Maggie's Farm

To inspire those who might like some calisthenics in their fitness routine:

- A three-set circuit of box jumps, squat-and-pull unbalanced bar reps, heavy ball smashes, burpees, and jumping jacks

- A three set circuit of sideways box jumps, unbalanced push bar reps, and floor ladder drills on hands and toes

- A three set circuit of box step-ups, ladder agility drills, and jump rope drills (regular, running man, and speed changes. I can't do arm shifts or doubles yet but these are my jump goals. 13 year-old boys can do amazing things with jump rope but I can't compete with that).

That took one hour, dripping sweat all over the floor. Mrs. BD and I agree that an hour of calisthenics is more exhausting than an hour of weights but you bounce back quicker. Calisthenics are not so much for strength-building as for muscle use and maintenance, agility, balance, core-strengthening, endurance, and cardio. Or, as we say, general athleticism. Good things for the middle-aged but I think the urban youth need these things too. That's why many of them love the demands of Crossfit.