Calisthenics vs Weight Training, which is the better of the two?

And if you are looking for ways to improve your strength and fitness in an efficient and effective way this must be the very question on top of your mind.

The top results will probably direct you to the nearest gym if you Google this question. But what if you want to avoid spending time in the gym lifting weights or can’t afford an expensive coaching program?

Then the answer you’re looking for is Calisthenics.

If you’ve heard of the term Calisthenics and know everything about it or are hearing about it for the first time today, this blog is for you. 

In this blog, we are going into detail about Calisthenics, comparing it to weight training, and offering you the five REAL reasons why Calisthenics is the superior option to any other type of exercise. And we will also explore the connection between swimming and Calisthenics.

So without further delay, let’s dive into our topic!

What Exactly is Calisthenics?

Have you noticed how hard it is to do a push-up? This is because you use only your arms to lift your body weight. But those who can do it can easily see their excellent strength and high fitness level. The push-up is one of the exercises that come under the umbrella of Calisthenics.

Calisthenics is nothing more than an exercise, but it’s an extremely special kind of exercise. In Calisthenics, you use your body weight to increase your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, and planks — all Calisthenics exercises. 

The best part about Calisthenics is that you can perform these exercises anywhere, in your lounge, bedroom, park, or even in a small space at any time of the day. That’s why Calisthenics is a convenient and cost-effective way to exercise.

Calisthenics vs Weight Training:

Now to this day, we use weights to increase strength and muscle mass. This traditional way is popular and has proven beneficial in most cases. But it has its pros and cons. Unfortunately, the major cons are so huge that they actually make lifting weights unfit in many cases. These cons are costly equipment, time-consuming exercises, and lifting weights may also increase the risk of injury.

Calisthenics, in contrast, is certainly a more efficient and effective way to build strength and endurance. Because Calisthenics does not require expensive equipment or putting oneself in danger. The risk of injury is much lower. Plus you don’t need a larger space to store your dumbbells or other heavy equipment.

5 Advantages of Calisthenics vs Weight Training:

Here are the five reasons why people prefer Calisthenics over weight lifting exercises.

1. Calisthenics movements mimic everyday movements:

Calisthenics exercises are part of your workday routine. Most exercises are the same as your regular movements. That’s why Calisthenics helps build functional strength. It also translates to better performance in your daily activities. 

In contrast, Weight training sometimes causes muscle imbalances and soreness, interfering with daily activities.

2. Calisthenics movements Help in Injury Prevention:

As Calisthenics involves a wide variety of everyday movements, these exercises promote flexibility, mobility, and stability. The increased flexibility can aid in injury prevention and overall performance.
 

3. Higher Calorie Burn

Calisthenics movements increase your metabolism. This advantage is beneficial to all those who are trying to lose weight quickly!

Calisthenics engages multiple muscle groups, which leads to a higher activity rate. Thus increasing the blood flow and quick fat burning. So Calisthenics requires a more significant amount of energy than weight training.

4. Improves Cardiovascular Health

Calisthenics is a type of stamina-building training that improves cardiovascular health and increases strength and resilience. Due to the higher activity, the circulation gets better, and the muscles work at their best capacity.

Weight training focuses primarily on only increasing strength and muscle mass, which can prove dangerous and may cause a few health problems.

5. Cost-Effective:

This is a no-brainer! Calisthenics requires no equipment or space to store equipment, making it highly cost-effective.

Weight training empties your pockets while buying necessities like costly equipment, gym memberships, and personal trainers.

Calisthenics and Swimming

As people become more fond of Calisthenics, other activities are added to improve its benefits. So if you’re a swimmer, we have good news!

Swimming does wonders when combined with Calisthenics because it provides a low-impact cardiovascular workout to help improve your stamina and overall fitness. 

Swimming is a great full-body sport and exercise that engages the entire body. Well, you don’t see a fat swimmer as it uses the whole body to work and lose extra calories. Swimming also helps build functional strength and flexibility, which is the basic definition of Calisthenics. 

Many studies have been conducted on combining Calisthenics and swimming and their benefits. 

A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine found that combining Calisthenics with swimming improved overall strength and flexibility in swimmers.

So if you perform Calisthenics movement with swimming daily, be ready to be on top of your fitness goals.

Conclusion

Calisthenics is the new and better option when it comes to your fitness goals. It’s not only cost-effective and efficient but also an effective way to improve strength, endurance, and flexibility. 

Compared to weight training, it’s up the leagues with many advantages, like functional strength, enhanced flexibility, higher calorie burn, increased endurance, and cost-effectiveness.