Fatigue - Injury - Adaptation
The biggest obstacle to making progress is injury. The main reason for injury is fatigue, especially since calisthenics are simple and natural movements and the risk from bad execution is relatively small. So the simplest strategy to make progress is
avoid fatigue -> avoid injury
Make sure you get your rest and don't fall into the trap of doing a workout every day in the beginning due to enthusiasm. This is sure to lead to overworking yourself, specially if you are a person who is only now starting or restarting exercise after some years of inactivity (like I was)
Another enemy is adaptation. You must have in mind that any kind of exercise will offer great benefit to a sedentary person for the first time of practice. But also the best exercise will stop offering benefits after continuously using it for extended periods of time. The body adapts to the movement and the law of diminishing returns takes hold. A lifelong system of fitness needs variety, so make sure to introduce periods where you use some other form of training, even if they are limited.
The Hindu Workout described here is an excellent way to start a lifelong fitness program. With little variation it can form the core of your training method. It can always be incorporated in any other system. It benefits and strengthens every joint, tendon, ligament and muscle in your body and for many people it will give the chance to engage in sports and exercises that they never thought possible.
Once you have made enough progress with the Royal Court, you will be able to introduce new methods in your fitness schedule and develop an advanced system that fits your needs best. No matter where you start from, the human potential for progress is vast. If you don't limit yourself to a "get fit quick" scheme but seek a sustainable lifelong habit there are practically no limits to what you can achieve even after the first decades of your life!
Friendly regards,
Chris
avoid fatigue -> avoid injury
Make sure you get your rest and don't fall into the trap of doing a workout every day in the beginning due to enthusiasm. This is sure to lead to overworking yourself, specially if you are a person who is only now starting or restarting exercise after some years of inactivity (like I was)
Another enemy is adaptation. You must have in mind that any kind of exercise will offer great benefit to a sedentary person for the first time of practice. But also the best exercise will stop offering benefits after continuously using it for extended periods of time. The body adapts to the movement and the law of diminishing returns takes hold. A lifelong system of fitness needs variety, so make sure to introduce periods where you use some other form of training, even if they are limited.
The Hindu Workout described here is an excellent way to start a lifelong fitness program. With little variation it can form the core of your training method. It can always be incorporated in any other system. It benefits and strengthens every joint, tendon, ligament and muscle in your body and for many people it will give the chance to engage in sports and exercises that they never thought possible.
Once you have made enough progress with the Royal Court, you will be able to introduce new methods in your fitness schedule and develop an advanced system that fits your needs best. No matter where you start from, the human potential for progress is vast. If you don't limit yourself to a "get fit quick" scheme but seek a sustainable lifelong habit there are practically no limits to what you can achieve even after the first decades of your life!
Friendly regards,
Chris
