Trainers weigh in on the eternal question of calisthenics vs weights, and guess what?

The answer is that you need both of them to thrive.

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head of athletics at F45 Training

Calisthenics vs weights: What is weight lifting and why is it good for your body?

That improved strength and alignment can lead to better movement mechanics, adds Tylicki.

Here are just a few reasons to work out with weights.

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Keep an eye on a decrease in flexibility, says Tylicki.

That imbalance may decrease flexibility or potentially cause injury.

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head of athletics at F45 Training

Heres a strength training workout in action:

Okayand what are calisthenics?

What are its benefits?

Now onto calisthenics, which comes from the ancient Greek wordkallos, meaning beauty or beautiful.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Trainers confirm that calisthenic are, indeed, a beaut because you dont need any equipment to do them.

Calisthenics are bodyweight exercisesthink squats, lunges, push-ups, says Tylicki.

In other words, subtract the weights from weight training and youve got calisthenics.

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These types of exercise incorporate more of your full body which makes them extremely efficient.

As mentioned, calisthenics offers many of the same rewards as weight trainingexcept one thing.

Bodyweight training gives you more full-body benefits and improves your balance, coordination, and range of motion.

And that, my friends, is the short and sweet version of calisthenics vs weight training.

So how do I know which one is right for me?

Formostpeople, the answer is likely both.

The two are most beneficial when used together in your program, says Tylicki.

Do 12 reps of a move, like a squat, with weight and 12 without.

And bam, youve incorporatedbothtypes in your workout.

Really, theyre the perfect match.

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