Calisthenics: A Pandemic-Proof Solution For When The Gyms Close
The only equipment needed is yourself
Picture this. You just finished a killer workout at your local gym. In the shape of your life, all that hard work is finally paying off. You saunter by a mirror and think to yourself,
“Damn, I look good!”
The motivation and confidence that runs through your blood are palpable. Nothing can stop the momentum now. This is the start of a happy, healthy life.
Then, you wake up. It was all a dream.
A cold reality sets in. It's day __ of quarantine. You must’ve passed out while binge-watching Netflix, again.
All those gains have since withered away. Every other week it seems that the restrictions change, making it almost impossible to get into a good gym routine.
Walking by a mirror, you think,
“Damn, what happened?”
Surely, there was no way to avoid this.
The thought of being without a squat rack or dumbbells for the foreseeable future sends a shiver down your spine.
But what if I told you that the only equipment you need is your body and willpower?
Enter the world of calisthenics.
A Brief History
Although now commonly considered to be a trend, the practice of bodyweight training has deep connections to the past.
The name itself originates from the Greek words kallos “beauty” and sthenos “strength” (mental and physical), which literally means the beauty of a body sculpted by determination and strength.
The first recorded use of calisthenics dates back to the Spartans of ancient Greece. In 470 BC, a Persian spy mistook these movements to be a form of dance and informed King Xerxes of the amusing sight. This boosted Persia’s already faulty confidence in what culminated in the Battle of Thermopylae (depicted in the movie 300: Rise of an Empire).
However, battle-hardened Spartans should not get all the credit. Variations of bodyweight practices can be found throughout many cultures, from India’s Yoga to the Shaolin Kung Fu of China.
Now Is The Time
My introduction to calisthenics came from gymnastics. I was enrolled at the age of 7, and the sport instilled in me the value of good health.
Gymnasts are some of the fittest people on earth. They combine both beauty and elegance with pure strength. Yet, all of this is accomplished without the use of standard fitness equipment.
My dream, like many other young athletes, was to ultimately compete at the Olympics. I would practice handstands religiously. The training gym felt like a second home and I relished the time I spent there.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Between a series of injuries (Including a nasty ligament tear on my left knee) and scholarly commitments, reality had hit me hard.
I’ve since tried a multitude of sports and activities in search of a replacement. From fencing to parkour, nothing seemed to fill the void.
During this time, I continued implementing the bodyweight exercises I had learned from training in gymnastics to my workouts at home. Lacking equipment like the pommel horse or a set of rings, I adapted to a complete bodyweight approach.
Calisthenics soon filled the space that gymnastics had left.
Fast forward to the year 2020…
Life as we know it has been put on pause. Restricted to our homes and kept two metres apart from our loved ones, there is no doubt this been a trying time.
Just as concerning is the fact that many have been cut off from fitness equipment of any kind. And while there are the privileged few who have access to a home gym, most do not have this luxury.
The importance of physical activity during the pandemic is hard to understate. A multitude of research has shown its immediate benefit to mental health, including:
- A large observational study that found those who do not engage in regular physical activity are twice as likely to display symptoms of both anxiety and depression when compared to those that do.
- Another study which found exercise to be just as effective a treatment for depression as medication after a 16 week period.
- This study that showed a direct correlation between exercise and reduction in cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and all types of dementia in elderly participants.
A gym is just as much a therapeutic tool as it is a place for physical wellness.
While the long-term impacts pandemic restrictions will have on mental health may be currently unknown, it is not hard to see that people are hurting.
Fitness For All
I am a big believer that physical and mental wellness should be available to everyone.
The beauty of bodyweight training is that it eliminates any barriers to entry. Sure, boutique fitness has its place. But if we genuinely want to improve the greater communities’ wellbeing as a whole, exclusivity will only hinder these efforts.
We adapt and make do with what is available to us. This is our greatest strength. This is humanity's greatest strength.
I discovered calisthenics through gymnastics, and it has since given my workouts unparalleled freedom. Whether traveling abroad or in quarantine, going without equipment is something I no longer worry about.
This is the way it should be for everyone.
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