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Parallettes are one of the most versatile pieces of exercise equipment out there! There is a whole host of dynamic moves to add to your repertoire. Start with the basics like dips to strengthen your triceps and push-ups to work your chest and shoulders. Progress to more expert moves like the L-sit for abdominals, V-sit for abs plus hips, planche for a great core and upper body burn, handstand for shoulders, back and arms and the iconic handstand push-up… well now you’re just showing off. With these compact pieces of kit, the possibilities are endless!

The beauty of calisthenics is that it centres around using your own body to perform functional moves that build muscle and obliterate fat. That makes calisthenics a great option for everyone looking to get healthy, it’s accessible for all. You can get started with minimal equipment too; try a good quality set of parallettes and a pull-up bar to cover all the basics before progressing onto more skilled movements. There’s a wealth of information available at your fingertips to get you underway, look for tutorials and how-to articles and blogs… in fact have a browse on the Gravity Fitness website for everything you need to begin your calisthenics journey.

The absolute best home exercise equipment without fail is your own body! That’s what makes calisthenics so beneficial. There are a couple of pieces of kit, however, that allow you to get the most out of your home workouts; all whilst taking minimal space to store in your home too! A fantastic starter kit that covers all the basics are a set of parallettes, pull-up bar and some resistance bands. These adaptable bits of kits will allow you to achieve a next-level full body workout that will not only up your calisthenic game but also create a lean, toned body that leaves you feeling energised and confident.

In short… yes! Absolutely you can! Hypertrophy, the process of growing muscle is caused by applying resistance that causes the muscle fibres to breakdown and then rebuild the damaged tissue. Traditionally, most people think of conventional bodybuilding exercises for muscle growth however that resistance required to initially damage the muscle tissue can be achieved by any number of stimulus. Incorporating calisthenics into your muscle building routine is considered a much safer strategy with a substantially lower risk of injury than its bodybuilding counterparts. To help muscles grow ensure you are eating a calorie surplus (consuming more energy than you burn), ingesting plenty of protein and getting adequate sleep.

In order to improve any skill, the key is practice! Be consistent with your training and persevere… nothing beats good old-fashioned graft. There are some accessory moves that will help increase your rep bank though; incorporate some weighted pull-ups and try a slightly wider than shoulder-width grip for variety. Always ensure you are engaging your lats in order to increase strength and consider adding some heavy deadlifts into your regimen. Losing bodyfat will make the move easier to perform and allow you to sneak in those extra couple of reps so try applying a modest calorie deficit if it’s aligned with your goals.