40% of all Americans said the same thing: "I don't have time"
They are probably right. It takes more than 3 hours total to travel and have a good workout at the local gym. What’s worse, you actually waste time when your rest time in between sets increases while you are waiting for 5 other people who are sharing the equipment.
Before I get chest deep into this potentially controversial topic, I want to set a disclaimer. This is not to discourage any one who wants to work out at your local gym.
I get it, it WORKS.
I started from the gym as well and I saw great results. But then I discovered Calisthenics, and it became my main workout. I fell in love with it and then came to my own conclusion:
If you are simply looking to get fit, going to the gym is OVERRATED.
Especially if you are a busy working adult who BARELY has any room to relax and breathe. “Everyone has 24 hours, you just have to make time to go to the gym.” is probably the most frustrating phrase you have heard as a busy adult. When I was a University student, spending 3 hours for the gym made me feel accomplished, and that I had spent my day productively. Now as a full time 8-6 corporate slave, with a decent social life and various commitments, it is EXHAUSTHING. That’s why I love Calisthenics.
I could simply workout in my home for 1 hour and achieve the same results as going to the gym. 1 hour isn’t a lot. A lot of people could confidently say that they would do it at least 3 times a week. But how many could say the same if they had to spend 3 times longer for the gym? The number would probably plummet 3 times as well.
Which brings me to my next point…
Consistency ALWAYS beats Intensity
3 hours, ONCE a week
VERSUS
1 hour, THRICE a week
IS NOT THE SAME.
If the mental barrier to workout is so high that you will burnout and your workouts become intermittent bouts of high intensity sessions with a long downtime in between, you will not see results. Lower the barrier. Make each workout seem manageable. Then you can increase the frequency of your workouts to at least 3 times a week. Then it is easier for you to be consistent. Then you will see RESULTS. Then you will continue this upward spiral towards your goals.
This is why Calisthenics is so addictive. You don’t have to invest a lot of time but yet you still see results. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Why Calisthenics Works
Apart from the travel time wasted to go to the gym, why are Calisthenics workouts so effective?
Firstly, most Calisthenics exercises almost always involves using more than one isolated muscle group, especially your core muscles. When you are doing a Pull Up, you work your Back, Biceps, Forearms, Core. Thus, you only need to complete a few exercises to get a good workout in. Furthermore, you burn way more calories as you execute these compound movements involving multiple muscle groups.
Secondly, being able to perform Calisthenics skills must mean that you have a certain level of relative strength. In other words, you become much stronger for your weight and you will put on more muscle mass. When you attempt a skill in Calisthenics but lack the strength to do so, you will indubitably exert close to 100% of your strength. This crazy effort that you put tells your body that it needs to become stronger. So it does… In the gym however, Beginners tend to convince themselves that increasing the load by 2.5 kgs is their limit but actually have much strength left in reserve. Hence they do not gain as much strength or make as much progress as they possibly could.
Why some still prefer the Gym
Calisthenics isn’t without its limitations.
Firstly, if Calisthenics isn’t done correctly, it is easy to injure yourself. Because Calisthenics athletes are often in gravity-compromising positions, their joints and ligaments take a lot of strain. Proper warming, conditioning and form work has to be the rock solid foundation of every Calisthenics athlete. If you are worried about potential injuries, get a good coach that has years of experience under their belt or join a class to learn the fundamentals first. You also have access to free content on YouTube and the internet. Social media influencers are also a good place to learn but take their content with a pinch of salt, yes mine as well. You should always do your own research for what worked for others, might not 100% be the same for you as well.
Secondly, Calisthenics is often lonely. Few of your social circle will be interested in Calisthenics as their main form of workout. Most will still hit the gym and make new friends and acquire "GymBros" there. However, if you do manage to find friends who trains Calisthenics with you, never let them go. Maybe, you could be the one who will start to influence others to join you and form your own community.
Calisthenics has been around for a long time and has never gotten the recognition it deserves. It is now growing faster than ever and I believe more people will start to appreciate the beauty, and pure practicality of Calisthenics. This blog has been about the how time efficient this form of workout can be. Don’t get me started on the million other benefits that it brings. But for you my dear busy reader, this is a ray of hope to start and continue on your fitness journey and not to give up because you simply do not have the time.