GET BACK TO BASICS

“Like all forms of training, putting on muscle with your own bodyweight just requires time and dedication”

With gyms and studios full to the rafters with expensive equipment, it’s easy to shun the simple stu . But spending time developing how you train without kit is one of the best investments you can make for your future tness goals.

e most obvious bene t to bodyweight training is convenience. Get it right and you can train through anything, from a global pandemic to a family holiday. It also o ers the ability to focus on core training principles like mobility and form, with a signi cantly lower risk of injury.

“Anyone aiming to advance their skills in other elds of training needs to understand the mechanics of the body,” says Andrew Julien, personal trainer and Turf Games ambassador. And bodyweight training doesn’t limit the opportunity for strength gains, either. “Like with all forms of training,” says Julien, “putting on muscle with your own bodyweight just requires time and dedication.

e trick is utilising varied movements that challenge the body: angles that force the muscles to work harder, or eccentric and isometric techniques.

And if you want to stick to weights, bodyweight exercises can compliment, rather than replace, your usual routine. “Try throwing in a bodyweight exercise that complements your gym training,” says Julien. “For example, after a chest press, I'll take myself down to the ground and perform a set of press-ups.”