Outside the confines of the traditional gym, a bodyweight-led approach to fitness is becoming a common sight in the city’s open spaces. Built on balance and mobility rather than heavy equipment, calisthenics has evolved into a shared pursuit for those seeking a different way to train. Here, doctors, students, and CEOs leave their titles at the gate to train together and master the fundamentals of motion.
Signature calisthenics moves like pull-ups and human flags rely heavily on strong core strength
‘People from varied backgrounds come together to train’“People from different professions — chartered accountants, doctors, business owners, students and IT professionals — train together. Our members range from eight years old to people in their fifties. Many come after work, and over time it becomes a space where they train together and enjoy the process of getting fitter,” says calisthenics coach Aman Bisht, adding, “As a group, we have also travelled to hill stations and beaches and worked out outdoors, making fitness both fun and challenging while building a sense of community.”
Aman says, “What makes calisthenics special is that it’s both fun and challenging.”
‘Training as a group makes workouts more enjoyable’According to Melinda Michael, a finance professional who has been practising calisthenics for the past year, her transition from a regular gym routine to calisthenics has been an exciting experience. “I train five days a week after work and have really come to enjoy it,” she says.She adds that while the workouts were a bit challenging in the beginning, things gradually became easier with time. “What makes it special is the group. We train together, have fun and even celebrate festivals as a community,” she says, adding that calisthenics is something she hopes to continue in the long run.
Melinda Michael, finance professional in Hyderabad
‘Calisthenics has been a new and interesting challenge’Sports and fitness have been part of Bharat Joshi’s life for many years. An IT professional who has competed at the national level in badminton, he says he was always curious about calisthenics and decided to give it a try earlier this year. “It’s been a little over a month since I started, and I’ve really been enjoying it,” he says, adding that the workouts place a strong focus on building core strength.
Bharat Joshi, Hyderabad-based IT professional
Bharat recalls that he initially struggled with certain movements, especially the handstand. “At the beginning I couldn’t hold a handstand at all, but recently I’ve started getting the hang of it and can hold it for four to five seconds. It’s exciting and very motivating to see that kind of progress,” he says.Benefits of calisthenics
- Builds functional strength: Bodyweight exercises improve strength that can be useful in everyday movements.
- Improves balance and flexibility: Many movements require control and stability, helping develop better balance and mobility.
- Minimal equipment needed: Most exercises can be done using body weight, making it accessible in parks or open spaces.
- Enhances body control: Calisthenics helps improve coordination, posture and awareness of how the body moves.
- Suitable for all fitness levels: Exercises can be modified, allowing beginners and experienced practitioners to train at their own pace.
- Encourages outdoor activity: Many workouts take place in parks or open spaces, making fitness more engaging and social.
How to get started
- Start with the basics: Begin with simple bodyweight movements like squats, push-ups, lunges and planks.
- Seek guidance: Training under a coach or experienced practitioner can help beginners learn the right technique and progress safely.
- Focus on form: Proper technique is more important than repetitions to avoid injury.
- Use park equipment: Parks and playgrounds with pull-up bars or benches are useful for exercises such as pull-ups, hanging knee raises, dips and incline push-ups.
- Train consistently: Start with two to three sessions a week and gradually increase intensity.
- Join a community: Working out with others helps with motivation and learning new skills.
– Biswajit Talukdar
