Calesthenics: No-Fuss Fitness

Calisthenics have become a popular form of exercise, requiring no special gym equipment or weighted loads.

Although calesthenics have become a bit of a craze, they have existed for some time. Examples of calisthenic exercises include burpees, pushups and crunches. If you want to know what the fuss is about, read on...

Benefits of a Calisthenic Workout

Workout at Home With No Equipment Required

The most prominent benefit of a calisthenic workout is that you don’t need special equipment or a lot of space to work out. This means a workout can be done in the convenience of your own home. By avoiding a trip to the gym, you can save a lot of time, as well as a lot of money on gym memberships.

If you do want to invest in some equipment, then a pull-up bar, resistance band or jump rope are low cost options you can try.

Full Body Training

Calisthenic exercises engage several muscle groups at once, meaning you will strengthen your entire body. For example, if you do pull-ups, you are not only working your back muscles; you are also engaging your arms, lower back, abs and shoulders. If you are doing a pushup, you are not only engaging your arms; you are also working your glutes, quads and abs.

Developing Coordination

By performing exercises that require multiple muscle groups to work in concert, you develop coordination. In order to perform movements like burpees or a pull-up, your muscle groups need to move in the correct order and time. Through practicing calisthenic movements, you help your body develop motor skills.

Developing Flexibility

Since calisthenic workouts use bodyweight exercises that entail fully extended movements, you can build muscles strength without sacrificing flexibility. Increased flexibility will increase your range of movement and in turn increase your movement efficiency.

Use dynamic stretching after warming up, and static stretching at the end your workout session.

Increasing Your Endurance

If you perform calisthenic exercises properly, you can increase your muscular endurance through exercises that require you to hold a position (such as planking).

Fat Loss

If you perform calisthenic exercises at a high enough intensity, you can achieve fat loss benefits on par with a high intensity interval training (HIIT) workout.

Try adding a calisthenics workout to your exercise program and experience these benefits for yourself.