Health and Fitness
Street Workout and Calisthenics in Spain
05 dec 2016
Lately all around Spain there has been a new fitness movement focusing on using our own bodyweight to do exercises that involve many muscle groups, I'm talking about Street workout and Calisthenics. My curiosity has led me to discover this type of workout after getting bored of working out using weights at a traditional gym, I realized that if I mixed up my workouts with body weight training I would made my body stronger in different ways.
Bodyweight training has many advantages, one of them is that it requires less equipment and can be done anywhere. This sport is especially popular in Spain, thanks to the Spanish weather it’s more fun to be outside and enjoy the sun while you exercise! Would you like to know more about this new movement? Let me show you!
Lately all around Spain there has been a new fitness movement focusing on using our own bodyweight to do exercises that involve many muscle groups, I'm talking about Street workout and Calisthenics. My curiosity has led me to discover this type of workout after getting bored of working out using weights at a traditional gym, I realized that if I mixed up my workouts with body weight training I would made my body stronger in different ways.
Bodyweight training has many advantages, one of them is that it requires less equipment and can be done anywhere. This sport is especially popular in Spain, thanks to the Spanish weather it’s more fun to be outside and enjoy the sun while you exercise! Would you like to know more about this new movement? Let me show you!
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What is Calisthenics?
The origin of the word Calisthenics comes from the two Greek words kallos + sthenos which mean strength + beauty. It involves different exercises with movements using your own body weight; the most common exercises known are pushups and pull-ups by most people, but in reality the exercises are more diverse. By using movements to pull or push yourself up you get to improve your body’s flexibility, strength and appearance.
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Advantages of Calisthenics
I already mentioned some of the advantages before, but the main one was that you’ll save money, because there is no equipment or gym membership fee needed, it can be done wherever and whenever you want. Another reason is that it’s always challenging and the exercises can be adjusted according to your strength, progression and creativity. Other positive traits are the achievements and rewards you will get, not only by seeing results in your own physique, but also in how your body becomes stronger to perform exercises which in the beginning were difficult to achieve. One of my favorite Youtube channels to learn more about Calisthenics is Fitness FAQs, I recommend it to anyone who would like to learn more about the topic.
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Old school Calisthenics vs new school calisthenics
There are two types of calisthenics, one is the father of all, old school calisthenics, which is a workout method that was developed in prisons, where prisoners had no equipment to exercise, but still needed to be in shape to survive in that tough world. Old school calisthenics is using your own body to perform exercises such as pushups, pull ups, squats and other exercises of this kind, the movements are kept simple and more focused on making the simple exercises harder every time. New school calisthenics involve more variety, and most of the time is performed in playgrounds or parks, the movements are a mix of gymnastics and old school calisthenics. (more info and workouts: Old School Calisthenics and for New School Calisthenics )
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Old School (handstand)
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New School ( using bars for straddle planche)
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Street Workout in Spain
Street Workout is a new movement of calisthenics developed in the last years by fitness fanatics. One of the most relevant names out there is the Bar Brothers, they began this movement with the aim to achieve muscle growth and body strength by using different alternatives than the gym, such as on the streets and parks around. This movement has become really popular in Spain and there are several events and competitions concerning this sport. I already attended two of them one in Granada and other in Almeria. I recommend you to attend one for motivation and inspiration, beside the calisthenics community is very welcoming and we're always eager to help each other out!
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My experience with Street Workout has been pretty amazing, not only because there are plenty of parks around to perform this sport, but it’s also a good environment to meet people with same goals as I do. Also because I am a frequent traveler I am able to keep myself fit wherever I go. By seeing other people training in parks I get the motivation to continue and improve. I advise you to try it out and see it for yourself!
MORE FITNESS & HEALTH ARTICLES
Top Benefits of Calisthenics and Bodyweight Training
Tips on Living Healthy While Abroad
Street Workout: A New-Generation Sport in Aruba
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