bodyweight conditioning

I believe that bodyweight conditioning exercises, in all of their various forms, are the best way to achieve superior health and fitness. The reason I believe that, besides my own experience, is that these types of exercises most closely mimic our evolutionary history and therefore work our bodies more fully. Before I go on about this, let me ask you a question.

Have you ever wondered why animals are so much stronger than human beings?

I mean, a chimpanzee may way only weight between 75 and 155lbs. However, this same chimp can deadlift over a half a ton WITH ONE ARM! A Gorilla never touches a weight in its lift, yet it is anywhere between 5 and 20 times as strong as a man. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. There isn't an animal in nature you can think off that isn't a million times healthier than your average human being. In fact, I would even go as far to say that human beings are the sickliest creatures in the animal kingdom. Why is this? It is my contention that by instinct animals are constantly performing bodyweight conditioning exercises. They run, climb, wrestle, hunt, etc. This is what gives them such superior strength and agility. Evolution ensures this.

Now, think about evolution for a minute. Through "Survival of the Fittest", natural selection ensures that the strongest and best adapted species live on and procreate, whereas the weakest do not. Strong Tigers live, weak ones do not. Strong healthy Gorillas live, weak ones do not, etc. Therefore, it is only logical that if a Gorilla simply does "Gorilla things" (climbing trees, walking, etc) He MUST be at his healthiest. Nature ensures this. If this wasn't the case, the Gorilla doing Gorilla things wouldn't make it, and the one watching TV while walking on the stairmaster would.

Now, are human beings any different? For most of our evolutionary history, we lived in exactly the same environment as our animal brothers. We are not so genetically different. Our muscles, and what they respond to, haven't changed. This is why I suspect that bodyweight conditioning exercises like Hindu Squats and Hindu Pushups can be so much more effective than "Man Made" exercises like weight lifting.

At this point in my argument I usually get the reply - "Ok, that's great. But I don't think we evolved doing Hindu Pushups either!". That's true, but these kinds of exercises, and other bodyweight conditioning movements like them, much more closely mimic natural, evolutionary exercises than weightlifting, etc. I'm willing to bet that you could get in amazing shape by simply climbing a tree all day. However, for most people this is simply not practical.

I've read on some other websites people who doubt how beneficial bodyweight exercises can be. I suspect in many cases these people simply haven't tried them. However, let me give you an example from my own past that will illustrate the point. High School is where I really started to get interested in fitness. I remember one time, for some reason I can't remember, I tried to do a handstand against a wall. What happened? I collapsed in a heap on the floor. I couldn't believe how weak I was! I immediately resolved to get stronger, so I started to lift weights. I was pretty diligent about it and I was getting stronger (or at the least, I could lift heavier and heavier weights). However, after 6 months of weight lifting, I decided to try another hand stand. I thought it would be easy now, as I was so much stronger. What happened? I collapsed on the floor once again! To my amazement, it was like I hadn't gained in strength at all. The truth was I had gained weight lifting strength, not REAL strength.

Here's another example. Have you ever noticed how incredibly strong gymnasts are? They never lift weights, yet if you ask them to, they can easily bench press double their own weight. However, the reverse is NEVER true. Try and get a dedicated weightlifter who can benchpress double his own weight to perform a gymnastic form like an iron cross or Planche. They simply cannot do it. One has real strength from natural bodyweight training, the other doesn't. It's as simple as that.

Here are some other advantages of performing bodyweight conditioning exercises:

Bodyweight exercises promote a sense of body awareness. They work your entire body as a unit, as nature intended. This requires a much deeper level of self-concentration which forces your neurological connections to be that much stronger.

Exercises like Hindu Squats and Hindu Pushups not only build terrific strength, but endurance as well. I remember going to a yoga class once. Some of the postures you need to hold for a minute. Despite the fact that I was weight lifting at the time, I just couldn't do it! When I started doing bodyweight squats, however, I could. Again, it's a question of real, natural strength vs weightlifting strength.

Convenience - These exercises can be done anywhere, anytime. With a complete bodyweight conditioning program, there's no need to go to a gym. This means there are no excuses either :)

With these kinds of exercises, you can make them as easy or as hard as you want. To any exercise you can think off, you can simply add more reps or more time. Most exercises can be modified as well. Let's say you're doing fingertip pushups. Want to make them harder? Simply use less fingers!

All in all, I believe a program of bodyweight conditioning exercises are the surest way to natural and vibrant health that you can do. If you have any questions on this feel free to visit my website listed below.