🚴 Calisthenics

Physical fitness wasn’t my thing growing up in the metropolitan Chennai. South Asians in general do not prioritize fitness as much as other endeavors (like academic success) which may explain why they tend to have less favorable body composition and exhibit increased risk for heart disease. I had bad posture, and was not using all of the body muscles to their full efficiency.

Fitness industry is a sham

I started by lifting weights in the gym (my apartment had one). However once this orthodox part of Western culture soon revealed its unexciting nature, it naturally lead me to the world of calisthenics. I think the whole fitness industry is overrated, and the general population should avoid it like plague.

Strength vs Hypertrophy

I clarified that my actual goal is to develop functional strength—the strength one gains from resistance training should translate to everyday physical activities that we take for granted—otherwise, what’s the point? Hypertrophy (beyond the necessary level to achieve the desired strength) however is an anti-goal; It is fatuous to carry all that extra muscle around and then ravenously eat more to maintain it.

When strength, not hypertrophy, is the goal you maintain a lean physique. Like Kohei Uchimura - who, incidentally, eats one meal a day.

As a result of doing calisthenics I noticed that “normal” activities like walking and standing became more efficient in that my posture has dramatically improved owing to the direct translation of intent, and eventual habituation, to keep the correct body alignment (which is what one means by “correct form”) throughout any movement.

Natural routine

Nowadays I tend practice a technique known as greasing the groove enabling practice on a daily basis. Sometimes I’ll cease practicing it entirely for a few days. From time to time when the mood strikes me I partake in intensive activities like an hour or two of gardening, cycling or a long walk.

See also