10 Fun, Creative Ways to Stay on Track with Calisthenics this Christmas

December 04, 2024 5 min read

The holiday season is here, and while it’s a time for indulgence, laughter, and quality time with loved ones, it can also be a challenging period for staying consistent with your fitness routine. But who says you can’t have your mince pie and eat it too (after earning it with a killer set of push-ups)? This Christmas, keep your calisthenics routine alive with these fun, light-hearted, and festive ideas to stay active without feeling like you’re missing out on the holiday spirit.

1. The Calisthenics Advent Calendar

Christmas isn’t complete without an advent calendar, but why limit yourself to chocolate when you could have fitness fun instead? Create a “Calisthenics Advent Calendar,” with a new exercise or challenge each day leading up to Christmas.

How it works:

Each day, open a new “door” with a festive exercise. Think 12 push-ups for December 12th, 20 squats on the 20th, or even a full-body plank for as long as you can hold it on Christmas Eve.

This daily mini-challenge keeps you moving and motivated, even with all the Christmas chaos.

2. Push-Ups with Presents

If you’re already sitting by the tree surrounded by gifts, why not turn unwrapping into a workout? For every gift you unwrap, drop and give yourself a set of push-ups.

Ideas for variations:

Add a clap for smaller gifts or maybe even a double clap for your favourite gifts?
For bigger, heavier presents, switch to slower, more controlled push-ups to really engage your core and chest.
Got kids in the room? Make it a family competition to see who can complete their set fastest before unwrapping the next present.

Not only does this keep your blood flowing, but it also makes unwrapping gifts feel like an active part of the day.

3. Christmas Film Circuit Challenge

We all love a classic Christmas movie binge, but sitting for hours on the couch can lead to a bit of a slump. Level up your movie marathons by turning them into a circuit challenge.

Here’s how it works:

Choose a list of actions tied to movie clichés. For example:
- A snowman appears = 10 squats.
- Someone says “Merry Christmas” = 15 push-ups.
- A character drinks hot chocolate = 20 mountain climbers.
- Santa is spotted = 30 seconds of plank jacks.
By the time the credits roll, you’ll have completed a full-body workout without even realising it.

4. Family Fitness Games

Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones, so why not get everyone involved in a festive fitness game?

Ideas include:

“Reindeer Races”: Turn your living room into a makeshift obstacle course using chairs, pillows, and holiday decorations. Crawl, jump, and balance your way through as if you’re training to guide Santa’s sleigh.
“Elf Hide-and-Seek”: Hide small fitness “tasks” (eg,10 lunges, 15 triceps dips or push ups) around the house like elves. Each family member finds and completes as many as possible within a set time.
"Deck the Halls Push-Up Challenge"
Lyrics:
🎶 Deck the halls with boughs of holly (Push up!)
🎶 Fa la la la la, la la la la (Hold at the top)
🎶 ’Tis the season to be jolly (Push down!)
🎶 Fa la la la la, la la la la (Hold at the bottom)
Repeat every time the song cues you with the "Fa la la la" breaks. Hold the position (either up or down) during the "Fa la la" parts until the next instruction.

5. Post-Feast Plank Contest

After Christmas dinner, when everyone is lounging in food comas, challenge the family to a plank-off.

How to make it festive:

Wear Santa hats or reindeer antlers for added fun.
Add a competitive twist: Whoever holds their plank the longest gets the biggest slice of dessert!
Modify for kids or less active family members with side planks, knee planks, or even wall sits.

This friendly competition burns off a few of those extra calories and creates some hilarious holiday memories.

6. Christmas Calisthenics Walks

If you’re braving the cold for some Christmas carolling or heading out to see the lights, turn your stroll into a calisthenics session.

Try this walking workout:

At each decorated house or Christmas tree you pass, stop and do 10 air squats, jump squats or lunges.

You’ll stay warm, active, and in the holiday spirit all at once.

7. The Festive Deck of Cards Workout

This classic workout gets a holiday twist! Assign each suit in a deck of cards to a calisthenics exercise and draw cards to reveal your “presents.”

Example:

Hearts = Push-ups.
Spades = Squats.
Diamonds = Dips.
Clubs = Sit-ups.
Jokers = 1-minute plank.

Shuffle the deck and keep drawing cards until you’ve completed your festive workout. Bonus points if you do this while listening to Christmas music!

8. Elf on the Shelf Fitness Challenge

If you have an Elf on the Shelf in your home, make their antics fitness-related. Each morning, your elf can "challenge" the family to an exercise task like:

“Santa’s Bootcamp”: 5 rounds of burpees, squats, and planks.
“Reindeer Dash”: A 10-minute high-knee sprint in place.
“Tinsel Twists”: Russian twists with a small gift or ornament as your weight.

The kids will love the creative scenarios, and you’ll get your workout in while having fun together.

9. The Candy Cane Countdown

Turn those festive candy canes into fitness tools. Hold one in each hand during squats for balance, use them as markers for agility drills, or see how many sit-ups you can do while holding a candy cane between your teeth (just don’t choke!).

Alternatively, for every candy cane you eat, do a set of exercises to “earn” your treat:

1 candy cane = 15 push-ups, 20 squats, and a 30-second plank.

10. Silent Night Stretch Session

After all the hustle and bustle, take a moment to relax with some gentle calisthenics and stretches. Use the soothing sounds of Christmas carols as your soundtrack for:

Slow yoga-inspired movements.
Static holds like wall sits or planks.
Deep stretching to recover from the day’s activities.

This is the perfect way to wind down and stay mindful during the festive season.

Wrapping It All Up

Staying active during Christmas doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With these fun and festive calisthenics ideas, you can enjoy the holidays guilt-free while keeping your fitness goals on track. Whether you’re unwrapping gifts, watching movies, or laughing with family, there’s always an opportunity to sneak in some movement.

So go ahead, embrace the spirit of the season, and remember: every push-up, squat, and plank you do is just another way of preparing for a fitter, stronger new year. Merry Fit-mas! 🎄💪