Calisthenics

Calisthenics (American English) or callisthenics (British English) (/ˌkælɪsˈθɛnɪks/) is a form of strength training that utilizes an individual's body weight as resistance to perform multi-joint, compound movements with little or no equipment.

Calisthenics solely rely on bodyweight for resistance, which naturally adapts to an individual's unique physical attributes like limb length and muscle-tendon insertion points. This allows calisthenic exercises to be more personalized and accessible for various body structures and age ranges. Calisthenics is distinct for its reliance on closed-chain movements. These exercises engage multiple joints simultaneously as the resistance moves relative to an anchored body part, promoting functional and efficient movement patterns. Calisthenics' exercises and movement patterns focuses on enhancing overall strength, stability, and coordination. The versatility that calisthenics introduces, minimizing equipment use, has made calisthenics a popular choice for encouraging fitness across a wide range of environments for strength training.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes calisthenics as "gymnastic exercises to achieve fitness and grace of movement". The word calisthenics comes from the ancient Greek words κάλλος (kállos), which means "beauty", and σθένος (sthenos), meaning "strength".

The practice was recorded as being used in ancient Greece, including by the armies of Alexander the Great and the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae.

Calisthenics was also recorded to have been used in ancient China. Along with dietary practices, Han dynasty physicians prescribed calisthenics as one of the methods for maintaining one's health.

The more commonly performed calisthenic exercises include:

Bodyweight exercises (also called bodyweight workouts) are strength training exercises that use an individual's own weight to provide resistance against gravity. Bodyweight exercises can enhance a range of biomotor abilities including strength, power, endurance, speed, flexibility, coordination and balance. Such strength training has become more popular among recreational and professional athletes. Bodyweight training uses simple abilities like pushing, pulling, squatting, bending, twisting and balancing. Movements such as the push-up, the pull-up, and the sit-up are among the most common bodyweight exercises.

While some exercises may require equipment, most bodyweight exercises require none. For exercises requiring equipment, common household items (such as a bath towel for towel curls) are often sufficient, or substitutes may be improvised (for example, using a horizontal tree branch to perform pull-ups). As such, bodyweight exercises are convenient while traveling or on vacation, when access to a gym or specialized equipment may not be available. Another advantage of bodyweight training is that it entails no cost.