Your Body Is Your Gym

Calisthenics is seriously underrated. Most people either don’t use it properly or train without intention, and that’s why they underestimate it.

The truth is, for the vast majority of people, calisthenics is all you really need to get strong, functional, and look great. And the kicker is, you don't need a gym to do it.

Here are 5 reasons why I love calisthenics — but first, let’s define it, since a lot of people ask:

Calisthenics is simply strength training using your own bodyweight as resistance.

Practicality.

You can train anywhere, any time, with almost no equipment. For people with busy lives, this is huge: the accessibility eliminates many of the obstacles that prevent them from staying consistent with their fitness, or even getting started in the first place.

No pullup bars or ledges? No problem. A pair of gymnastics rings or a TRX is all you need for a full body workout.

Relative strength.

Or as I like to call it, “Ant strength” — strength in proportion to your bodyweight. Calisthenics requires and builds high relative strength, which encourages good body composition. You get strong and lean, which, besides aesthetics, is good for heart health, joint health, hormonal health, and is a key indicator of longevity.

Scalable for All Levels

There’s a reason why I almost exclusively train members with calisthenics: they are endlessly scalable, from the person who’s never exercised before to even the most seasoned gym-goer.

From the very beginning, my members reap all of the benefits associated with calisthenics, such as body control and body awareness. Which brings me to my next point:

Body control and awareness.

As you move into advanced variations and skills such as archer pullups, front and back levers, and planches, to name a few, you develop incredible core strength, body control, and body awareness. You’re not only building a strong body; you’re building a smart one.

This body control and awareness are not only valuable in everyday life, but in any other physical endeavor you choose to pursue. From jiu jitsu to dance to Olympic weightlifting, having great control and awareness of your body accelerates the learning process and decreases the likelihood of injury.

Functional legs.

And finally, let’s talk about the lower body. I’ll admit, you aren’t going to build powerlifting tree trunks with calisthenics. But through high volume squats, single leg variations like the pistol squat or dragon squat, and some jumping and sprinting, you will build strong, mobile, athletic legs that move and look great.

While I do love kettlebells, sandbags, and traditional weightlifting, calisthenics have always been my one true love. And that’s why I train my members primarily with these movements. Because of their accessibility and ability to hit nearly all physical attributes, in my opinion, nothing else really compares.