Exercising with your own body weight is like dancing with gravity. You pull, push, balance and discover that the force lives in places that the gym can’t reach.
Maybe that’s why Calisthenics found such a perfect stage on the internet. A quick scroll on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube already delivers videos of push-ups, bars, boards, acrobatic movements and progressions that seem impossible at first sight.
Using your own body weight to train makes the method accessible and democratic. But this is not the only reason for the success of the practice inside and outside the networks.
Why has calisthenics become the darling of creators and sportsmen?
One of the factors that explain the boom of calisthenics is its history: it is a Millennial practice, with roots in Ancient Greece, and has returned to the spotlight in recent years thanks to the popularization of didactic videos and challenges on networks, especially during the pandemic.
Many people started to practice and realized that they could get results similar to those at the gym without leaving home.
The freedom to train anywhere too Attracts those who seek flexibility. You can assemble a Calisthenics training at home, take the practice to a square, fit some movements in the gym or even use the modality as a complement to other training sessions.
And last but not least: Calisthenics is beautiful to see. The movements have strength, control, balance and that kind of evolution that works very well on video.
Anyone who follows a Creator leaving the first inflection until reaching a well-executed bar understands the progression. This creates a very good narrative for the networks: beginning, trial, error, improvement and achievement.
Calisthenics X CrossFit: What’s the difference?
The two modalities talk to each other, but they are not the same thing. Many people who research benefits of crossfit, for example, ends up finding movements that are also part of the calisthenics exercises, such as bars, push-ups, squats, boards and core exercises.
The difference is that, in calisthenics, the focus is on the domain of the body itself as the main training tool. CrossFit, on the other hand, mixes different stimuli, such as weight lifting and functional movements.
Benefits of Calisthenics training at home
1. More strength and mobility
You know that feeling, after training, that a muscle is hurting that you didn’t even know existed? This is common in calisthenics, because working with the weight of your own body challenges muscles and joints completely. This increases flexibility, strength and range of motion.
2. Democratic access
You can practice in the park, in the gym, indoors, adapting the degree of difficulty to your abilities. This inclusive aspect makes the ideal modality for those looking for a more flexible exercise, attracting people of different ages and physical conditions.
3. More focus and body awareness
Finally, calisthenics helps with something so precious and rare nowadays: the focus. You need to understand movement, control breathing, support the body and respect your limits. And all this requires attention.
Regular practice also releases substances in the brain that increase the sense of well-being and help reduce anxiety and stress, according to World Health Organization.
How to enjoy the trend: follow your favorite creators
If calisthenics aroused your curiosity, you don’t have to start in the dark. Today there are many creators, teachers and athletes sharing progressions, training and tips for different levels.
Look for profiles that show exercise progressions, technique explanations and sequences for different levels.
Many of these creators are physical education teachers who adapt home or gym training, and many of them also travel through the world of crossfit and functional training.
Thus, you learn in your time, respecting your limits and without having to leave the house.
