Calisthenics - the Original Social Fitness Crew?

In the past couple of years, training has shifted from being a solo grind to something much more social. And we don’t mean the formal membership-style clubs that have always been around. Run crews, cold swimming groups, even sauna clubs are popping up everywhere – a real sign that people are looking for community-style collectives.

This is nothing new to calisthenics. Calisthenics is one of the original social workout styles, taking over community spaces and welcoming anyone who wants to give it a go.

Calisthenics has a long history of being grassroots-social. What’s the future? That’s up to you!

Fitness Collectives vs Traditional Clubs

It seems like ever since the pandemic, people don’t just want to train for training’s sake. They want to connect and feel part of something that goes beyond whatever sport they’re doing.

Clubs have always been a thing, of course. But what’s different about the 2025 fitness collective movement is that it’s not about signing up to a sports governing body or getting a membership number. It’s less formal than that, more about the vibes, the community, and the culture of your chosen training style.

The Social History of Calisthenics

Calisthenics is rooted in this collective model of training. It can be traced back to street workouts, and still has that gritty, urban, thrown-together feel that welcomes all comers.

At its core, calisthenics has always been social, whether it’s an informal pull-up battle or elite competition.

Why Are Fitness Collectives So Popular?

The rise of fitness collectives is a huge trend across lots of sports (especially running) and into broader areas of wellness like hot/cold therapy, saunas, and wild swimming.

We think there are a few reasons for this:

• Culture and identity - being part of a crew or collective says a lot about who you are

• Accessibility – lots of collectives are free or low-cost, making sport more democratic

• Shared motivation - turning up for the crew keeps you accountable to people you admire

• Vibes vs vanity – in general, fitness is shifting away from aesthetics towards connection and belonging

Calisthenics Crews and Collectives

We think this fitness-collective movement is only going to grow over the next 3-5 years, because it represents a perfect storm of social, cultural, and fitness needs. And we think calisthenics is perfectly placed to lead the way (it’s what calisthenics has already been doing for decades).

If you’ve ever been to a calisthenics park on a sunny weekend, you’ll know what we mean. Groups of people gathering around the bars (some friends, some just met), swapping moves, giving advice, spotting each other, making new connections. Yes, it’s training, but it’s also just hanging out somewhere you love with people just like you.

Calisthenics naturally attracts this energy because:

1. You don’t need fancy kit or an indoor space - a bar is enough

2. Training is visual - people watch, learn, and get stuck in

3. The journey from first pull-up to levers and muscle-ups is shared

4. It’s inclusive - beginners and advanced athletes can train together

Is Calisthenics the Original Social Fitness Scene?

Long before fitness collectives became an industry trend, calisthenics crews were out there in towns and cities across the world. There were early street workout scenes in NYC, Moscow, and London, with crews training together and building a culture.

Calisthenics was the original social fitness scene – and the rest of the industry is catching up with what we do best!

The Future of Calisthenics Socials

At Gravity Fitness, we’re proud to support the community. Last month, we hosted a huge calisthenics takeover at Gymnation London Bridge. Hundreds of athletes, calisthenics fans, and coaches packed the space. The vibe was unreal with challenges, skills, and mini competitions all through the day. It was proof of what we already knew – that calisthenics people are the best at supporting each other, and our sport is the glue that holds us together.

So what’s next? We see calisthenics socials becoming a bigger part of the movement. From grassroots meetups to organised events, the culture is ready to scale. Imagine regular calisthenics crew training sessions, competitions with community hangouts, and maybe even crossover with other fitness collectives like run crews?

We don’t know exactly what the future of calisthenics socials will look like, but we know one thing’s for sure – we will be right there, putting on events and supporting the growth.

Get Involved

We’d love to know what you want to see from the social side of calisthenics. Whether it’s events, competitions, online or in-person collectives or something else. Get in touch with us any time. If we can make it happen, we will.