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Trending: modern-day calisthenics movement, and why people are using their bodyweight to gain strength

How pandemic gym closures pushed people towards bodyweight training, and the park communities that now make it easy to start.

By Tanika ThotaDecember 2025

Athletes in black training on a floor-level crawl on an indoor turf track in a gym

When the pandemic hit and forced gyms to close their doors, the fitness industry was left in a state of despair and uncertainty.

Motivation declined, mental health reached an all time low, and people struggled to consistently train during isolation.

Nevertheless, during this period of disconnect, an unexpected movement began to thrive.

Calisthenics has been at the forefront of fitness trends for years.

You may have heard it mentioned in conjunction with other strength training sports, because of its versatility and accessibility. It is available to anyone, anywhere, regardless of strength or experience.

An athlete hanging upside down from gymnastic rings beside a climbing rope in a gym — Rings and ropes: bodyweight training in action.

This form of strength training uses your body weight as a form of resistance, by using exercises such as pull-ups, muscle ups, dips, handstands and push-ups– developing endurance, improving form and posture, building muscle, and giving you the ability to perform aesthetically pleasing tricks at your local park or gym.

The term 'Calisthenics' originated in Greek culture, which built the foundation of this modern- day form of training.

Greek Spartans and soldiers of Alexander the great used it as part of their strict training regimes for military preparation.

These exercises were primarily conducted in groups, giving Greek soldiers a sense of solidarity and brotherhood.

The Greeks believed in ‘Arete’, which were a set of physical and mental virtues which would be applied to military preparedness and personal discipline.

You may have seen new installations of fitness equipment built at your local park, mostly consisting of high and low parallel bars, monkey bars, incline benches and more.

Local communities of calisthenics groups have been created in apartment complexes, gyms and park groups.

To get started is easier than one might think, as newcomers are given a warm welcome to join calisthenics groups.

Fitness and mind regulation can be seen as the greatest successors of discipline, thus explaining the rise in modern day people integrating this form of exercise into their everyday regimens.

Calisthenics Coach Amyn Ali has been very busy with work since the pandemic and was inspired after he saw someone doing calisthenics at his local park.

‘I was inspired to do calisthenics by seeing someone in the park doing it now I have that same effect on the people I meet and get to train with along my journey. This can break through barriers of language, age and gender bias.’

A calisthenics athlete in black holding a horizontal bar in a gym with a yellow and black wall — Calisthenics training at the gym.

Attending a class Amyn teaches at the Underground Gym Brighton, I was able to meet some participants.

The Underground Gym had a space for calisthenic athletes to train, as well as other amenities, such as- a boxing ring, power-lifting platforms, HYROX programmes and a general gym area.

A man in an Underground Gym vest watching a woman hold a headstand on the turf while others train behind them — Warming up and balancing on the turf at the Underground Gym Brighton.

Amyn starts his class with a warm up, stretching the back, wrists, legs and shoulders.

A bearded man in black holding an L-sit on low yellow parallel bars while a woman watches — Holding an L-sit on the low bars.

The group sits in a circle on the floor and warms up together. Amyn then directed them to the dip bar, where the group took turns to do different dips, with added movements to add to the level of difficulty.

An athlete pulling up on a yellow bar with a resistance band while others wait their turn — Pull-ups with a resistance band, the group taking turns.

He prioritises endurance and holds, the group was instructed to do pull-ups and then when they reached failure, to just hold.

As calisthenics is strength of the mind as well as the body, he told his learners to 'distract your brain and just stay as long as possible, happy thoughts.'

Class members training on bars and a rack with a coach and spotters looking on in the gym — The class in full swing.

The energy surrounding these groups were electric, everyone was buzzing and excited to show the rest of the group their progress.

The lesson was structured, and there was always an easier or harder version to modify to each person.

This global fitness method has created its own sub-culture in the fitness world and is only becoming bigger and better.

You could immediately feel a sense of community.

This sense of togetherness is how these athletes could progress at a quicker pace than, for example- going to the gym alone.

You would be surrounded by motivators who truly believed in you.

A woman in black stretching on her front on an indoor turf floor, seen from above — Floor work on the turf.

Calisthenics has made people more open to trying new things and meeting fresh faces.

It is more than just being strong, the people you meet along the way can change your perspective on discipline in the contemporary world.

‘The pandemic was when I saw a shift from people’s perspective of the sport. Without gyms people were forced to engage with some level of bodyweight exercise to stay healthy, due to lack of social interaction and connection’ says Amyn.

The world was in a state of disconnect since the pandemic, and people were having to find unconventional ways to interact and improve their overall health.

Two athletes preparing to work on gymnastic rings with the rest of the class behind them — Getting ready to train on the rings.

Many of the calisthenics athletes at the class saw improvements in their strength within weeks.

Some of them do other strength training as well as calisthenics, including using weights and climbing.

If you were interested in starting calisthenics, it's as easy as following a beginner routine on YouTube, developing strength through push-ups, planks, assisted pull ups, holds and many more.

Joining a gym can be daunting, but having support can make all the difference. Having the fundamentals in strength training can also make the gym that much more comfortable.