Being able to stay consistent and engaged in a workout routine. Is one of the first steps in reaching your personal health goals. Not having to be tied down to certain locations or equipment is one way to ensure you get the workout you want when you want it.
One of the things that makes calisthenics workouts so appealing is the freedom you can have when choosing where to exercise. It is the perfect choice for a home workout, simply because there is no need for exercise equipment and just about anyone can do it.
Calisthenics is one of the few ways you can get a high level strength training workout, on your time and place.
That means on vacation, out of town, or you’re just not close by your gym or home gym. Being able to complete a full body workout with calisthenics only requires your time and a little bit of space.
Is It Possible To Do Calisthenics At Home
Whether at home, a local park or at a gym. Calisthenics is available whenever you need it. With bodyweight exercises, you wouldn’t need any type of special equipment. A pull up bar or yoga mat are the only extras you would want when starting out. Even then, they are not totally necessary.
Calisthenics is bodyweight only exercise that helps build strength and stamina. Because you are only using your body, you’re free to exercise wherever you see fit.
Also, you can also get creative when building on your exercise routine. If you’re not looking to invest in some equipment, such as parallettes or chin up bar. Look around your home and use tables or chairs for leverage, if necessary.
Make sure to only use the furniture if it is stable and can manage the intensity level of your workout. Safety first.
Is Calisthenics Better Than The Gym
Deciding between going to a gym or practicing calisthenics at home really depends on what your fitness goals are. There are pros and cons when deciding between the two, and neither would ever come out on top as the better option simply because of preference.
We can name a few things that are involved in each that could help help you make a decision as to which one is a better fit for your lifestyle.
Gym Workouts
Having a local gym membership might be a good investment if you prefer to work specific muscle groups. For example, if you only wanted to work on biceps and chests, being at a gym is great because they have plenty of equipment that are designed to do just that.
This may be useful if you are looking to tone or maintain your current physique or coming back from some injury where you need to work out a specific area of your body.
Being at a gym also has other benefits that you simply won’t get anywhere else. Most gyms have services to sell such as classes or a personal trainer. Which are very handy if you’re a beginner.
Being able to speak with a professional directly regarding your goals, can really help accelerate your journey to the finish line. Often they will plan with you the types of workouts you will need as well as the diet you should be on in order for your workout to be successful.
Joining classes is also a bonus when being part of a gym. Having the option of being a part of different classes is not only beneficial for health reason, but also having a variety of workouts keep things fresh and exciting.
Which leads me to another point, many people push themselves harder when they’re in a gym environment. Having like minded people around you, working hard for their goals is helpful and inspiration to many.
Calisthenics Workouts
Choosing calisthenics workouts over a gym will give you more layers to your workout. Just to clarify, one isn’t better than the other. It’s all about preference.
Even when focusing on certain areas of your body, with a specific exercise. Because you are using your bodyweight as a form of resistance, inadvertently you will be – on some level – working out another area of your body. Resulting in a more well rounded full body workout.
For example, something as simple as pushups. You’re focusing on building arm strength and the pushing motion which is a foundation for many calisthenics workouts.
And while you’re doing the push ups, your body is keeping the core and lower body working – keeping it stabilized and in good form. It’s not just an exercise for arm strength. And when you throw a routine together of different exercises, because your body as a whole is working so much, it often works as a good cardio session as well.
And this goes for almost all other form of bodyweight exercises. Keeping the body working together, therefore building the muscles together in relation.
Calisthenic workouts are also very accommodating to where ever you find yourself wanting to workout. Making this a great exercise to do in the comfort of your own home.
For many calisthenics workouts ranging from basic to advanced. You would require very little space, and would even be beneficial to use the stable furniture in your home. Having a couch or coffee table helps give incline or leverage to make workouts harder…or easier if you’re a beginner.
Can You Do Calisthenics Without Equipment
Getting started with calisthenics, especially if you’re a beginner, would not require any equipment at all. Calisthenics is all bodyweight oriented. Meaning, any type of workout you do where you are not using any weights – such as barbells or bench presses – is considered calisthenics.
In the beginning, it’s more important to master the basic techniques and build a perfect form in the routine before anything else.
Your goal at the start would be to not only do 10 push ups, for example. But 10 perfect push ups. And from there it would mean more reps of the perfect push up, from 10 to 20 to 30 and so on. This goes for the other styles of workouts, like sit ups, squats you name it.
While developing the right technique, you are engaging the proper muscles for that exercise and more advanced exercises down the road.
Push ups are the basic foundation for the advanced exercises that come later, such hand stand or parallette exercises. Similarly, pull ups are the basics for all pulling motion exercises.
Building your foundation in calisthenics only requires your body and dedication.
Conclusion
Calisthenics training is a great way to get a workout in at home. It’s inexpensive, easy to start and because it’s all bodyweight routines – it’s a great cardio workout as well.
Choosing to do calisthenics as your workout routine, does require you to master the basics first. For your own safety and to ensure success further down the road, be sure you are capable of many reps in perfect form. Remember, it is all about progress.
