An expert trainer says you can build strength without weights as long you follow this simple training tip
You might assume you need to lift weights to build muscle. While it’s true that dumbbell exercises and kettlebell workouts can help you get stronger, you don’t always need heavy equipment to reach your goals. Lots of studies have shown that you can build muscle with body weight alone. In fact, personal trainer and Peloton instructor Joslyn Thompson Rule encourages everyone to start with beginner bodyweight workouts. But how do you keep tabs on your progress and strength gains if you’re not lifting heavier weights each week? Instead of focusing on the numbers, Thompson Rule suggests tracking how every workout feels. “One thing I always encourage people to do when they’re starting is monitor how your body feels doing a movement,” Thompson Rule says. “So not where in the body you’re feeling the movement, but does it feel smooth? Does it feel clunky? Does it feel disjointed? Be aware of that feeling and then the next week, the same movement that felt clunky or disjointed might feel smooth—and that’s a progression.” Once you’ve noted that …
