Calisthenics, also known as body weight exercise, is one of the most versatile, effective and beneficial training methods available to both those who wish to start exercise and to the professional athlete. Body weight exercises are an efficient way to develop usable strength, stamina, flexibility, agility, and coordination.

Your degree of strength and stamina is often measured by your ability to control the movements of your own body. When you exercise the way you naturally move you begin to apply these physical improvements (i.e., true functional strength) to your activities of daily living.

One of the most important benefits that calisthenics can do for you is to help preserve the ‘range-of-motion’ (ROM) of your joints. That means the movements you perform during many body weight exercises actually preserve your ability to perform that motion anytime. Instead of your joints rusting-up, instead of arthritis settling in – for instance – they remain more fluid and pain-free.

You can also increase your strength. Done properly, calisthenics are as effective as weight lifting, due to using your own body weight as resistance.

Don’t underestimate the importance of body weight exercise…they are one of the best tools you have for improved physical conditioning. You will have greater strength and energy. You will feel more poised and become physically stronger and more agile. You will experience greater emotional balance and become more self-confident. You will even begin to have new ideas and perspectives emerging from your improving health and enhanced physical power.

Calisthenics Is the Perfect Place to Start

If you are just starting a physical conditioning program calisthenics will teach you how to control the weight of your own body, building you a solid foundation in which other physical conditioning techniques and strategies can be built upon.

The fact is…you should not attempt weighted resistance exercises until you can effectively and efficiently control the weight of your own body.

Calisthenics: Start, Add or Diversify

There are many variation of calisthenics…giving you the ability to modify them to make them easier or harder (by varying the exercises, stresses and intensities of your workouts). When used effectively and in the right proportion in your physical training program body weight exercise can help you meet the challenges of sport, work and life with greater awareness and energy.