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<h3 class="widget-title">Bodyweight training or weight training?</h3>
<p>With all the hype about bodyweight exercises, I thought it was important to share my view about it. I have to admit, I love bodyweight training; squat, lunge, plank, push up, row, chin up, even burpee. But I also love my kettlebell and dumbbells.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Are bodyweight exercises (calisthenics) the right way to exercise &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</strong><strong>or better that weight training?</strong></p>
<p>With the experience I have now, I know that bodyweight exercises might not be what you need. For example if you are a beginner, suffer injury, are aging or trying to build strength, I think weight training is a great place to start. Need to find the right place for you to start exercising. There are exercises that require less balance, coordination, stability, and proprioception. At the other end of the spectrum, there are exercises that require lots of joint &amp; core stability, alignment, coordination and proprioception. Be sure you can find a professional that is able to access where you should start in your exercises regimen.</p>
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<p><strong>Progression of an exercise:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Level 1: Isolate and Educate.</li>
</ul>
<p>At this level, the person will contract isolated muscle. Pre determine movement like a chest press on a machine in a gym. At this level, you often have a bench or seat to help you spine be in a proper alignment. These type of exercises are generally safer.</p>
<ul>
<li>Level 2: add resistance</li>
</ul>
<p>Like free weight, elastic bands, for example chest press with dumbbell.</p>
<ul>
<li>Level 3: add functional training positions</li>
</ul>
<p>Move away from bench and seat; try to bring more awareness to spinal alignment.</p>
<ul>
<li>Level 4: increase the resistance especially on core stabilizer muscles. Bodyweight exercise like push up, or chest press using tube while standing on one leg.</li>
<li>Level 5: add balance challenge, speed and rotational movement.</li>
</ul>
<p>At this level the risk of injury is higher. Applying plyometric movement, for example, a push up claps or push up using a stability ball.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Why do I love bodyweight exercises?</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Its easy to find a variation of an exercises that will suit everybody need. For example, you could do an elevated push up, on your knee or decline, depending on the intensity you want to have.</li>
<li>Its convenient, you can do it anywhere, no excuse about not having the right piece of equipment or having the time to go to the gym or not having enough money to buy equipment. All you need is right there already in you and with you.</li>
</ul>
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