Master Your Bodyweight - Calisthenics Course

The last 50 years of workout-culture has been focused around weight training - gyms, machines, barbells, and dumbbells. But we all tend to take this a bit for granted - why bench press and bicep curls? Why lat pulldown and dumbbell side-raises? Humans have been improving their physique and performance for thousands of years, yet modern concepts of exercise seem to imply that going to the gym and lifting weights is the end-all-be-all of fitness. Its not.

The fact is that modern weight-lifting and exercise trends grew out of the late 19th and early 20th century with figures like Eugen Sandow and Steve Reeves bringing attention to exercise aesthetics. But it wasn't until 1977 that Pumping Iron brought bodybuilding to the mainstream and ushered-in the fitness revolution. There was a huge appetite for "pumping up like Arnold” and gyms sprung up all over the place to accommodate the market.

But not everybody is a bodybuilder and training like one, while it may build muscle and contribute to overall health (with limits), is not the only or optimal way to build strength or improve health. In fact, "going to the gym", while better than nothing, can limits these things by relegating the individual to a mode of exercise that simply happens to be easily commodified and sold to the masses; equipment in a gym that you pay a monthly fee to use. This way of working out is not better, it simply happens to be the one that’s easiest to sell.

Calisthenics is the alternative.

When most people hear “calisthenics” they mostly think of push-ups, pull-up, and other simple bodyweight exercises. What they don’t realize is that these are the just “beginner” movements; the easiest in a progression that runs from intermediate movements like muscle-up and front-lever, to elite forms in gymnastics like the Iron Cross, Maltese, and impossible moves like the Victorian and Inverted-cross that bend the limits of human performance.

Elite gymnastics requires insane strength and builds phenomenal physiques. In fact, it’s one of only two sports that provably extends lifespan when measured across culture and geography (the other is swimming). But you don’t need to be an elite gymnast to reap the benefits. The funny part is that calisthenics moves like Front-level, Planche, and Muscle-up are ones elite gymnasts use to warm-up. They are nevertheless challenging to achieve and simply working towards unlocking Planche or Muscle-up will force your body into a state of fitness that will transform your physique and skyrocket your health.

Unlocking these forms is a great feeling but it’s the journey that matters. And you don’t have to be ripped or into gymnastics to start — far from it. Everyone can use their bodyweight to train and make improvements while building cool skills and health that lasts a lifetime!

This course offers beginner-friendly step-by-step instruction for getting started in calisthenics, focusing on simple progressions for every level, choosing exercises and techniques that challenge but not overwhelm, build but don’t break, push but not shove — this is NOT CrossFit, not a “boot camp”, not a circuit training course. It’s focused, supportive, progressive, and fun!

Plus you'll be able to pull your friend up from the edge of cliff with one hand - do it for Caitlyn!

Come join us at Butler Shores Outdoor Calisthenics Gym Wednesday & Sunday mornings and master your bodyweight!