How Does Calisthenics Promote Altruism and Spirituality?

Calisthenics has changed my life.

It did in such a way that it also became spiritual journey. So I thought it would be great to explore the connection between mind, body, and spirituality and how calisthenics can play a surprising major role in that aspect.

Before we dive in, let me introduce Hatem, a Frenchman who has been living in LA for the past 20 years.

This post is a recap of a conversation we had together on that topic.

He likes to think of himself as a martial artist of life, with interests in science, philosophy, and spirituality. Growing up with a French education, he noticed a tendency to neglect the body in favor of intellectual pursuits. However, he realized that this left something missing, and he started taking care of his body alongside feeding his brain.

Studying Kabbalah, which is connected to the Torah and the Talmud, opened his eyes to the similarities between various spiritualities and religions. The...

Explosive Push Ups Calisthenics Tutorial.

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite calisthenics move: the explosive push-up. 

If you're already a push-up master, it's time to take it up a notch by jumping off the ground for part of the push ups.

Here are 4 progressive explosive push ups yo can train:

•  Clap Push-Ups: Do a push up starting in a plank position, protracting your shoulders to the max, and focus on a full range of motion. Lift your hands off the ground and clap your hands at the top of the move and control the descent. Engage your scapula by shrugging them/squeezing them together after landing on the way down to protect your elbows.
•  Chest Clap Push-Ups: These are a bit harder. It requires you to engage your core, take your hands off the ground at the top of the move and clap your hands quickly on your chest then land as soft as possible. Focus on engaging your core in a hollow body, to provide enough air time for the clap.
•  X Push-Ups:...

Best Calisthenics Equipment For Beginners!

Here is the best calisthenics equipment for bodyweight training.

While you can start calisthenics with nothing but your body, having some cool pieces of equipment can enhance your training and make it more efficient.

•  Pull-Up Bar: A must-have is a pull-up bar. If you can't access a park or it's raining, consider getting a doorway pull-up bar. Get one that comes with pads to protect your doorway.
•  Resistance Bands: These are versatile and useful for both beginners and advanced athletes. They can assist you in pull-ups or make movements like dips and push-ups more challenging.
•  Parallettes: I recommend parallettes that elevate you off the ground, offering good range of motion. They are perfect for practicing push-ups, pike push-ups, and L-sits. They are various size and length. I recommend the small or medium size parallettes.
•  Dip Station: Composed of two bars connected to prevent wobbling, the dip station is excellent...

How To Target Your Lower Abs?

One of the most demanding exercise for your lower abs is the L-sit. 

The beauty of calisthenics is that you really don't need any equipment. It's great if you have rings, chairs, parallel bars, pull up bars, or parallettes.

Here is a list of the best equipment you can get to start training.

But you can also do it without anything, on the floor!

Let's dive into the details of mastering the L-sit.

•  Knee Tuck Hold with Chairs: For an easier variation, use two chairs to support your hands and focus on lifting your knees up towards your chest while keeping your arms straight. If taking both feet off the floor is too challenging, alternate lifting one foot at a time until you build enough strength to do both together. Gradually, move your feet more in front of your body to simulate the L-sit position.

Go for 5-10 sec hold x 3-5 sets. Adjust as needed.

•  Floor Leg hold: To work on leg extension and toe pointing, start with the...

3 Tips To Instantly Improve Your Pull Ups!

Do this to instantly improve your pull-ups. 

Let's get started!

•  Scapula Pull-Ups: Mastering the scapular pull-up is crucial for developing proper pull-up form. Focus on engaging your scapula, also known as your shoulder blades is CRUCIAL. To do so, hang under a pull up bar, keep your arms straight and do “mini-pulling repetitions” without bending your arms. This requires you to depress your shoulders all the way down and then pull them back up without bending your arms. Your shoulder blades should be down and squeezed together when you are at the top of the pull up, then they come up and apart as you are going down. This isolates the movement around your scapula. Keep your head up, arms straight, and emphasize the shrugging motion as you pull. Add a hold at the end of each set. This foundational exercise sets the stage for a better pull-up technique.

Go for 5-10 reps x 5 sets. Adjust as needed.

•  Isometric...

No Equipment Calisthenics Ab Workout for Beginners!

A beginner's guide to burning love handles.

We're going to focus on the obliques, an essential section of the core. 

Strengthening the core involves three key components: extension, compression, and twisting. Let's dive into the exercises that will specifically target twisting and oblique engagement.

•  Windshield Wipers on the Floor: This exercise is suitable for beginners and intermediates. Start by lying on the floor with your legs upright and toes pulled towards you. Maintain your pelvis titled back to ensure your back doesn't arch. Engage your glutes, connecting them to your abs, and keep your legs perpendicular to your body at a 90-degree angle. From this position, control the descent on one side and return to the starting point, then come down on the other side and repeat. Alternate sides, maintaining a straight line from your shoulders to your feet throughout the movement. Ultimately you are using your legs as a...

Simple Full Body Beginner-Intermediate Calisthenics Workout.

In this post I want to focus on a simple full body Calisthenics Workout for beginners and intermediates.

Here are three exercises that will make you feel more agile, stronger, faster, and overall enhance your "human" skills. 

Let's get started!

•  Crawling: Crawling is an essential primal movement that we used to do as kids, and it's important to maintain that ability as adults to keep our mobility intact. Start by getting down on all fours and crawl forward. Keep your hips and chest low while maintaining a straight line from your shoulders to your feet. Avoid piking up or arching your back. Alternate bringing your knee to the corresponding elbow on each side. When crawling backward, maintain the same momentum and reverse the pattern. This exercise challenges your coordination, agility, and engages your core, triceps, and chest.

Go for 10 crawling (down and back), adjust distance depending on level. Minimum...

The Most Important Calisthenics Skill You Need To Master!

Today, we're going to dive into one of the most crucial aspects of calisthenics: the hollow body.

Whether you're a beginner or an advanced practitioner, mastering the hollow body technique is essential for all movements, from push-ups to pull-ups, and even isometric holds like the human flag or lever. 

So, let's explore three important exercises that will help you develop your hollow body skill.

•  Laying Hollow Hold: The floor hollow hold is a foundational exercise that allows you to practice the hollow body position. Start by laying on your back with your arms extended overhead, shoulders and feet off the ground. You have to engage your core and tilt your pelvis back to create a flat back. You can adjust the difficulty by lifting your legs higher and/or bending your knees until you can hold it with straight arms and straight legs. Maintain this position for as long as possible, focusing on building strength...

Calisthenics Full Body Workout Challenge!

Today, we're diving into the exciting Summer Body Challenge.

We'll explore a range of great exercises to boost your cardio, lean out your physique, and build strong muscles. 

Let's kick things off with the ever-effective jump rope.

Whether you're a beginner or already a jump rope enthusiast, this exercise is a game-changer for cardiovascular fitness. I highly recommend mastering the technique to ensure optimal performance and consistency in your workouts. 

Here's a breakdown of the proper jump rope technique for those who are getting started:

•  Keep your feet together, hands positioned low at hip level, shoulders relaxed, and abs engaged.
•  Avoid jumping too high, as this can be counterproductive and waste energy. Beginners often make this mistake.
•  Turn the rope using your wrists, not your shoulders. Keeping your shoulders down is key.
•  For variation, try jumping side to side instead of always on both feet....