How To Get Started With Calisthenics..
This is a question I get asked a lot and even though the answer is always a bit different, the foundation is the same. Really, starting anything is about choice. It’s about saying to yourself that you’re going to start something and committing to it.
Calisthenics is like anything in this world; it’s a process that has a sequence and that takes time, effort and lots of patience. Its easy to see things on Instagram or Youtube and think that getting there takes a few hours, some attempts or a bit of work.
Well, it doesn’t!! For some people, skillsets that are part of the calisthenics movement are easier to develop but often more than not, they can lead to injuries and disappointment if the expectations are not set properly or the training is not adequate.
My suggestion for a lot of people is to be self aware of their skills and their strength and work with that. Developing the foundation of calisthenics first through strength and mastering the basics of bodyweight training like pull ups, push ups, dips and squats will have a huge impact in your calisthenics journey and performance.
Don’t get me wrong, having aspirations of doing muscle ups and planches are great but if your pull ups suck and your push ups are shit, getting to these more advanced moves is going to be really hard. For example, there are people out there doing muscle ups but they’re chicken winging it and I can assure you that their foundation exercises like pull ups and straight bar dips are not well developed.
Getting started requires commitment, patience and hard work and taking shortcuts will often hurt you in the long term rather than help you. Understanding your own fitness level, your dedication to training and your discipline will be key in making sure that you can build strong foundations to build upon. That’s how your start calisthenics.
If you’d like to get a deeper understanding of the basic exercises, ways of progressing and building a strong base in your calisthenics journey, check out my Skillshare class Introduction to Calisthenics & Bodyweight Training for FREE!
