Back in the old days, and I mean the really old days like in the Stone Age, how do you think our ancestors worked up the strength and endurance to defend themselves, out-run, and hunt animals with their bare hands? I can tell one thing, they didn't sit in a gym lifting metal or jog slowly on a treadmill all day long.

Instead, they used their bodies to the fullest extent. While they probably didn't have exercise routines like we do today, in my mind they didn't need it. Since nothing was automated back then like it is now, they used their own bodies as a machine. They used it to sprint after an animal, to throw a spear at it, and to ultimately track it down and possibly wrestle the animal until it died.

How many people do you know today that can do that? I'm guessing probably no one.

Somewhere between the ages of cavemen and the people of today, the art of bodyweight exercises were lost. Although it's slowly starting to make a comeback, I'd really like to see it spread even further. Therefore, I give you the 5 Reasons To Start Performing Bodyweight Exercises.

1) You Can Do Them Anywhere - Bodyweight exercises are great because you only need about 10 feet of room, at the most. You can do them in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, outside, or even at a hotel with just a bed and a TV.

2) It Saves You Money - Another great part of this type of training is that if you don't want to, you don't need to buy a single thing. No more paying $50 per month for a gym membership, just to have to sit there and wait for the next sweat covered macho man to get off the bench press. Although there are many things you can buy, especially once you start progressing, it's not necessary to get a great workout.

3) Mind/Body Connection - You're body is made up of hundreds and thousands of different tendons, ligaments, and muscles. However, they are all one in the same. Unlike performing "isolated" exercises like bodybuilder do, bodyweight exercises tend to use your entire body which can greatly enhance your mind-body connection. Focusing on the here and now, instead of the past or future, is an amazing experience when performing bodyweight exercises.

4) Full Body Workout Benefits - Another amazing benefit of bodyweight exercises is that you can get an amazing flexibility, endurance, and strength workout in just a few minutes a day. If you don't want to, you don't even have to perform "cardiovascular" exercises because many of these exercises, the hindu squat or hindu pushup for example, can give you all 3 types of body improvement in just 1 exercise. Another added benefit is that if you use more muscles while exercising you will release more HGH (Human Growth Hormone) into your bloodstream which helps build muscle, lose fat, and keep you healthier and younger.

5) They're Fun! - The fifth reason to do bodyweight exercises is simply the fact that they aren't boring like most other exercises! One of the major problems people have with weight loss is motivation. So how do you cure motivation? It's simple; just do something you actually enjoy! If you enjoy doing what you're currently doing, that's great. However, most people only workout because they know the benefits of it. They dread going to the gym and therefore put out a very weak effort to get in shape. Do something you love and enjoy and you'll see improvements much quicker.

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner or have been working out for decades. Doing these types of exercises can greatly enhance your strength, flexibility, endurance, and yes, they can even add pounds of muscle to your frame. No matter what program you're currently following, just try to add some bodyweight exercises and see how much you will start to love them.

Jeremy Reeves is a health and fitness enthusiast who has been studying and practicing the subject for years. His website, http://www.fitness-made-fun.com was created to help people have more fun with their workouts.You can sign up for his free periodic newsletter at http://www.fitness-made-fun.com/fitness-newsletter.html