The name calisthenics is Greek in origin, a combination of the words 'beauty' and 'strength'.
United States usage
Calisthenics is a type of exercise consisting of a variety of simple movements usually performed without weights or other equipment that are intended to increase body strength and flexibility using the weight of one's own body for resistance. The history of calisthenics is linked to gymnastics. Disciples of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn brought their version of gymnastics to the United States, while Catherine Beecher and Dio Lewis set up physical education programs for women in the 19th Century. Organized systems of calisthenics in America took a back seat to competitive sports after the Battle of the Systems during which states mandated physical education systems. The word exercise can mean the following: A setting in action or practicing. ... Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinaesthetic awareness, such as handsprings and handstands. ... Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (1778 - 1852) was a German Prussian gymnastics educator and patriot. ... The Battle of the Systems, a controversy over the most effective system of exercise and calisthenics, consisted of different systems of exercise mostly in a gymnastic or calisthenic-type format. ...
Examples of calisthenic exercises include:
Sit-ups/crunches: Start with your back on the floor, knees bent, bottoms of feet against the floor. Lift shoulders off the floor by tightening abdominal muscles bringing you chest closer to your knees. Lower back to the floor with a smooth movement.
Push-ups: Start face down on floor, palms against floor under shoulders, toes curled up against floor. Push up with arms keeping a straight line from head through toes. Lower to within a few inches of floor and repeat.
Squats: Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Squat as far as possible bringing your arms forward parallel to the floor. Return to standing position. Repeat.
A sit-up can refer to: Moving to a sitting postion from a lying postion Sit-up a form of exercise. ... A press up (also push up) is a common strength training exercise performed while lying horizontal and face down, raising and lowering using the arms. ...
Australian usage
In Australia, calisthenics is a competitive women's sport combining gymnastics, dance, ballet, folk dance, singing, marching, and free exercise. Calisthenics was first pioneered as a sport in 1986 through the work of Miss Rebecca Munro.
During the army’s time in Egypt Callisthenes went on a trip to locate the source of the Nile, and when they reached Babylon he supervised the translation of the Babylonian astronomical records; so his remit was clearly much wider than just writing a journal of the expedition.
Callisthenes is best known for writing a history of the expedition which was laden with flattery of Alexander, and he appears to have played a large part in the elevation of Alexander as son of Zeus following the visit to Siwa in Egypt.
Callisthenes’ history was probably written in instalments that were sent back to Greece to be disseminated to the states of the League of Corinth.
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