What is Progressive Calisthenics?

Posted something about Progressive Calisthenics three days ago on my facebook wall. But the comments became about Italian Food:

Click here to read Al Kavadlo's Original Article.

Side Crow Stance

This is the Side Crow Stance or Parsva Bakasana in Sanskrit. It's increases flexibility by twisting your spine. But I don't think it's very beneficial. It just looks cool in pictures.

Side crow stance and all other poses similar to it are like the "selfie" photos (see link below) of yoga. Have you seen profile pictures in social networking sites where people perform hand balancing and yoga poses? I, myself, am guilty of this. And I probably will continue to do this. Sorry. It's just cool!

(Watch what a side crow stance is)

However, for fitness sake, I recommend twist holds rather than the side crow stance.

Why? Because if your goal is to increase spinal flexibility, why include a hand balance drill to it? If something is already effective and efficient, why change it? As the old adage goes, do not fix something that is not broken.

(Below is a beginner's twist hold)

(Below is an advanced twist hold)

I feel that doing a spine rotation with a hand balance not only complicates it but also makes it more dangerous. Again, we don't want to play or goof around with our spines.

To summarize, if you want to take a cool picture, then by all means practice a side crow stance. Just be careful not to injure yourself. But if you want a stronger and more flexible spine, twist holds are more effective and less dangerous.

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Click here to know more about the Side Crow Stance

Click here to read more about Twist Holds

Click here to read more about "Selfie" Photos

Closing Bridges

Skill unlocked! Finally able to do "closing bridges" after a year of practice. :-) This is the 9th step in the bridging progression of the book "Convict Conditioning".

(Watch video below)

Bridges are actually a lower back and an abs exercise. This is not just for playing "limbo" or "chinese garter".

In yoga, these are called "Back Bend Poses." They are also supposed to give proper posture.

Give the progressions a shot! However, always remember to start at the easier steps first (see the link below). I don't have to remind you how dangerous spinal injuries are!


Click here to read more about Convict Conditioning.

Click here to see Back Bend Yoga Poses.

Click here to read an Interview of the book's (Convict Conditioning) author, Paul "Coach" Wade.

Living off the Grid and Convict Conditioning

  These things are essential to living off the grid. All of these, I accomplish without leaving my small apartment.

  “What about exercise?” since I’ve started this journey, this question has plagued my mind. “Can I still get an effective workout while living off the grid, so to speak? What about going to the gym?

          Since we entered the world, we were already born to buy. It is very difficult to reverse it. We always find ourselves walking around in the mall or surfing the internet, looking for the next stuff to buy. We are addicted to window shopping. A lot of people, including I, are trying our best to counter this, however.

After six (6) months of trying CC

          In terms of fitness, let's ask ourselves what our culture tells us to buy? Perhaps barbells, dumbbells, running shoes, smith machines, drugs, etc. For what? To maximize our workouts?

  Luckily, I’ve come across Paul “Coach” Wade’s book, “Convict Conditioning”. It outlines six basic exercises using only your own bodyweight. 

  “Pushups? That’s effortless!” others might say. To be honest, that’s what I also uttered at first. Okay, I’ll admit, pushups are stress-free compared to bench presses because of the barbells. Somehow, it doesn’t bother me. Because it only means that, without the barbell, the movement for a bench press is also very easy.

          Better yet, try one arm pushups if you dare! Or try one arm pullups! Remove your leverage to make the movement more difficult.

  Although it’s not 100%, I’ve been decreasing my consumerist lifestyle. For instance in my workouts, I don’t pay gym membership fees simply because I don’t go to the gym. I exercise at home with very minimal equipment. Nevertheless, I still get a hardcore full body workout.

  I am like the protagonist in a zombie apocalypse movie. I live off the ground. I do what I can with what little I have. The poor man’s workout!

  I can exercise anywhere. So even if I travel for work or for leisure, I can still keep on track of my program.

  I don’t buy protein shakes, creatine, or any other supplements. I am not dependent on certain products. I eat rice, meat, and vegetables with the occasional pizza. I get my nutrition from all natural sources.

  So what happens if all the merchandise and equipment we depend on disappears? Can we make our own product from what raw materials we have? Can we become producers instead of merely consumers? I encourage other people to lessen our reliance on corporate products and outside forces. I encourage everyone to start manufacturing things for their own needs.

  I say these while I take another sip from my tarragon tea. The sun slowly rises. ***

After a year of CC training

Click here to read about Convict Conditioning

Click here to read about Living off the Grid