The Only Workout Style You'll Ever Need

There are many different exercise routines available to you; isolation training, circuit training, running, yoga, or pilates are examples of these. There are many, many different benefits to partaking in each of these; aesthetics, explosive strength, endurance, or flexibility are just the “tip of the iceberg.” However, each has its drawbacks that may or may not render your routine one-dimensional. There are many people out there isolation training who can’t do a “3rd world squat.” There are many people out there doing circuit training that have lagging hamstring strength. Even yoga enthusiasts may suffer from poor cardiovascular endurance.
 
If there’s one routine that can possibly give you a sense of overall fitness, it’s Calisthenics.
 
Calisthenics is just a complicated word that means, in its simplest form, “body-weight fitness.”
 
Most everyone has a fitness goal in mind, and can realistically reach that fitness goal with Calisthenics. Some of these are,

• Strength 

There are many goals that require huge amounts of strength; powerlifting, Strongman events, or bear wrestling to name a few. However, if you’re trying to get functionally strong, you need to know how to move in space against the resistance of your own body (and gravity). If you can do 50 push-ups, or 20 pull-ups, or 30 ass-to-grass body-weight squats, you’re a relatively strong individual. If you can do this after your 50th birthday, I swear these are great party tricks. You will impress your friends. Add kid-juggling to the mix and you’ll be the life of the party.

• Explosiveness 

So maybe you’re not okay with just doing 50 push-ups, 20 pull-ups, or 30 body-weight squats. Perhaps they’re too easy because you’re so strong. Alas, you can do these faster. And with a higher difficulty setting.
 
If you can push your body up from the floor with enough force for your hands to leave the floor, you’re a pretty strong individual. The same can be said for pull-ups and squatting (jump squats).  I can’t say you won’t be the life of the party at this strange exercise shindig, but I can say you’ll cause a little bit of a ruckus.

• Flexibility 

Along with strength, you will be much stronger in a more vast range of motion (ROM) than your sedentary counterparts. Shockingly enough, there are many individuals who use weight-training to build strength who forget the importance of flexibility. Just ask them to meet their hands behind their backs and you’ll have some laughs at that party you’re entertaining guests at. Unless you have a yoga instructor there, in which case he/she would laugh while putting their foot behind their head.

• Cardiovascular Endurance 

Shockingly enough, your runner friends aren’t the only ones with cardiovascular endurance.
 
With Calisthenics, you will build a tolerance to repetition and maximal effort. You can truly be the master of your body in space. If you can realistically complete a half-hour workout with minimal rest and explosive movements that spike your heart-rate, you’re in pretty great shape.
 
Now, the most important facet of Calisthenics training is the ability to jump right into any exercise routine and excel at it. You want to be a Strongman (Strongwoman?)? You want to be a powerlifter? Maybe show off in yoga classes? Perhaps run a half-marathon? Then train in Calisthenics. Become the master of your body. It will make any goal you set for your body that much easier to attain.
 
If I haven’t convinced you of the power of Calisthenics, check out these videos and try telling me these people aren’t strong. I bet you can’t.
 
King Of The Bar
 
Queen Of The Bar