A Quick Beginner’s Guide to Starting Calisthenics

One of the many reasons people give for not exercising is that they’re worried it will cost a lot of money. There are gym memberships, workout gear, and equipment to worry about, not to mention any training required to learn the exercises. Thankfully, calisthenics—one of the oldest exercise regimens in the world—doesn’t require any special equipment. Here’s a quick look at how to get started with calisthenics.

What Is Calisthenics?

Calisthenics is a style of exercise that relies mostly on the body’s own weight rather than on equipment such as weights and exercise balls. Have you ever done push-ups or squats? Then you’ve done calisthenics!

Choose a Muscle Group

One of the awesome things about calisthenics is that you get to work out entire muscle groups at once. If you know what area of your body you want to focus on, all you have to do is look up the corresponding exercises. Here’s a beginner’s guide to calisthenic exercises for each muscle group to help you get started:

• Upper body: Push-ups, pull-ups, dips, wall pulls
• Knees: Squats, wall sits
• Legs: Lunges, leg curls
• Core: Planks, sit-ups

Consider a Trainer

You can certainly look up exercises online and get started with no coaching whatsoever, but you may want to bring in a trainer while you’re getting started. A trainer can not only help you set goals and habits but also make sure you do the exercises correctly so that you don’t end up hurting yourself. Once you start a bad habit, correcting it can be difficult.

Multipurpose Equipment

If you get serious about doing calisthenics from home, you may find it helpful to invest in some equipment to broaden the range of exercises you can do. It’s important to select equipment that can serve many functions, such as freestanding wall bars, which provide resistance for dozens of calisthenic exercises.

When you start doing calisthenics, pacing yourself and listening to your body are important. Consistency is the key to building up habits and maintaining progress. It’s also an important part of avoiding injury. We hope our guide has been helpful as you start your calisthenics journey!