Ultimate Calisthenics Workout Plan with PDF (2024)

If you are looking for a calisthenics workout plan that is both challenging and fun, then you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve designed a couple of weekly calisthenics workout routines in this article that will develop your muscular strength, build lean mass, improve balance and flexibility, and help you achieve a better shape.

If you’re a beginner, you can download the first calisthenics workout plan PDF. And if you’re an intermediate, you can download the second one.

But before you download any program, let’s find see why you should do calisthenics and the results you can expect from it.

Contents show

Why Should You Do Calisthenics Workout?

Ultimate Calisthenics Workout Plan with PDF (1)

Calisthenics exercises are fun, challenging, efficient, and adaptable.

You can do them anywhere you like, such as at home, in the gym, or on the ground.

They are mostly bodyweight exercises and require little to no equipment.

They keep your muscles strong as well as flexible, which allows you to perform different tasks more efficiently.

Calisthenics training teaches you how to use your body weight to increase strength, mobility, and balance, which not only helps in your everyday activities, such as pushing and lifting things but also helps you sit long hours and prevents injuries (as they make you flexible).

Who Can Do This Calisthenics Workout Plan?

You can follow this program if you want to

  • Improve your flexibility, muscle coordination, strength, balance, and body composition.
  • Perform bodyweight exercises with little or no equipment.
  • Burn a good number of calories and increase fat loss.

You shouldn’t do

  • If you have any health issues, such as injuries.
  • If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • If you want to beef up muscle mass like a bodybuilder or gain ultimate strength like a powerlifter.

Beginner Calisthenics Workout Plan (Weekly Routine)

Ultimate Calisthenics Workout Plan with PDF (2)

This routine will help you build strong, toned muscles and improve your overall strength and fitness level. You’ll be able to perform more difficult calisthenic exercises as well as pull-ups, push-ups, and dips with ease.

Brief info about the workout:

  • Training Frequency a week– 4 days
  • Daily workout duration– 30 to 45 minutes
  • Interval time between sets– 45 seconds to 2 minutes
  • Way to perform exercises: Complete all sets of one exercise before moving on to another.
  • Expected program duration: 12-16 weeks
  • Warm-up: It’s best to perform warm-up exercises for 5 minutes before starting bodyweight strength training.

Schedule

  • Monday – Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves
  • Tuesday – Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes
  • Wednesday – Rest
  • Thursday – Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves
  • Friday – Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes
  • Saturday – Rest
  • Sunday – Rest

Monday – Push Workout and Legs

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
Hindu PushupsUpper Body10 x 2
Bench Dips Chest and Triceps 10 x 2
Triangle PushupTriceps and Chest 10 x 2
Lateral LungesShoulder and Triceps5/side x 2
Shoulder TapsUpper Body10 x 2
InchwormFull Body10-sec x 2
Drop SquatLegs10 x 2
Standing Calf RaiseCalves10 x 2

Tuesday – Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes

Inverted RowBack and Biceps8 x 2
Superman PullBackAMRAP
Floor IYT RaisesBack and Rear Delt8 x 2
Chin-upsBiceps and Back 8 x 2
Single-leg Ham BridgeHamstring10/side x 2
Glute KickbackGlute10/side x 2
PlankCore45-sec x 2
Side PlankCore20-sec/side x 2
Reverse CrunchesCore10 x 2

Thursday –Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
Incline PushupChest10 x 2
Standard Push-UpsTriceps and Chest10 x 2
Kneeling Pike PushupsShoulder and Triceps6 x 2
Plank to Tricep ExtensionTricep10 x 2
Bench DipsTriceps10 x 2
Step-upQuads & Glutes15 x 2
Reverse LungeQuads and Hams10 x 2
Calf RaisesCalves10 x 2

Friday –Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
ChinupsBack and BicepsAMRAP
Bear CrawlUpper Body
Assisted PullupsBack and BicepsAMRAP
Floor IYT RaisesBack and Rear Delt10 x 3
Superman PullBack10 x 2
Single-Leg BridgeHamstring10/side x 2
Glute KickbackGlute10/side x 2
10-min Abs WorkoutCore

Beginner Calisthenics Workout Plan PDF

Beginner-Calisthenics-Workout-Routine-PDFDownload

Calisthenics Workout Program For Intermediate

Ultimate Calisthenics Workout Plan with PDF (3)

Details about the workout:

  • Training Frequency a week– 5 days
  • Daily workout duration– 30 to 45 minutes
  • Interval time between sets– 45 seconds to 2 minutes
  • Way to perform exercises: Perform exercises in a circuit or individually.
  • Expected program duration: 12-16 weeks
  • Warm-up: It’s best to perform warm-up exercises for 5 minutes before starting bodyweight strength training.

