Video: Exercises That Are Classified as Calisthenics

This Season: Tailgating; New Year, New You; Tax Time

Calisthenics are exercises that are designed to be done without the use of a gym or exercise equipment. Discover how to improve strength and overall flexibility through calisthenics with help from a strength and conditioning specialist in this free video on exercise and fitness tips.

Comments

Video Transcript

Hi, I'm Ashleigh Gass, strength and conditioning specialist with brilliantathlete.com. Calisthenics are exercises that are designed to be done without a gym or equipment, so for those of you that thought you needed a gym membership in order to get in shape, you're in luck. Now, calisthenics are designed to improve strength and overall body flexibility, typically. There's several examples. I'll show you a couple. A lower body calisthenic exercise would be a squat. So to do a squat, I would just stand with my feet about hip width or slightly more than hip width apart. Hands can be up on my shoulders, and I just go down into a squat position and I come right back up again. Down into a squat position, and right back up again. Now, some of you might not be able to go that deep, and that's okay. You can also just do partial range squats until you get more comfortable going lower into the movement. Second lower body exercise is called lunge. Take one step forward, one step back. Arms can be across your shoulders or just down at your sides. I go down into the lunge position, and I come right back up again. Back down, and right up again. And then I would switch sides. An upper body calisthenic would be a pushup. Hands can be shoulder width apart. I would keep my elbows tucked into my sides, down, and right back up again. That's a pushup. And if you're just starting out, you can put your knees on the ground and do a pushup like that until you're strong enough to do a full body pushup. So again, calisthenics are designed to be done without equipment -- just body weight. So you really can exercise without having to go to the gym. I'm Ashleigh Gass with brilliantathlete.com.

Follow eHow: Follow @eHow

Exercises That Are Classified as Calisthenics

Comments

Related Ads

Related Articles & Videos