Does Calisthenics Really Count as Strength Training? Experts Say Yes – With One Catch
Your legs shake after a set of deep squats. Your chest burns from push-ups. No dumbbells in sight – but are you actually building strength?
For many Ghanaians working out at home or in local parks, calisthenics – exercises using only your bodyweight – is the most accessible form of resistance training. Air squats, lunges, push-ups, and dips require no equipment, no gym fees, and no travel. But a question nags: does it genuinely count as strength training, or is it just conditioning in disguise?
The short answer, according to exercise physiologists, is a definitive yes.
What Actually Defines Strength Training?
Strength training simply means contracting your muscles against a load, explains Susie Reiner, PhD, CSCS, of Seton Hall University. That load can be external – barbells, k...