Schedule:

  • Monday –Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves
  • Tuesday –Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes
  • Wednesday –Full Body
  • Thursday –Rest
  • Friday –Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves
  • Saturday –Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes
  • Sunday –Rest

Monday – Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
Hindu PushupsUpper Body10 x 2
Standard PushupChest10 x 2
Bar DipsTriceps and Chest10 x 3
Pike Push-UpsShoulder and Triceps10 x 3
Bench DipsTriceps10 x 2
Cursty LungesQuads10 x 2
Standard SquatQuads15 x 2
Step-upQuads and Hams10 x 2
Standing Calf RaisesCalves15 x 2

Tuesday –Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
PullupsBack and Biceps10 x 3
Inverted RowBack and Biceps10 x 3
ChinupsBiceps and Back10 x 3
45-Degree Hip ExtensionHamstring10 x 3
Single-Leg RDLHamstring and Glute10 x 2
Glutes BridgeGlute10 x 2
15-minute Core WorkoutCore

Wednesday –Full Body

5-minutes Warm-up

ExerciseActivity
Jumping Jacks15-sec
High knees30-sec
Mountain Climber20-sec
Burpees10 reps
Shoulder Tap10 taps/side
Jump Squat10 reps

30-minute Strength Workout

ExerciseReps
Lateral Squat10 x 2
Wide Arm Pushup10 x 2
Bar Dips15 x 2
Bulgarian Split Squat10/side
Pike Pushup10 x 2
Back and Forth Lunges10/side
Pullup15 x 2
Pistol Squat10/side
Floor IYT Raises8 x 2
Chinups15 x 2
Hanging Leg Raise10 x 2
Plank1-2 min

10-min Cool Down Stretching

ExerciseActivity
Bird Dog Pose10-sec/side x 2
Downward Facing Dog30-sec x 2
Upward Facing Dog30-sec x 2
Seated Bend Forward30-sec x 2
Standing Bend Forward30-sec x 2

Friday – Chest, Shoulder, Triceps, Quadriceps, and Calves

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
Archer PushupChest and Triceps20 x 2
Narrow Grip PushupChest and Triceps 20 x 2
Wall Handstand Push-ups Shoulder and Triceps10 x 2
Bench DipsTriceps10 x 2
Dive Bomber Push-upsShoulder and Chest10 x 2
Sumo SquatQuads20 x 2
Jumping Split SquatQuads15 x 2
Lateral LungesQuads and Hams10 x 2
Standing Calf RaisesCalves10 x 2

Saturday –Back, Biceps, Core, Hamstrings, and Glutes

ExerciseMuscles WorkedReps
Superman PullBack
PullupsBack and Biceps10 x 3
Inverted RowBack and Biceps10 x 3
Elevated Inverted RowsBack and Rear Delt10 x 3
ChinupsBiceps and Back10 x 3
Archer SquatsLegs10 x 3
Lunges to Single Leg RDLLegs10 x 2
Sissy SquatsLegs10 x 2
20-min Core WorkoutCore

Calisthenics Workout Plan Intermediate PDF

Calisthenics-Workout-Plan-Intermediate-PDFDownload

Final Words

Calisthenics is an excellent bodyweight training program that helps improve posture, strength, and body composition without the use of any major training equipment.1 The effects of a calisthenics training intervention on posture, strength and body composition – Isokinetics and Exercise Science

It is a great way to achieve overall fitness, but you need a well-designed and effective workout program.

A good calisthenics workout program helps you work out efficiently and yield maximum results.

That’s why I’ve shared two workout routines in this article, one for beginners and one for intermediate.

So if you’re starting out, follow the first one and if you’ve been working out for a while, follow the latter.

You can also make changes depending on your goal and fitness level. For example, increase or decrease the number of sets, repetitions, interval time between sets, and the number of exercises.

