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.

Steph Green
Steph Green is a content writer specializing in healthcare, wellness, and nutrition. With over ten years of experience, she…
Topics
Why do lizards do push ups? Fitness inspiration from the animal kingdom
We're not the only ones working those upper body muscles.
Why do lizards do push ups? Fitness inspiration from the animal kingdom

I was walking by my window the other day, and I saw a lizard doing push-ups, powering through rep after rep before taking little breaks in between. I laughed to myself while I observed the little guy for a moment, and I wondered: why do lizards do push-ups? We aren’t the only ones working out. 

Why do lizards do push-ups?

Read more
Incline walking or running, which is better for burning fat? Surprising study
If your goal is fat-burning, you might want to check out the latest research.
man running on treadmill

Walking is easier than running, but it still comes along with plenty of benefits. Studies show just two minutes of walking around the block helps blood sugar levels rise and fall more gradually and stabilize insulin levels. A brief 10-minute walk could lower blood pressure, and my mood always perks up when I walk my two little fluffy dogs around the block and see their wagging tails and smiling faces.

When it comes to achieving weight loss, researchers found that walking can help promote weight loss, so it’s worth setting off on foot, even if you’re short on time. Recently, researchers wanted to explore whether incline walking or running is better for burning fat. Incline walking is harder than it looks, and you’ll definitely feel your muscles working, especially those larger leg muscles.

Read more
How to stop muscle cramps fast: Tips for quick relief
Is it true what they say about pickle juice? Let's look at the best methods to diminish those pesky muscle cramps
A man has ankle pain during outdoor exercise. knee Injuries.

Muscle cramps put a damper on any post-workout glow or the runner’s high. Painful muscle tightening and involuntary muscle contractions can happen suddenly, and we find ourselves looking for some relief. Not all cramps emerge after a workout. Recently, I was sitting on my one leg on the couch for a while, and when I got up, I had serious muscle cramps in my ankle and lower leg. In this case, I just waited it out and massaged my ankle and calf until it started to feel better, but other times, cramps can be more painful and linger longer. 

The most common are muscle cramps in the legs and feet. Let's look at the best ways to stop muscle cramps fast so you can get relief as soon as possible. 
What are muscle cramps?

Read more