Bodyweight Training

Having trained exclusively with Bodyweight Training for the last three years, I have learnt a lot about them and understood them more deeply. Bodyweight Training can be used for different training goals whether fat loss, stamina, endurance, strength, muscle building. Bodyweight basic exercises are easy to learn.  There are also more challenging moves as you progress and these become difficult as they become more flamboyant and require more skill and discipline. These are the important points I have found about bodyweight training.

1) The best go- to exercise regime: These can be done anywhere anytime. You don't need a gym, no extra equipment -  just you and your body. Learn the basics - which are most times based on basic human movements - and you are good to go.

The best known bodyweight exercise: The Pushup

2) Shows the truth to yourself - Bodyweight exercises especially during progressions is ruthless in revealing the truth about yourself in case of physical strength and conditions. It will not lie to you. When I first started I could deal with some very heavy weights. However, I realised I couldnt do 15 proper pushups!!

3) Variety: There are different varieties of bodyweight exercises eg: calisthenics, pilates, bodyweight bodybuilding, shadowboxing and martial art styles, gymnastics, isometrics, etc....There are enough disciplines in bodyweight training to keep it fresh.

4) Identifies weak points and imbalances: This is a vital point as it can help point out serious injuries before they happen. We can get these corrected. I have found slight areas of tightness and discomfort near my spine to which I was able to correct immediately before something more serious happened.

5) Mental strength and focus; As I keep working on bodyweight exercises I find that I have to be more internally focused using greater mind-muscle connection and developing a mental strength.

6)Builds  Persistance: Sometimes in progressing in bodyweight exercises the learning curve gets quite steep. It calls for mastery and dedication to achieve the movement.  When I was trying to learn the back bridge it took me two years to get it. Sometimes if you want to learn a particular exercise it will require you to never give up, stay consistent and focused.

The Bridge

7) Easy on the joints and Injury recovery:- Unlike heavy weights, bodyweight training hardly stresses out joints and prevents joint injury. On the contrary, it keeps joints healthy and might even help recovery from certain old injuries and improve joint mobility.

8) Core strength: Bodyweight training helps strengthen the core in ways usual weight training cannot. As you stay with it, it builds an unusual strength of a different kind depending on the mode of bodyweight training.

9) Whole body training: Bodyweight training helps the entire body work as a unit. As compared to training with free weights, there are hardly any isolation dominant exercises.

10) Simplicity: Bodyweight, though sometimes not easy as you progress, has a beautiful simplicity to it. 

11) Creativity: We can get creative with bodyweight movements as we progress. in addition to that the cognitive ability even in adults starts to develop again.

The real prize in especially in bodyweight training is not when you are able to hit a really tough flamboyant cool looking move eg: a handstand. It is what you learn in the journey getting there.