Download the updated PDF

BeginnerIntermediate

References

Ultimate Calisthenics Workout Plan with PDF (2024)

FAQs

What is the best workout routine for calisthenics? ›

Best Calisthenics Routine to Build Strength
  • Push-up. Perform each set to failure. ...
  • Chin-Up. Perform each set to failure. ...
  • Typewriter push-up. Perform each set to failure. ...
  • Smith machine inverted row. Perform each set to failure. ...
  • Close-Grip Push-up. Perform each set to failure. ...
  • Negative pull-up. Perform each set to failure.
Apr 2, 2021

Is 20 minutes of calisthenics enough? ›

Yes, ask any coach. Not only is it possible to achieve results with 15-20 minute calisthenics session. It might actually be preferable to long, directionless sessions that leave you needing too much recovery.

Is BetterMe calisthenics free? ›

That's where the BetterMe: Health Coaching App can help. Available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play, users can choose whether they want to purchase the premium features available in-app or stick with the free version.

Does the 28 day calisthenics challenge actually work? ›

Yes, a 28-day calisthenics workout plan works as it's designed to challenge your body in a holistic way. The exercises in this program are carefully chosen to target all major muscle groups and improve overall fitness.

How many pull-ups a day for calisthenics? ›

As a general practice, doing a 3 sets of 8 reps routine with 60-90 seconds rest between sets is a good place to start to stimulate the muscles to grow. You can then progress to 3 sets of 9 reps, 3 sets of 10, and building up all the way to 3 sets of 15 repetitions.

Is 3 days a week enough for calisthenics? ›

This depends on your goals and current fitness level. Advanced fitness levels could dare to start with three to four times per week, or even five to six. Meanwhile, beginners should start slower by working out two to three times per week, maybe even less.

What is the 80 20 rule in calisthenics? ›

Workout Intensity: 80% of your progress can come from 20% of your most intense and effective exercises. High-intensity workouts, featuring compound movements like squats and deadlifts, often yield substantial results compared to less intense exercises.

Can you get ripped from calisthenics? ›

The simple and short answer is “yes, of course you can”. The longer answer to building muscle with calisthenics needs some more detail and context as to why, how and, we'd also question whether building muscle should or shouldn't be your goal.

Is 30 too late for calisthenics? ›

But let me tell you something that's not talked about enough – it's never too late to embark on the incredible journey of calisthenics. So, is 30 too late for calisthenics? Not by a long shot. In fact, your thirties can be the perfect time to dive into this transformative discipline.

Is there a 100% free workout app? ›

1. Caliber: A Standout Among Free Workout Apps. Caliber is one of the best free workout apps, famous for its focus on strength training. It's great for everyone, no matter their fitness level.

Is there a free calisthenics app? ›

The Free Version contains 50 exercises in 5 categories, with full functionality. -You can explore and use the full potential of Calisthenics Mastery through the free content. -You can unlock Advanced Exercises, Easy-to-use Workout Plans and Motivating Workout Modes as you progress in Calisthenics.

What does BetterMe cost? ›

$19.99/month

What happens if you do calisthenics everyday? ›

You will also need to get your body accustomed to the movement over time before performing it too often. So find a balance between practicing and resting for best results. As long as there is no pain or discomfort, the skill work can be done every day without long-term issues.

Is the 28 day workout challenge free pdf? ›

Yes, our 28-day workout challenge is completely free and you can download the schedule and fillable chart to track your progress.

How long does it take for calisthenics to show results? ›

While you'll experience early gains within weeks, it's the first 3 to 6 months where you'll see significant progress. Beyond that, your calisthenics journey is a continuous adventure of mastering skills, refining your physique, and embracing the lifelong benefits of this dynamic discipline.

Is it OK to workout calisthenics everyday? ›

Training calisthenics every day is possible and safe when done correctly. The best way to train daily without experiencing overtraining is by splitting your weekly volume up throughout the days so you don't do more volume than a normal workout split where you train 3-5 times per week.

What should I train in the gym for calisthenics? ›

Examples of calisthenics exercises include bodyweight squats, push-ups, and lunges. Incorporate strength training: After your calisthenics warm-up, move on to strength training exercises in the gym. This can include exercises such as bench press, deadlifts, and rows.

How many hours a day should I do calisthenics? ›

We normally recommend 3-4 days per week 30-60 min each session. In addition to regular movement outside of these scheduled workouts. Most people will be able to accommodate their workouts to this much training, and it's a reasonable amount of time to give you optimal results.

Can I get fit with just calisthenics? ›

Calisthenics is amazing for building functional, full-body muscle but there is a limit to the amount of sheer mass you can gain with calisthenics. Calisthenics will build as much muscle as free weights to a point, but if you want to push past that point then you'll need to train (and eat) like a bodybuilder.

References

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