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Calisthenics
Chances are you’ve never heard the word Calisthenics. Yet it is becoming a prevalent training method, and many people have found a real passion for this sport.
What is Calisthenics?
Callisthenics, also called Swedish gymnastics, is a training method that consists of mixing bodybuilding exercises and gymnastic movements. The particularity of this sports is that it requires very little if any, equipment. Indeed, you will mainly need your body weight to train.
The different exercises make full use of your motor skills because you will have to push, pull or even swing to perform specific movements.
You probably already know several Calisthenics exercises without even knowing it: pull-ups, push-ups, lunges or the muscle-up, better known as the plank among firefighters. There are several variations to target the muscles you want to work effectively for each exercise.
How was Calisthenics Created?
When you enter a gym, the first things you see is many machines waiting for you to do your exercise. It is a real feat of science and technology because they facilitate our training programs. However, have you ever wondered how people back then got along without machines?
The earliest known cases dated to around 400 BC, when Greek soldiers strengthened their bodies through Calisthenics exercises. If in Greece, this country was far from being the only one to apply the principles of this training. Shaolin monks in China, 500 BC, were already practising Calisthenics to strengthen their bodies, allowing them to fend off intruders if all peaceful solutions failed.
Interestingly, the word “Calisthenics” is a derivative of two Greek words. “Kallos” means “beauty” because the Greeks have always been fascinated by the human body, evidenced by their many artistic achievements. And “she’s translated to “strength”, which refers to the mind, strength and determination.
Together, these two words perfectly describe Calisthenics, which is about building your physique while completely controlling your body.
Four Reasons To Practice Calisthenics
There are several reasons why Calisthenics is an ideal training method for many people.
1. Increased Muscle Strength and Endurance
Every time you train, you use your body weight to work for specific muscle groups. These muscle groups will thus become stronger and more enduring to better support the weight of your body in the next workout. The stronger you get, the extra reps you can do on an exercise or a more complicated variation. You can even consider learning static figures to control your body perfectly.
2. It Improves the Biomechanics of the Body
Indeed, many studies have shown that this training method significantly improves motor coordination. Callisthenics, therefore, teaches your body to be better coordinated and even improve your posture over time. In addition, it will allow you to be comfortable in your daily tasks, whether in your everyday life or at work.
3. Better Mental Health
One of the great things around Calisthenics is that it improves your physical condition and your mind. Once you become aware of what your body can achieve, you will have an insatiable motivation to boost your self-confidence. Each training is a battle against yourself to exceed your limits, which will forge your mental of steel.
In addition, a good workout allows the body to release endorphins and effectively combat the effects of stress. As a result, it will reduce symptoms of depression, and it will considerably improve your mood.
4. Accessible to all
And you know the best portion of it all? You won’t need any expensive machines or a gym membership. All you want is your body and a place to train. Therefore, it is a very affordable way to get back in shape without having to break the bank.
If you want to train at home, buying a pull-up bar is more than enough. You can also train outdoors on a fitness trail or, if you’re lucky, in a Street Workout park where you’ll find everything you need.
How to start Calisthenics?
To create your workouts, you will have to give free rein to your imagination and your form of the day. Here is a training circuit that you can do to provide you with a taste of this discipline.
Five pull-ups – 10 push-ups – 20 squats – 20 seconds of sheathing
Perform the following exercises with as little rest as possible. Once you are doing them, please take 3 minutes of rest and repeat it five times.
If you want to learn more about this sport, you can find me on my site Calisthetics.fr, where I share training tips, tutorials for learning static figures and much more.
