Why Bodyweight Exercises?

Bodyweight exercises are the ultimate challenge for functional strength and I create a means for all of my clients to perform several of them during a session. Some examples are push ups, pull ups, dips, squats, walking lunges, split squats and mountain climbers, to name a few. Everyone has varying strengths and capabilities so I program what works for each individual to challenge them.
A few weeks ago I started a client and she stated, "My ultimate goal is to be able to do a pull up." This was interesting because the common goal is to lose weight, increase energy or move better. If you think about it, you perform bodyweight exercises everyday. You carry your body weight as you walk, get in and out of a car, walk up a flight of stairs and stand up from a chair or commode. If your body weight has increased and you are finding it harder to walk the flight of stairs, get in and out of the car or get up from a chair, it is so important to strengthen the muscles that functionally move you. That is why I challenge all of my clients, no matter what level they are to move their body weight. What also strengthens during these exercises is the core. This area of the body has to be strong to keep you balanced and maintain a strong spine. (I am keeping this short and simple) You walk taller and are lighter on your feet when your core is strong. The same client that had the goal of doing a pull up, stated she was more mindful of pulling her tummy in (engaging the core) and felt more balanced going up stairs. This was after two weeks of sessions. Another client stated that after a week, she was able to stand from sitting with greater ease.
The reason I teach the proper form of bodyweight exercises is because you can do them anywhere and anytime. No equipment required . . just you. The hope is that my clients are performing these exercises on their own for continued strength development to maintain the fit individuals they have become or will become.