ConBody – Prison Bodyweight Workouts For The Masses
I’m sure you’ve heard of military style boot camp workouts. These fitness boot camps style themselves after military boot camps, where participants go through an intense physical training regimen in a short period of time. Just like boot camp in the military. These types of intense boot camps are a popular way for people to loose a few pounds or add some extra muscle in a short period of time. They also help boost the self-esteem of the participants. A fitness boot camp is a lot of hard work, and finishing one of these boot camps will provide a true sense of accomplishment.
Now, a new style of gym is being formed. One that is based on prison rather than the military. Some military folk will tell you there is not much difference between the two! This is a great idea. There’s basically three things to do when incarcerated: read, workout or play cards/socialize. Inmates often end up coming out of jail or prison a lot more fit than they went in.
This new prison inspired fitness trend is just taking the military boot camp trend to the next level. The most well known of these prison style fitness workouts is ConBody. Participants get a solid bodyweight workout and also get something a lot different from most gyms. The trainers are actual ex convicts and much of the gym is styled after a prison cell. Even the showers are limited to three minutes, just like in a real prison.
Decades ago, gyms were tough, gritty places that meatheads, boxers, bodybuilders and the like would visit. Normal people didn’t go to the gym. They played tennis or did video aerobics. Over the years this has changed drastically, and now it seems like every lawyer, dentist and school teacher goes to the gym on a regular basis. These people don’t want a gritty, sweaty gym. They want a clean, friendly, easy workout. That’s what most gyms cater to these days.
ConBody is one example of a fitness program that goes against this trend. Basing a workout on prison gets rid of all the fancy machines of modern gyms. In a prison cell all you have to work with are the walls, your bed, and your body. Nothing fancy, nothing high tech. It’s an old school, simple bodyweight workout.
ConBody seems to focus on weight loss. The founder of the program talks about how he lost 70lbs in six months while incarcerated. Bodyweight fitness is great for shedding pounds while gaining a fair amount of muscle. Bodyweight programs can lead to a great fitness level. Take a look at Reddit’s bodyweight community for some great bodyweight guides. Understand though, that if building big muscles or getting really strong is your goal, you should incorporate lifting heavy things in a work out. This means using weights and other accessories.
The most inspiring thing about ConBody is that it was founded by an ex convict and employs ex convicts. The United States has a huge problem of rehabilitating ex convicts back into society. Anyone is who is a felon is going to be limited in the types of jobs they can get for the rest of their lives. They did their time, but they spend the rest of their lives being unable to rejoin society. For some, this seems like a life sentence.
By hiring ex convicts, ConBody is helping people get their lives on the right track.
As happened with military style boot camps, I expect there will be a lot of other prison style fitness programs coming out in the next few years. This is especially true because ConBody was able to raise over $25,000 in a matter of hours on kickstarter.
