Isolation exercises like leg extensions and barbell curls are popular in many
workout regimens. They work specific muscles and are your ticket to reaching
hypertrophy bliss. But a routine based solely on these types of exercises isn’t
very efficient, as you must move from one area of the gym to the next to
complete the workout. Bodyweight exercises like pushups, pullups, dips and more
can hit more muscle groups at once, allowing you to add a little more
efficiency to your routine while still getting a good workout.
With weight-based movements, progressive overload is the name of the game. You
can keep the rep and set schemes the same but add more weight over time.
Bodyweight exercises stay relatively the same, however, which means progress is
found in increasing the reps over time, testing your muscular endurance. It’s a
refreshing way to challenge your body, especially at the end of a hard workout.
When you’re wrapped up with the weights, burn out with bodyweight exercises to
finish the workout.
Bodyweight movements challenge your body in different ways and can help you
fill in gaps in your regimen. You likely hit the core muscle groups in your
routine like legs, arms, chest and back but bodyweight movements can train your
stabilizer muscles and even help with balance. They can also help with
mobility, which is crucial in many weighted movements like squats, deadlifts
and more. If you want to be an all-around fit and capable person, bodyweight
training is a must.
Sometimes you have the whole gym practically to yourself and you can use any
piece of equipment or machine you desire. Other times, it seems that by some twist
of misfortune, everyone decided to join you for the workout, leaving limited
options. The beauty of bodyweight movements is they can be done anywhere. From
the gym to your apartment, if you’ve got your breathable
