The Local - Mt VictoriaIf you left the monkey bars behind when you left primary school, think again.
Adults are embracing the strength and mobility benefits of calisthenics, and Mt Victoria residents have the city’s only purpose-built outdoor training location on their doorstep.
When the Pirie Street Playground was refreshed in 2022, the council installed a calisthenics-friendly set of bars, to support ‘unstructured’ workouts like calisthenics.
Now you will regularly see adherents working out there, using the set of bars for chin ups, handstands and ‘flags’ (where you hold yourself horizontally to a vertical bar).
Wellington Calisthenics often meets there on a Sunday morning.
Member and long time enthusiast Nicholas Boisset says a session usually consists of a warm up, work on a particular skill, a calisthenics workout that includes legs, a push, a pull and some core, and then free time to work on personal goals, assisted by others.
Boisset says anyone can have a go, because moves can be adjusted to make them accessible.
“Even if you can’t do the full expression of the movement, there is always a regression; we’re going to come up with something for you.”
One of the benefits of calisthenics is it’s free and can be done with no equipment and just a small amount of space.
“Obviously if you have equipment you can expand your training but basically with a tiny amount of space and no equipment, you can still work on your balance, there’s lots you can do.”
Wellington Callisthenics is an informal group, run out of a Facebook page. Experienced members take it in turn to lead a session.
“This community is based on sharing knowledge, sharing a workout, getting together.”
Boisset says newcomers are made welcome.
I know it can be intimidating, especially if you’re coming by yourself, but everyone is super welcoming.”
“We’re more than happy to have people – the more we are, the happier we are.”
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