Benefits of Bodyweight Exercises: Everything You Need to Know

It’s not that one type of exercise reigns supreme over the rest, but if we had to put our flag in a workout style to practice for life, it would be bodyweight training exercises. The benefits of bodyweight exercises are numerous: 

• No-equipment needed
• You can do them anywhere
• Greater mobility, flexibility, and core strength
• They’re highly efficient
• They’re f-r-e-e

There is a lot of information on the benefits of bodyweight strength training exercises that you need to know, so we are diving into those here for you. Follow along as we talk all things ‘bodyweight’ and give you some helpful exercises to try on your bodyweight workout program journey.

What Is A Bodyweight Exercise?

But, before we can dive into the details of each of the benefits above, we need to establish a baseline. What is bodyweight exercise? Well, it may seem obvious, a workout that involves only bodyweight—but we think it’s so much more. Bodyweight exercises are diverse, and they can encompass anything from a cardio workout, like running, to a strength workout, like squats, or a mind/body balance exercise like yoga. That’s why we love them so much! (Can you see us gushing?) Now, to get into all that a bodyweight exercise is and can be, we have a full resource for you here. But for now, let’s jump right into the benefits we all want to experience.

The Benefits Of Bodyweight Movement

1 | No Equipment Needed

Ahhh, there is nothing better than having everything you need on you. It’s like that feeling when your phone rings, and it’s already in your hand—no need to shuffle through purses and couch cushions to grab it to answer. We bet you one thing—if your phone rings when it is in your hand, you’re more likely to respond to it. 

Similarly, when you have everything you need to work out, you’ll work out. The only thing you’ll need is a little bit of knowledge on what exactly to do, so we will share some of that info in this article to help get you mentally and physically equipped.

2 | The Exercises Go With You Everywhere

Once you have your mind right, you can do a bodyweight exercise and build muscle anywhere. A short workout in your hotel room, a quick session at the gym, a nice full-body workout at a park, or anywhere you can dream of. 

That’s called convenience.

We know that a hurdle many folks have to get their workout done is not having enough time in their day or access to equipment. Your bodyweight exercise needs are no more than a few minutes long, and as long as you have your body, you are fully equipped. 

If you think we are bluffing on time and space needed, try this 10-min workout by Coach Ashton on our virtual fitness platform, iChuze Fitness. She’s gonna prove to you that it only takes a few minutes to get your adrenaline pumping. 

 

3 | Greater Mobility, Flexibility, and Core Muscular Strength

Without the support of a machine underneath you, your body is in charge of keeping you upright or in the correct form while you work through any given bodyweight workout. 

Let’s think of a lunge, for instance. The machine that will work similar muscle groups would be a leg press. On a seated leg press machine, your back and lower body are supported by a backrest and seat, depending on the machine. This is fantastic for people who need extra assistance for knee or back issues, as guided by their doctor or health professional. The leg press asks you to push the machine away from you, rather than in a lunge, where you are pushing your body away from the ground. The machine, essentially, ensures proper form and keeps your body safe. 

Still, it is taking away—to some capacity—your body’s need to balance itself through flexibility, core strength, and mobility. With that small adjustment, taking away the reliability of the machine, you are asking your body to strengthen up to keep form, train in mobility, and keep your balance which becomes increasingly more important as we age.

4 | Bodyweight Exercises Are More Efficient

Because bodyweight exercises are not assisted, they can tackle several types of exercise in one short workout. Need strength and cardio? You have bodyweight HIIT exercises. Gotta work on your mind while also stretching your muscles? There is yoga for that. Need strengthening and low-impact? How about mat pilates? The list goes on and on. But, if you are stuck on time, a bodyweight workout could be the answer for you.

5 | They’re F-r-e-e

The sweet, sweet sound of a deal never gets old. No, really. Do you got a body? Then you have a free workout waiting to happen. It’s all about knowing how to use what you have to create what you need, and the more that you try guided bodyweight workouts that you can find online, like with our free 7-day pass to iChuze Fitness, the more you will be comfortable creating a safe and impactful bodyweight exercise routine on your very own! You won’t need a gym membership (though, admittedly, we would love to see you around), equipment, or even space in your home. You can do them any and everywhere, with whatever you have on you. They are the lowest barrier to entry option we know of, and they work!

So, if you are looking to spice things up in the gym, consider pairing down your equipment to just you. You will discover areas on your body that you didn’t realize needed strengthening, like balance and coordination, and exercises that work your mind and body, too. We love bodyweight exercises and have a library of more advice and free workouts for you on our blog. Check it out here! And, if you feel like a gym is where you would like to take these exercises to trial, we have a location for you. We hope to see you soon!