaning of being “beautiful” and sthenics means “strength”. The form of the body was something that was admired by the ancient Greeks, as can be seen through sculptures and artwork from that period.

This form of workout was created for the military in Ancient Greece. By using their own body weight, the soldiers could dramatically increase their muscle strength and endurance – something that was vital on the battlefield.

Reasons to do Calisthenics

There are many reasons why you should workout, and with Calisthenics, there are a number of benefits over regular exercise using classic gym equipment such as a rowing machine or treadmill. As mentioned previously, Calisthenics is an excellent workout for your mind as well as your body. It allows you to become more aware of your body and a good workout can lead to endorphins being released that can reduce stress and depression and can make you feel much better about yourself.

Another benefit is that it can help to increase your endurance and body stretch. The fact that you are using your own body weight during a Calisthenics workout, rather than any gym equipment, leads to your body being better able to support itself. This is similar to workouts that focus on resistance. As your muscles grow stronger, so too will your ability to perform the exercises and workout for longer periods of time. With your workouts you can start working a wide range of muscles all over your body – something that you cannot easily do with standard gym machinery.

We all know that a monthly gym membership can be pretty expensive, and during times where money is tight and finances are difficult, maintaining your membership may be very difficult. What is great about Calisthenics is that it is a very affordable form of exercise. You don’t need any expensive gym equipment or personal trainers. You can literally work out in the privacy of your own home.

Working the whole body

The great thing about Calisthenic workouts is that you can work a large number of muscles in the body simultaneously, which is something you’d struggle to replicate if you were working out with various pieces of gym equipment.

The main exercise used for the lower body is squats. These are highly effective and very easy to perform. There are different types of squat you can do for slightly different muscle groups and which can improve things such as balance and agility.

For the upper body the main exercises that are carried out are pull and push-ups. Push-ups will work the muscle groups around your shoulders, chest and triceps, while pull-ups are more focused on working the backs muscles and your biceps.

If you are planning to start working out with Calisthenics, then to start with it would be a good idea to plan a few short workouts each week, splitting them between the upper and lower body. At the beginning do not overexert yourself, and if you feel your muscles aching or tired then stop. Build your workouts up gradually, and within a short period of time you should start seeing and feeling the results.