The following paragraphs are taken from the Gymless Training System eBook and detail 7 great reasons why you should incorporate bodyweight calisthenics into your training program.
1. Kind on your Joints
Bodyweight
Calisthenics teach your body to move through ranges of motion it was
designed to do. The resulting movements are far kinder on your joints
and connective tissues than fixed resistance machines. You also do not
have to worry about the compressive forces of lifting heavy weights
which can be particularly disastrous on your shoulders, elbows, knees
and spine when performed poorly.
2. Potential for Great Strength Gains
Do
not be led astray by the doubters who claim impressive strength cannot
be achieved through progressive bodyweight calisthenics alone. Gymnasts
are amongst the most impressive athletes there are. They have strength,
power and mobility that most others can only dream of. How do gymnasts
train? Primarily with bodyweight exercises! Granted
we are not all striving to become Olympic gymnasts but they do serve as
fine example of what can be achieved using bodyweight exercise and
plenty of determination/persistence.
3. Costs Nothing
Gym
memberships are expensive. Buying a barbell set is expensive, buying a
range of dumbbells even more so. Coming in at a total of £0.00,
bodyweight calisthenics are undoubtedly the most cost effective method
of strength training there is.
4. Train Anywhere, Anytime
With
progressive calisthenics you really do have complete freedom over where
you train. Since I have started using bodyweight calisthenics almost
exclusively for my strength training I rarely ever miss a workout. I
have trained in my house, in the park, on the beach, in a hotel. No
longer will you miss out on training sessions because you cannot be
bothered to get to the gym or because there is a queue for the equipment
you need.
5. Simplicity
I
like things to be simple. This includes my strength training. The
simpler a system, the easier it is to follow and less likely it is to go
wrong. Bodyweight Calisthenics are as simple as it gets, master a
movement, move onto a harder one.
6. Build Lean Muscle
Like
any form of resistance training, bodyweight calisthenics are a superb
method of building lean muscle. Lean muscle will help you to shift
unwanted body fat, rev up your metabolism, improve the aesthetics of
your body and enhance your strength. The muscle you gain will also be
firm and functional, no dysfunctional bulk here!
7. Plenty of Variety
There
are more than enough variations of each exercise to keep you occupied
for a long period of time. Don’t worry about going stale with this form
of strength training.
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