Do you agree that body weight training is an essential foundation on which to build overall fitness?
I incorporate various body weight exercises for all clients, novice to advanced in order for them to focus on body awareness, that is being aware of every part of their body at any given point in time, in any given position within an exercise. I find this very important especially for beginners before I progress them on to free weight training.
You see with weight lifting exercises, you use “weight awareness”, that is where the weight is at all times more than where your body is. As long as the weight is lifted and into the correct position(s), the body will naturally follow. However, with bodyweight exercises you take the weights out of the equation. To perform a challenging exercise such as handstand push-ups or one-legged squats, you have to be focusing on every part of your body.
I personally believe that body weight exercise can serve a useful purpose in literally every workout routine regardless of what the goal is.