It may sound fancy, but calisthenics is actually simply body weight training. Originating in ancient Greece, its name comes from kálos, meaning beauty, and thénos, meaning strength. At the basic end of the spectrum are moves like press-ups; at the more extreme is the gravity-defying human flag (Google it). ‘I sometimes call it poor man’s gymnastics, due to the principles of beautiful strength and controlled movements – but without the spandex!’ says David Jackson, cofounder of Nottingham’s School of Calisthenics.
It’s been around since 400 BC, but has recently exploded in popularity – the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual survey says it’s 2016’s number one exercise trend. That’s partly thanks to muscle men on YouTube performing feats of strength in urban parks, but also down to its back-to-basics gym- and equipment-free ethos.
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October/November16
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