Calisthenics

It's not a word we use that often these days as trainers, but in planning and reviewing a workout plan for my new client, calisthenics came up a few times in my research.

I am working with a former soldier. He's 27 and he's presently 275 and is looking to get back to his optimum weight which he believes is 220, which is what he weighed when he left basic training back in his early 20s.

In looking at how I have been working him out in the local park, I noted that much of what I am doing falls under the term calisthenics. We tend to call it "fatburn" or "core strengthening", but in reality, it's under the Greco-Roman root word, Calisthenics.

What is Calisthenics?

Perhaps a good definition comes from Wickipedia: Calisthenics are a form of dynamic exercise of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using minimal equipment or apparatus. This clearly is useful to me as I travel around as an in-home personal trainer!

Calisthenic exercises are are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using only one's body weight for resistance. They are usually conducted in concert with stretching or particular flexibility stretches. Calisthenics when performed vigorously and with variety can benefit both muscular and, in addition to improving balance, agility and coordination. it is also a very effective way of toning the hips, thighs and waist, or i.e. middle and core weight loss and strengthening.

In working with my client and almost no equipment, I have been focussing on what military fitness programmes use: pushups, situps and crunches, squats, dips, and other such bodyweight exercises that can easily be performed without equipment. What I find really challenging is keeping his form throughout all these excellent exercises.

Other exercises are pull ups, chin ups, calf raises, and jumping jacks to name just a few... sound like a military fitness programme? Sure does to me!