Not many workout styles are as divisive as bodyweight training. While some feel working out using just their bodyweight is pointless (usually because they’re doing it wrong), there are others who find functional, equipment-free training a brilliant way to build strength.

And it seems that more and more of us are falling into the latter camp, with pilates growing in popularity and home workouts sticking as a mainstay of fitness. The main criticism people have is that it’s harder to make progress with bodyweight – but that’s because they’ve not tried calisthenics, a type of bodyweight workout that encompasses everything from press-ups to human flag (hanging off a pole horizontally).

But what actually is calisthenics and how can we get cracking if we’re not already part of a specific studio or gym?

Calisthenics for beginners: a complete guide to the bodyweight workout