21 Day Calisthenics Workout Plan to Kickstart Your Journey
In this article, we provide you with a complete 21 days body weight program to build muscle, get stronger and lose body fat. Because all you need is your body and a stopwatch, this is a home gym friendly program that anyone can do. If the rep counts listed are too challenging (or too easy), decrease or increase as needed.
The program consists of 21 days of workouts including days with active rest. It is widely believed that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. Within these 21 days of workouts you should start to see a positive change in the way you think about exercise as well as a change in your body composition.
You should consider this 21 day program to be a springboard into a fitness lifestyle. It will provide you with a template that you can use when the 21 days is over to create your own program going forward.
The workouts are designed in circuit fashion where you do a series of moves and then rest before repeating the circuit. The rest between circuits varies according to your experience level and are categorized as Levels One, Two and Three as follows:
Level One - Beginner
Level Two - Intermediate
Level Three - Experienced
You will find links to video demonstrations for each exercise listed.
- Yourself
- Stopwatch or clock (to keep time)
Before the workout you should do dynamic stretching, where you move your limbs through a full range of movement rather than holding them in an isometric contraction. After the workout, you should do some static stretching, where you hold the extended position for 5-10 seconds.
Here are 6 dynamic stretches that are tailored to prepare your body for the exercises to follow:
- Arm circles
- Body hugs
- Air squats
- Arms out torso rotations
- Legs spread apart down to the right, left and the middle
Go for a walk, jog or run. Move at a moderate pace that will elevate your heart rate and elevate your core body temperature but not exhaust you.
Day 1 – Legs & Glutes
- 40 Jumping Jacks
- 20 Lunges
- 25 Squats
- 10 Star Jumps
- 10 Reverse Cross Lunges
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times.
Cool Down with Static Stretches - 3-5 min
- 15 Burpees
- 10 Push Ups
- 60s Boxing Punches
- 40 Mountain Climbers
- 25 Leg Raises
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
- 40 Russian Twists
- 15 Plank-to-Push up
- 15 Bench\Chair Dips
- 30-Second Plank
- 40 Crunches
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Go for a brisk walk or light jog 5-10 min
Do some static stretching and rest up for optimal recovery
- 30 Shoulder Taps
- 25 Leg Raises
- 10 Push Ups
- 40 Russian Twists
- 45-Second Plank
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
- 60s Boxing Punches
- 15 Burpees
- 25 Squats
- 10 Star Jumps
- 40 Mountain Climbers
- 10 Push Ups
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
If you choose to do an active recovery exercise today that is ok. Just know that for today it's not mandatory. Make sure you are recovered for tomorrow's workout
Day 1 – Legs & Glutes
- 60s Frankensteins
- 10 Squat Kicks
- 10 Donkey Kicks (each leg)
- 20 Floor Bridge
- 10 Fire Hydrants (each leg)
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Stretches 3-5 min
- 40 Russian Twists
- 15 Plank-to-Push up
- 10 Bench\Chair Dips
- 30s Side Plank (right side)
- 30s Side Plank (left side)
- 30 Heel Touches
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Go for a brisk walk or light jog 5-10 min
Do some static stretching and rest up for optimal recovery
- 15 Shoulder Taps
- 25 Sky Touches
- 60s Boxing Punches
- 40 Crunches
- 25 Flutter Kicks
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Repeat 3 times.
If you choose to do an active recovery exercise that is ok. Just know that for today it's not mandatory. Make sure you are recovered for tomorrow's workout.
If you want a 4-day per week workout plan, you should consider:
Day 1 – Legs & Glutes
- 60s Frankensteins
- 10 Squat Kicks
- 10 Fire Hydrants superset w/ Donkey Kicks (each leg)
- 20 Single leg floor bridge
- 10 Star Jumps
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
- 60s Boxing Punches
- 10 Crunches
- 15 Shoulder Taps
- 25 Flutter Kicks
- 10 Single leg V ups (each leg)
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
- 40 Russian Twists
- 15 Plank-to-Push up
- 10 Bench\Chair Dips
- 30s Side Plank (right side)
- 30s Side Plank (left side)
- 30 Heel Touches
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Go for a brisk walk or light jog 5-10 min
Do some static stretching and rest up for optimal recovery
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Repeat 3 times
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
- 60s Boxing Punches
- 15 Burpees
- 15 Squat Kicks
- 10 Push Ups
- 15 Crunches
- 60s Plank
Rest between circuits:
- Level 1 (beginner) - 90 secs
- Level 2 (intermediate) - 60 secs
- Level 3 (experienced) - 30 secs
Cool Down with Static Stretches 3-5 min
Repeat 3 times
Congratulations you have completed this challenge!
If you’re able to follow this 21-day calisthenics workout, for the full three weeks, you will have achieved a great deal. Your aerobic and anaerobic fitness will sky rocket, your strength levels will increase and you’ll make major changes to the way your body looks and feels. You’ll also be instilling fitness as a part of daily habits, setting you up for a lifetime of health and wellness.
