The Importance and Benefits of Bodyweight Training

Every activity we do, sport related or not, centers around using and controlling our own bodyweight in order to perform specific tasks. This may also involve the use of an implement and sometimes it may not. The same is true when it comes to strength and conditioning. You will see people training in all kinds of ways using weights, machines, stability balls, medicine balls, pulleys, etc. How often do you see someone training by strictly using bodyweight resistance? With the exception of push ups, pull ups, and some kind of crunch you don’t see it too often.

Many people have the perception that if they aren’t holding a weight, using a stability ball, medicine ball, a machine or using some type of implement when training that they aren’t doing a productive workout. Ironically, almost all the other standard strength training exercises do utilize bodyweight albeit with the use of a barbell, dumbbell, or any one of the modalities mentioned above. Those are examples of loading the body with external resistance, hence the term external loading. Loading the body internally, internal loading, is the true essence of bodyweight training and should precede external loading. In other words we MUST be able to handle our own bodyweight before adding any resistance.

Obviously the most important question regarding the use of bodyweight training prior to adding any external resistance is, Why and for how long should it be done? The answer to this question ultimately comes down to the ability of the individual to be able to control their own body utilizing basic skill movements.

Bodyweight training trains the body to be more stable, especially at the joints. Since bodyweight training trains major muscle groups in an integrated fashion it allows you to train multiple joints at once, which is how the body really operates in our environment. Bodyweight training allows you to train the 3 key areas in need of stability and they include the deep abdominals, the hip joint (most importantly the hip rotators), and the scapula (shoulder blade) stabilizers.

If a person can’t control their own bodyweight how can we expect them to control their own bodyweight with a weight in their hand or on their back? The duration of how long to train with bodyweight will vary from person to person. Some people can control their own weight from day one utilizing the basic skill movements and thus can go on to training with different forms of external resistance. The other extreme is that of an individual who can’t even control themselves performing these same basic movements.

The ultimate goal is to be able to transfer the strength and power from training to your environment where it can be used. Whether you are a football player wanting to use the strength and size that you’ve developed by weight training to out muscle your opponent or you are a recreational athlete looking to improve your performance without become injured, exercises utilizing your bodyweight will build the foundation upon which these goals can be accomplished. In order to achieve this one must be able to control their own bodyweight so eventually added resistance can be used.

To see bodyweight exercise examples and learn more about bodyweight training and why it is important visit http://www.achievingbodiesfitness.com Chaney Weiner is a performance enhancement specialist and motivational coach. He has created a unique system of training that incorporates fitness training along with reprogramming the mind for success that helps both men and women change their bodies to look, feel, and perform better faster than ever before. Visit http://www.achievingbodiesfitness.com to receive your free copy of “The 24 Best Motivational Fat Loss Tips”