The practice of calisthenics is something you’ve probably seen, even if you don’t know the term. Someone who can do a muscle-up, or raise their whole upper body over the best free standing pull-up bar, is engaging in calisthenics. Calisthenics is performed by everyone, from the people performing dips in the park to the people on YouTube who turn themselves into human flags by holding their bodies parallel to the ground. Calisthenics is a kind of exercise that puts your strength and stamina to the test by using your bodyweight as resistance.
Understanding the Term “Calisthenics”
Calisthenics is derived from a combination of two Greek words: kalos (beauty) and stenos (strength). According to an online health educational platform, Calisthenics Worldwide, calisthenics is a form of strength training consisting of various movements that exercise large muscle groups, such as standing, grasping, pushing, etc. These exercises are often performed rhythmically and with minimal equipment as bodyweight exercises. The difference between this and gymnastics is that it is considered a “street exercise” and can be done anywhere.
Calisthenic Exercises Vs. Weight Lifting
According to experts, calisthenics should be seen as the cornerstone of every strength training program, from CrossFit to bodybuilding. They believe that if you can’t perform a pull-up or a press-up, you cannot attempt to bench press or do curls in the gym. However, this does not mean that calisthenics excludes the use of weights or the goal of muscle mass. You may use weights, but only if your exercises replicate your body’s natural motions. Over the last several years, many athletes have become bigger and stronger by doing weighted calisthenics.
However, you don’t really have to believe it. There are, in fact, tangible advantages to calisthenics training. In recent research, calisthenics training has been shown to be an effective training approach to enhance strength, posture, and body mass without the need for any significant training equipment.
For Whom Is Calisthenics Training Suitable?
Calisthenics is wonderful because its workouts can be performed by anybody, no matter their fitness level, as it spans from the simplest to the most difficult. Some people might be put off, or perhaps completely turned off, by the incredible calisthenics stunts they watch on YouTube, yet everyone can do the basics of calisthenics training. Everyone, from high school students to office workers to professional athletes and everyone in between, can benefit from integrating calisthenics into their daily routines. Most individuals who work out do so for aesthetic purposes, whether they are driven to do so by their own vanity or by attraction to the other sex. In a typical gym workout, the goal is to strengthen certain muscle groups. However, compound movements work all the muscles in the body at once. This gives the body a more symmetrical and balanced look than is possible with isolated exercises alone.
Final Words
It’s great if you’ve finally chosen to give calisthenics a try. Just remember that the secret to enjoying and sticking with calisthenics, whether you’re using it as a full workout or as support to your other types of workout, is to leave your self-esteem at the door. These routines may seem simple at first glance, but mastering them requires attention to detail in terms of form, skill, and timing that not everyone has.
