No matter where you train, being versatile and adaptable is an important skill. Many people use no equipment or running out of ideas as an excuse for a break from training. A break is fine if it’s planned or really needed, but you are equipped with a usable and versatile piece of equipment everywhere you go…
Whether your aim is to mix things up, you’re just starting out and are a little intimidated by free weights and bars, or you simply would rather not pay to use a gym, there are a number of things to keep in mind when training with your bodyweight as the only resistance.
1. Gymnasts do not look the way they do because they train using their bodyweight. They look the way they do because they train using their bodyweight A LOT. The idea that doing gymnastic moves will get you a gymnasts body is a little far fetched. If you do the amount of training they do (of any kind of training really), you’ll likely have a fantastic body. You’ll also have no time for a job, no drinking, no junk food, a very different life indeed.
2. Gravity is your friend and your enemy. If the only thing you can move around is your body then the only force you really have to worry about is gravity. Although this is true when weight training, it becomes more relevant in terms of creating overload with your body. A large criticism of using only body weight is that ‘you can only increase reps or duration not load’. If you want to make things harder with bodyweight you have to think physics. Things get harder when you use gravity to change the line of force, lever arms, mechanical advantages. Check out our video on Push Up Progression for an example.
3. Quality over quantity, as always. It’s more tempting to push through a few dodgy reps if you aren’t carrying as much weight, or to force your way shivering and trembling through an extra 10 seconds of planks if you feel the risks are lower. It would benefit you far more for each and every rep to be solid and good form. Poor movement in training leads to poor movement in life/sport. Every exercise has a purpose and the further you stray from correct technique, the less emphasis you’re putting on that purpose.
4. Get coaching – just because it’s your body, an expert can have a valued input and correct things you didn’t know were wrong.
5. Variety is the spice of life. It also stops you looking like a hunched Neanderthal. If the only things you know how to do are Press ups and Ab-crunches you need Key 4 more than ever!
Our passionate, knowledgeable and friendly team will use innovative and sometimes surprising techniques to get you there faster. Combining the best in personal training and rehab in one clinic, our team of ex-athletes and strength & conditioning trainers give you advice and use equipment that’s the preserve of elite athletes.