Have you ever seen someone move with what seems like superhuman dexterity and wondered how one can achieve that? If you’ve seen moves like this:
Or this:
What you’ve witnessed is the wonderful art of calisthenics. Calisthenics, which gets its name from the Greek words kalós (καλός), which means beautiful, and sthenos (σθένος), which means strength, combines the beauty of gymnastics with the benefits of strength training. Beyond just being beautiful, though, Calisthenics is incredibly effective in muscle building, dexterity, and relative strength training. Let’s dig into more of the benefits.
Train Anytime, Anywhere
One of the first draws many people have towards calisthenics is that because it focuses on bodyweight exercise, you can train anywhere, anytime. Many people favor a park, beach, or even their own garage or living room. And you can get started without fancy equipment! However, like with all physical activities, it’s important to start correctly and safely with a good trainer. Yes, we offer calisthenics training!
Improve Flexibility & Dexterity
Listen, we love and believe in weight training. Where it falls short, calisthenics thrives. Calisthenics challenges your relative strength, using your entire body rather than focusing on a specific muscle group. Because it focuses on bodyweight, it enlists the help of your overall strength: from your major muscle groups to your stabilizers. Additionally, it not only grows your muscles, but it trains your body how to move. When you master a pull-up or a muscle-up you’re not just strengthening your back muscles; you’re teaching your body to use them effectively. Calisthenics is a good option for those looking to improve their ability to perform a variety of physical tasks.
Easier on Joints
One of the well-known benefits of Calisthenics is that is puts less pressure on your joints. Your body is designed to work with itself, and Calisthenics is a bodyweight training system! Compared to heavy lifting, which puts many pounds of weight on specific muscle groups, bodyweight training focuses on your body moving with itself. This makes it an ideal option for those with sensitive joints who wish to build strength.
If you find yourself looking for an alternative to weightlifting, or to supplement weightlifting with something which will improve your mobility, Calisthenics might be the path for you! You can improve your health, train your body to work with itself, increase your flexibility and dexterity, and grow stronger. When you’re ready to get started, check out our group classes or schedule a personal consultation!