Whether you are at home or on-the-go traveling implementing bodyweight training has so many benefits. You can increase fat loss, improve cardiovascular health, increase mobility and save time. Here is a breakdown of the many benefits of bodyweight training.
Increase Mobility
Bodyweight training helps to increase your overall mobility. Without adding weight your body has less restriction which means more availability for deeper more fluid movements. Think of yoga or gymnasts who use mostly bodyweight training modalities. These yogi’s and athletes are typically lean and strong. Bodyweight training strengthens, tones and increases overall body mobility.
Workout Anywhere
With a simple formula and few fundamental exercises you can take your bodyweight training anywhere! Whether this is at your home or when you are away traveling there is always a workout you can do with merely your body – no equipment necessary!
Time Efficient
Having the ability to train anywhere saves you time traveling to the gym. These workouts are typically dynamic movements so you can get a conditioning and strength building routine all in one. This saves so much just in the time spent traveling but the workouts can also be HIIT (High Intensity Hit Intervals) which are shorter workouts broken up into quick bursts of energy.
HIIT saves time and burns more fat than longer cardio routine due to the “after burn” effect. Another timely bonus is that there is no warmup on the treadmill or elliptical. You can use your body for the warmup with jumping jacks, walking lunges, mountain climbers, etc. Making bodyweight exercises extremely convenient and time efficient.
Increase Lean Muscle Tone
Traditional bodybuilding workout routines focus on heavy weight, low reps with breaks between each set. This induces muscle hypertrophy or increase in overall muscle size. On the other hand, bodyweight training encourages leanness.
Build Strength
Incorporating bodyweight exercises triggers different fast twitch muscle fibers that create a long lean look. As compared to low rep heavy lifting that works larger slow twitch muscle fibers.
So, who’s stronger?
It’s more of an image since bodybuilding is judged mainly on hypertrophy and overall muscle gains.
Think of of a one arm pushup and pull-ups for a bodybuilder carrying more weigh these workouts become more difficult. As for a boxer maintaining a lean physique, gymnast or dancer these athletes induce strength by incorporating HIIT calisthenics training.
Note, of course strength can be built with both training regimens yet it’s the look that differs with each modality. Bodyweight training creates explosive movements with the body that create lean strong muscle tone.
Safety
Increasing overall mobility keeps your body limber and limits chance of injury. Stacking on too much heavy weights for a back squat or deadlift is typically where injuries happen. Bodyweight exercises still require proper form but allow for more depth in each movement.
