Calisthenic workouts use your body weight as resistance, requiring little to no equipment. This type of exercise is an excellent choice for when you’re traveling, outdoors, or from the comfort and privacy of home.
One of my favorite calisthenics exercises that I tend to find myself randomly doing if I have a bench or chair available is tricep dips. I also like stretching my hips and legs with good, old-fashioned lunges. Another of my favorites is humble jumping jacks that get me in touch with my inner child.
As well as avoiding gym fees, adding calisthenics to your workout routine provides various benefits, from torching calories to improving your strength, endurance, flexibility, and mobility. A 28-day calisthenics plan helps you burn fat and calories while building strength and muscle with little to no equipment.
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Let’s explore the 28-day calisthenics-challenge, the benefits of calisthenics, top tips to optimize your results, an interview with a calisthenics expert, and more.
What are calisthenics exercises?
Calisthenics is a strength training workout where you use your body weight instead of an external form of resistance like kettlebells or dumbbells. For example, with a pushup, you push your own body weight up off the ground rather than lifting or pressing a set of dumbbells or using weight machines.
Some of the most popular and effective calisthenics moves include pull-ups, pushups, dips, squat variations, planks, and burpees. You’ve probably seen people performing calisthenics moves in the park, like when I sometimes decide to do tricep dips on the local park bench. There are also more advanced calisthenics movements, such as handstands.
What are the benefits of calisthenics?
There are plenty of reasons to try calisthenics, and the exercises can be modified to suit your fitness level. Calisthenics is simple, versatile, and effective for burning fat, building muscle, and improving flexibility and stability. Better flexibility and stability mean a lower risk of injuries.
Research also reveals that regularly performing calisthenics bodyweight exercises boosts functional fitness and lowers your risk of a range of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
Requires little to no equipment
The best part of calisthenics is that you can do it anywhere without needing clunky equipment. You don’t need to spend money on gym memberships or setting up pricey gym equipment at home.
Improves brain-body connection
Regularly practicing calisthenics can help you develop fine motor skills, which can improve coordination, power, speed, strength, stamina, flexibility, and agility. Your body and brain work together to perform these movements.
Helps build strength and endurance
Research shows that performing calisthenic exercises helps you build strength, which could level up your performance in the gym. If you weigh 200 pounds, doing a bodyweight pull-up means you’re automatically lifting 200 pounds. You might not even be able to do 200 pounds for a lateral pull-down, but many people find calisthenics less intimidating, and you don’t have to use or set up the weights.
Gentler on your joints
Resistance training can put too much strain on certain joints and soft tissues when performed incorrectly. Lifting weights that are too heavy can lead to muscular imbalances and complications with your joints, tendons, ligaments, and fascia. With calisthenics, your body is already used to carrying its weight. The movements feel natural, and injuries are less likely to occur.
Are calisthenics safe?
Calisthenics is generally considered a safe form of exercise for most individuals. If you’re unsure if it’s the right choice for you, you can always consult your healthcare provider or physical therapist. It’s always advisable to start slowly and gradually work your way up to performing more advanced exercises as you develop more strength and stability.
Who should try it?
There are modifiable calisthenics exercises and wall-assisted workouts that are suitable for all fitness levels. The priority is always to master your technique before moving on to a more advanced movement. It’s an excellent option for those new to exercise, those who want to try something new, or those who don’t have access to a gym.
If you have physical limitations, you should consult your physical therapist or healthcare provider to determine what’s best for you.
What equipment do you need for this calisthenics challenge?
While calisthenics only requires the weight of your body, having additional equipment can greatly increase the number of exercises you’re able to include in your routine.
The following are some of the additional optional calisthenics equipment:
- Dip bar
- Liquid chalk
- Mini parallettes
- Yoga mat
- Foam roller
- Door frame pull-up bar
- Weight belt or dip belt
- Jump rope
- Weight vest
- Calisthenics gloves
The 28-day calisthenics challenge
The 28-day calisthenics challenge is designed for those looking to enhance body composition by shedding excess fat and gaining muscle mass. The workout sessions don’t exceed 30 minutes, making them ideal if you’re busy, short on time, or prefer shorter workouts.
This challenge is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels and covers a complete seven-day routine that you repeat for four weeks or 28 days. After each set, try to make sure you take a short break before starting another set, and don’t forget to take short breaks for at least 30 seconds or a few minutes between each exercise.
Day one to six has five exercises each, and day seven is mainly for stretching to help prevent burnout and allow your muscles to repair.
Day 1: Upper body
- Pushups: 5 sets x 10 reps
- Mountain climbers: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Chin-ups: 4 sets x 8 reps
- Muscle-ups: 4 sets x 8 reps
- Dips: 4 sets x 10 reps
Day 2: Cardio + abs
Repeat the following for three rounds:
- Jumping jacks: 20 reps
- Planks: 30 seconds
- Burpees: 15 reps
- Hollow body hold: 30 seconds
- Jump squats: 15 reps
- Russian twists: 16 reps total
Day 3: Lower body
- Lunges: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Squats: 5 sets x 15 reps
- Box jumps: 2 sets x 10 reps
- Glute bridges: 5 sets x 10 reps
- Leg raises: 5 sets x 10 reps
Day 4: HIIT
Repeat the following for four rounds:
- Jumping jacks: 20 seconds
- Jumping lunges: 20 seconds
- Side planks: 30 seconds
- Jump rope: 30 seconds
- Jogging in place: 30 seconds
- Rest for 2 minutes.
