One of the greatest benefits of bodyweight exercises is that they can be performed almost anywhere. You can do pushups at the local park, at home or at work, without any exercise equipment. If you have a simple bodyweight workout, you won't need to search for gym when you go on holidays or away on a business trip.

Gym memberships can be very expensive. You can save hundreds of dollars per year by creating a bodyweight exercise regime yourself. You will also save time and money by avoiding the hassle of driving to the gym.

If you are on the larger side, bodyweight exercises can help you build muscle mass faster. You also don't need to deal with complex machinery to manipulate resistance levels, you already have multiple resistance levels available through your physique.

You can start your first bodyweight exercise in seconds. It's as simple as getting up and doing a squat or doing some pushups. The workouts are also high intensity and short in duration. Less time is required to get a great workout because of the high resistance available from bodyweight.

Bodyweight exercises are perfect for improving your abdominal muscles, back muscles and chest muscles. Once you have developed great core strength, you will discover that many sports and activities are much easier to perform.

Some of the exercises that are performed on weight machines are devoted to certain muscles. While that does have some benefits, it also means much more time is needed for a complete body workout. Most bodyweight exercises are very efficient because they provide a workout for an entire muscle group.

Some of the exercises that are performed on weight machines are devoted to certain muscles. While that does have some benefits, it also means much more time is needed for a complete body workout. Most bodyweight exercises are very efficient because they provide a workout for an entire muscle group.  

Additionally, because bodyweight exercises target entire muscle groups, nothing is left out. If you use high specialized weight machines at the gym, you could completely miss a muscle or entire section of your body.

Because many of the bodyweight exercises require balance and flexibility, you will see an increase in athleticism. That increase in athleticism means that you will begin to improve at other forms of physical activity. This is great news for people who enjoy playing sports.  

The Pushup

Simply lie face-down on the ground. Place your hands palm down on the ground, chest width apart and parallel to your chest. Push up with your arms, keeping your torso and legs straight. This bodyweight exercise is one of the most common fitness techniques in the world -- because it works!

Squats

Another common bodyweight exercise that improves your leg muscles. Simply stand straight, lift your arms ahead so they are parallel with the ground. Then lower yourself with your legs until the top of your thighs is parallel to the ground. Keeping your back as straight as possible, lift yourself back up.

Burpees

The burpee is a very effective full body exercise that combines many of the muscles used in the pushup and squat. You start in the low squat position, with your thighs parallel to the ground and hands on the floor. Push your feet back so you are in pushup position and do a push up. Then you return your feet to the squat position and leap straight into the air. Repeat the process and you have completed a burpee. The humble burpee will improve your fitness very quickly.

Lunges

Stand straight with your hands on your hips. Step forward with one leg and lower yourself to the ground until the other leg is nearly touching it. Then straighten yourself up and perform it on the other leg. Be careful when starting out with this exercise because you can damage your hamstrings if not properly warmed up.

Triceps Dips

This is one of the bodyweight exercises that does require an apparatus. Find a chair, steps or bench. Turn your back to it then reach back to place your hands on it. Lower yourself to the ground with your arms until you feel your triceps working.