Skip to main content

Fitness-loving jet setters swear by calisthenics — these are the benefits

If you're living out of a suitcase, try these travel-friendly calisthenics exercises

calisthenics man doing plank push up
Domagoj Bregant / Pexels

Fitness enthusiasts who travel a lot often find ways to continue fine-tuning their fitness while they’re away. Of course, you might not have access to a gym with weights and a treadmill, and sometimes, you might just want to work out in the privacy of your hotel room or in the beauty of the great outdoors. Either way, calisthenics is an excellent choice because you can use little to no equipment and your own body weight as resistance to develop your strength and sculpt those muscles. 

I’m a fan of the good old-fashioned tricep dip and the humble plank. If you do it right with calisthenics, travel doesn’t have to hinder your fitness plans. Here are some of the best exercises to try when you’re on the go and the benefits of calisthenics.

Recommended Videos

The best calisthenics exercises for jet setters

Taking resistance bands with you can help you perform various exercises, but you don’t even need to bring those as your body weight is enough. If all you have time and energy for is 15 minutes, you’ll still get a solid workout in.

These moves can be done almost anywhere, even if you’re living out of your suitcase. Here are some of the best travel-friendly movements to try:

What are the benefits of calisthenics?

Calisthenics is a low-frills way of staying physically active while you’re away. Here are some of the many benefits and reasons to try it:

  • Boost your overall functional fitness.
  • Improve your balance, flexibility, stability, endurance, and coordination.
  • Burn calories and promote weight loss.
  • Improve your posture.
  • Get stronger.

Research shows you can still develop muscle strength even without weights just by using calisthenics.

Beginner tips

If you’re a beginner, you can start off with moves like an incline push-up or perform a push-up against the wall. Try beginner-friendly calisthenics exercises like leg raises and dips with your feet on the ground. 

If you can only do five push-ups in a row now or ten burpees, you can always set new targets as you work on your fitness. Once you master the traditional squat, you can move to more advanced variations like the Pistol squat. One of the best things about calisthenics is how you can modify the exercises to suit your fitness level. There’s no need for complicated setups or fancy machines.

Topics
Steph Green
Steph Green is a content writer specializing in healthcare, wellness, and nutrition. With over ten years of experience, she…
How many minutes of daily activity lowers your risk of a heart attack? New study
Does going grocery shopping and doing household chores protect your heart?
man pullup dead hang outdoor workout sunset

Moving our muscles and getting regular exercise is good news for our heart health, and 10 minutes is better than zero minutes. I always feel better, sharper, and healthier even after a 15-minute yoga session or bout of cardio. Especially as the years go on, people tend to become less physically active, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular events. Researchers wanted to uncover how many minutes of daily activity reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event, and you might be surprised by the results. It turns out that a little physical activity goes a long way when it comes to protecting your heart. Let’s look at the research.

The study

Read more
5 battle rope benefits: Why they should be included in your workout routine
Learn more about this strength/cardio hybrid
Man doing battle ropes workout.

Just about every advertisement for an athletic product includes battle ropes. You know the commercial - brief shots of a person using battle ropes, punching a punching bag, flipping over a tire, then chugging an energy drink. You know the ad. It’s every ad. Sometimes they use a different variety of exercises, but battle ropes always seem to make the cut. However, as a personal trainer, I can tell you that battle ropes are included for a good reason.

Battle ropes are basically weighted ropes. To use them, you hold one in each hand, then whip them up and down rapidly. It might sound silly, but the workout is intense. So, should you include them in your workout? 

Read more
What happens when you take creatine while strength training? Researchers explore
Will taking creatine while strength training amplify your results?
preworkout protein shake creatine drink

Creatine is one of the most widely studied supplements, and the research is mounting. Studies show that taking creatine can increase muscle mass and performance in adults of all ages when paired with resistance training. Additional research reveals that creatine could prevent muscle wasting and lower inflammation after exercise. Overall, researchers concluded that creatine is a safe and effective evidence-based supplement, which is why many powerlifters and gym enthusiasts still take it.

What can creatine do for your bones? In another study, researchers explored how taking creatine while strength training affects bone geometry. Let’s look at the research.

Read more