Calisthenics benefits and how to get started
By Evgenia Profi
What is Calisthenics?
Calisthenics is an anaerobic training system, which increases bodily strength without using machinery or external weights.
You can do it anywhere, anytime
The weight of your own body is used for resistance or perhaps the body of a teammate. No fancy equipment required to keep in shape.
This fitness system includes exercises, which bring impressive results in muscle growth and strengthen the entire body, always with symmetry and harmony. Resistance training using heavyweights and other equipment can damage the joints and connective tissue like your ligaments and tendons. However, it poses no such risk and develops your body strength in proportion to your natural muscular system.
All movements are authentic and natural
But beyond the strength and beauty of a symmetrically trained body, Calisthenic gymnastics improves and develops skills such as balance, flexibility, endurance, coordination and physical and spiritual control.
It is suitable for all
It does not require prior experience or athletic background. Exercises are scalable and everyone – regardless of their lifestyle and athletic experience – can start with simple and easy exercises and gradually progress to more complex and demanding ones. It is suitable for men and women of all ages, and all body types regardless of the current weight or fitness level. It is even recommended for post-injury recovery.
Calisthenics and Ancient Greece
The word Calisthenics comes from Ancient Greece and is a combination of the two ancient words for beauty and strength, calos and sthenos.
It’s all about combining:
The good and the vigorous – Beauty and strength
According to the philosophers in Ancient Greece, athletics are good for the body, because of cultivating symmetry and harmony, and good for the spirit because of promoting morals and inner balance.
Vigor in the body by cultivating strength – Vigor in the soul by cultivating discipline, and mental power
Beauty and strength both in the body and the mind are two concepts that were intertwined and inseparable for the ancient Greeks. For this reason, the word Calisthenic is the combination of the two concepts.
Why do people like Calisthenics?
Here are some main reasons:
- There is a vast variety of exercises, and you will never get bored and never stop discovering something new. The training stops only where your imagination stops.
- You will see fast results. The metabolism increases dramatically, and your posture is corrected and improved.
- In a short time, you will be able to do things with your body that you never imagined. You will feel so much better about yourself.
- It improves the connection between body and mind. The training develops those skills that require the brain to work as hard as the body. It requires speed, strength, agility, and coordination.
The strength you will gain is not about muscle growth but about functional strength and robustness that will improve your everyday life.
It transforms the mind through the physical control of the body and the achievement of goals. It requires discipline, concentration, and perseverance which in turn will reward you with a feeling of fulfillment and well-being.
Would you like to try something new in your Caribbean vaccation?
Calisthenics uses your own body weight and does not require free weights or any other equipment. Rather, you get to use the space and objects around you in order to exploit your own weight to exercise.
How about trying out Calisthenics at the beach in the Caribbean?
In Cabarete, a beautiful town in the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean there is this eco-friendly down-to-earth hotel that offers you the opportunity to connect with the breathtaking surroundings and yourself. Calisthenics is part of the compo offered that the Fitness Camps of eXtreme Fitness Cabarete.
Each one of the available camps offers you a chance to energize your body and your spirit. The classes will help you keep your body in shape while you experience something unique.
References
Shape.com, What Is Calisthenics (And Should You Be Doing It)? https://www.shape.com/fitness/trends/what-is-calisthenics-workout-benefits
School of Calisthenics, What is calisthenics?, https://schoolofcalisthenics.com/learn-calisthenics/what-is-calisthenics/
Calisthenics Worldwide, What is calisthenics?, https://calisthenicsworldwide.com/what-is-calisthenics/
Questions? We got you!
What are the origins of the term Calisthenics?
The term Calisthenics originates from Ancient Greece, derived from the combination of two ancient Greek words “calos” and “sthenos,” which mean beauty and strength, respectively. This reflects the ancient Greek philosophy that athletics should cultivate both physical beauty and strength, along with moral and spiritual well-being.
Can Calisthenics benefit individuals with no athletic background?
Yes, Calisthenics is designed to be accessible and scalable for individuals of all fitness levels, including those with no athletic background. It offers a range of exercises that can be adapted to suit beginners, allowing them to start with simple movements and gradually progress to more complex and demanding exercises.
How does Calisthenics promote a connection between the body and mind?
Calisthenics enhances the mind-body connection by developing skills that require both mental and physical coordination, such as balance, flexibility, endurance, and agility. The practice demands concentration, discipline, and perseverance, which not only strengthens the body but also promotes mental resilience and a sense of personal achievement.
Why is Calisthenics considered a safe form of exercise?
Calisthenics is considered safe because it primarily uses the weight of one’s own body for resistance, minimizing the risk of injury associated with heavyweights and mechanical gym equipment. This approach helps in developing strength and muscle proportionately and naturally, reducing the likelihood of joint and connective tissue damage.
