| When it's time to improve fitness, burn off ugly fat and | | | | moves. |
| build muscle, most men and women think of going to | | | | One of the biggest reasons I don't like gym machines |
| the gym and using gym machines. They completely | | | | is because of the Principle Of Specificity. Basically, |
| skip over the power of basic calisthenics to build the | | | | your body makes adaptations due to the specific |
| strong, lean, muscular body they seek. This is a big | | | | stresses placed upon it. This means your body |
| mistake, and this article will show you why. | | | | becomes better at performing gym machine |
| What Do I Mean By Basic Calisthenics? | | | | exercises. |
| When I say basic calisthenics I'm talking about the | | | | But didn't you join the gym to improve your |
| bodyweight exercises you probably learned as a kid in | | | | performance, health and appearance OUTSIDE the |
| gym class. Or, if you've ever seen a military movie, it is | | | | gym? |
| the calisthenics exercises the soldiers did in boot camp. | | | | Why Basic Calisthenics Are Better Than Gym |
| Right off the top of my head, some of the most well | | | | Machines |
| known are jumping jacks, push ups, bodyweight | | | | There are obvious reasons I prefer bodyweight |
| squats, squat thrusts and crunches... but there are | | | | calisthenics over gym workouts. You can do them |
| hundreds of others and variations. These movements | | | | anywhere, anytime. You don't need a expensive gym |
| use only the weight of your own body as resistance, | | | | membership or costly equipment. And they work! |
| and train the body to move better in the way your | | | | But the biggest reason I like bodyweight workouts |
| body naturally moves. Bodyweight calisthenics are a | | | | better is they train the body to perform better in ways |
| great way to strengthen the entire body, improve | | | | that are applicable to your work, sport and life |
| heart and lung power and burn off fat. | | | | activities. Unless you get strapped into machines in |
| Why I Don't Like Gym Machines | | | | your real life, bodyweight calisthenics produce better |
| When you join a gym, they usually don't spend too | | | | results! |
| much time on basic calisthenics. (After all, why teach | | | | The next time you look in the mirror and decide it's |
| you to do something effective at building the body you | | | | time to get into shape, burn fat or build a more athletic |
| want without needing a gym). They strap you into | | | | looking body, don't immediately grab your credit card |
| shiny gym machines with seat belts and have you do | | | | and head off to the local gym. You already have the |
| an wide variety of movements. Unfortunately, these | | | | best gym in the world... your own body. All you have to |
| movements are often foreign to the way your body | | | | do is learn to use it! |