Day 5: Upper body
- Clapping pushups: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Dragon walk: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Diamond press-up: 4 sets x 8 reps
- Pike pushups: 2 sets x 10 reps
- Tricep extensions: 4 sets x 8 reps
Day 6: Lower body
- Hip thrusts: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Calf raises: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Pistol squats: 4 sets x 8 reps
- Hover lunges: 4 sets x 10 reps
- Bulgarian split squats: 3 sets x 10 reps
Day 7: Mobility + flexibility
- Downward dog: 1 minute
- Foam rolling: 30 seconds
- Forward fold: 30 seconds
- Camel pose: 30 seconds
- Child’s pose: 2 minutes
- Arm circles: 30 seconds
Top tips from a calisthenics expert
We asked senior master trainer for STRIDE Fitness and calisthenics expert, April Gatlin, to share her top calisthenics tips, how to optimize nutrition and hydration, the top three beginner-friendly calisthenics exercises, and more.
The Manual (TM): What experience do you have with calisthenics, and how has it personally improved your fitness?
April Gatlin: Calisthenics are the foundation of movement, so with that I have many years of experience. I believe if you’re unable to move your body, then you shouldn’t pick up weights. Calisthenics has personally improved my fitness year over year, as it remains foundational in my personal workouts as well as programming for STRIDE Fitness.
TM: What are the most important benefits of calisthenics exercises?
April Gatlin: Calisthenics require little or no equipment, making them highly versatile and accessible. They can be done anywhere and scaled to fit any fitness level, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
TM: How is calisthenics gentler on the joints?
April Gatlin: You’re working with a load your body is already familiar with (its own body weight). In addition, by emphasizing bodyweight exercises, calisthenics promotes better joint mobility, reduces the risk of overuse injuries, and builds strength in a way that tends to put less strain on the joints compared to traditional weightlifting or high-impact workouts.
TM: As a senior master trainer for STRIDE Fitness, do you use calisthenics when training athletes and non-athletes?
April Gatlin: Yes! Both practitioners need to be able to move their bodies efficiently, and working with this stimulus allows them to do so. I would use calisthenics when training both athletes and non-athletes.
Calisthenics helps athletes build functional strength, improves core stability, and enhances mobility. Exercises like pushups, squats, and dynamic movements like jump squats help you develop power and coordination. It’s scalable, allowing athletes to increase intensity as they progress.
For non-athletes, calisthenics offers a low-impact, accessible way to improve overall fitness, strength, flexibility, and mobility, making it easier for beginners to start and progress at their own pace. It’s versatile and effective for improving total body strength and endurance in both groups.
TM: Could you share your top three beginner-friendly calisthenics exercises and why you chose them?
April Gatlin: Squats, knee pushups, and glute bridges are ideal for beginners because they target essential muscle groups, improve foundational movement, and are easy to modify. Bodyweight squats build lower body strength and improve mobility. Knee pushups develop upper body and core strength with less strain. Glute bridges strengthen the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back, which are key for posture and stability. All are low-impact and can be progressed as strength increases.
TM: While many calisthenics exercises are bodyweight moves, do you recommend getting any equipment, such as a jump rope, foam roller, weight vest, or pull-up bar?
April Gatlin: I would definitely recommend a pull-up bar because the pull-up is a standard calisthenics exercise and an important one for strengthening the back. A foam roller is more of a recovery tool, and a weighted vest can be added once your calisthenics foundation is strong and you need or want more resistance. A jump rope is an amazing way to incorporate cardio into your bodyweight routine.
TM: What tips can you share to optimize your results with calisthenics?
April Gatlin: Work on range of motion to get the most from each exercise, and start small. Understand that all calisthenics are scalable and can progress to a more challenging version. Know that the most progress will come from consistency over time.
TM: How do you optimize your nutrition and hydration to prepare for a higher-intensity calisthenics workout?
April Gatlin: To optimize your nutrition and hydration before a higher-intensity calisthenics workout, focus on consuming a balanced meal one or two hours prior. Also, I encourage clients to drink a minimum of half their body weight in fluid ounces for proper hydration.
More tips for optimizing your results
A calisthenics workout might seem easy, but it is strenuous. So, you should do a health check before you start this challenge. It’s best to check with your doctor to make sure you’re fit to do challenging exercises.
The following are more top tips for optimizing your calisthenics results:
- Always prioritize proper form.
- Try to warm up and stretch, at least for a few minutes, before beginning a round of calisthenics.
- Consistency is key to seeing results over time.
- Optimize your nutrition, try to stick to whole foods, and eat plenty of high-protein sources.
FAQs
What is the 28-day calisthenics challenge?
The 28-day calisthenics challenge involves minimal equipment. You engage in calisthenics workouts every day for 28 days without any rest days. The challenge can help you enhance your overall fitness using your body weight instead of external resistance like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells. There are variations of the challenge, and ours covers your upper body, lower body, core, and cardio moves to get your heart pumping.
Does 28-day calisthenics really work?
Finishing the 28-day calisthenics challenge boosts your athletic performance, sculpts a more muscular physique, improves flexibility, and more.
Can you get ripped off just doing calisthenics?
Staying committed to the 28-day calisthenics challenge can definitely help you get more ripped. That being said, improving your overall body fat composition and strengthening your muscles also involves other factors like nutrition. In the future, you might consider targeted strength training and weightlifting exercises to build specific muscle groups.
Can you do calisthenics every day?
The 28-day calisthenics challenge involves doing calisthenics every day, but the exercises rotate to avoid overworking specific muscle groups. Your muscles need time to rest and recover for the best results.
How long is a good calisthenics workout?
A good calisthenics workout lasts around 30 to 45 minutes, which is good news for those who prefer workouts under an hour. If you need to, you can always modify the exercises or the workout plan to suit you.
