Calisthenics? Is that a new fitness trend?
Even if it sounds fairly new, calisthenics has been around for the past few decades. It comes from the Greek words kallos meaning ‘beauty’ and sthenos meaning ‘strength’.
The focus of calisthenics then is using your own body weight in order to maximize your functional ability. Its exercises help improve agility, strength, endurance, and coordination.
Benefits of Calisthenics
There are a number of health benefits you can get from calisthenics, but here are the primary ones to convince you of its importance.
1. You can get stronger.
When you think about strength, the image that comes to your mind is a body-builder who is full of muscles everywhere.
Unfortunately, this is not what strength means. Strength is the ability to move even when there is resistance. For example, if you can carry all your grocery bags in one trip without too much effort, then that’s strength.
2. It’s going to be easier to move.
After several calisthenics sessions, you will notice that it’s a lot easier to move now. Your back pains will lessen and those painful joints of yours will cease to bother you all the time. In fact, calisthenics will help you be more functional in your everyday routines.
3. You work a lot of muscles in each move.
Looking for an efficient way to work out a number of muscles in a few moves? Calisthenics has you covered. With calisthenics, isolation exercises won’t usually take place. This means that your workouts will be focused on combining your limbs, legs, and core muscles.
Basic Calisthenics Moves
1. Push-Ups
Push-ups are a great way to exercise your arms and your core. There are two ways to do this – the modified version and the original one. The original push-up involves starting in a high plank position and going down until your elbows are bent carrying all your weight.
The modified one starts by kneeling on the floor and lifting your legs to form a V. Then you pull yourself towards the floor.
2. Lunges
Lunges work the legs and the core. Since lunges involve putting all your weight on one foot as you move forward, you have to focus on your balance. Once you know how to activate your core, it will be a lot easier to do lunges for 20 reps.
3. Burpees
Burpees is a classic high-intensity exercise. It doesn’t just involve two muscle groups, but all your muscles. The jump, the squats, and the semi-planks you’ll do will push you to your limit.
If you’re looking for a challenging workout, always incorporate burpees and make sure that you get your form right.
4. Plank
And then you have the world-famous plank. Planks are great for working your core and your arms. It’s a simple move that focuses on strength and endurance. A minute of this will already get you sweating. Start by holding this position for 30 seconds and add 10 seconds more every day.
Overall, calisthenics is not a new fitness trend. It’s been part of the exercise world for quite some time now and you’ve been doing some of its exercises without knowing it.
