Skip the toxic gym culture
and train calisthenics in a playfully curious way.
Right now, you really want to get your first push-up or chin-up...
...or some other calisthenics move...
...But you are OVERWHELMED by all of the fitness content on Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube and want to know where to start.
You're SICK and TIRED of gymbros, gals, and they/them's showing off, but not really teaching you how to work with YOUR body and YOUR needs.
You're TURNED OFF by "no-pain, no-gain" dogmas and don't yet know how "to gym" any other way.
You find yourself thinking:
"I'm SO confused. I have no idea what would actually help me progress."
"My body will never be able to move like that influencer."
"Can I actually meet my fitness goals while honoring my body and values?"
Trying to knit together training advice from social media will get you nowhere FAST...
...and leave you feeling FRUSTRATED, DEMORALIZED, and maybe even alone.
Thankfully, THERE IS a way to learn calisthenics in a simple way while honoring who you are.
A path that allows you to:
👂🏽 Listen to your unique body's needs and capacities
✋🏽 Feel into what your heart is actually curious to learn (rather than forcing society's "shoulds")
🔗 Be connected to other queer fam who have similar values and goals.
Photo taken at Radically Fit Oakland. Art by nicky gervacio of We Rise Production
I have developed a program that walks you through how to start (or build upon) your calisthenics journey while centering YOUR autonomy and the unique way YOU move through the world.
Through this journey you'll explore...
Okay, maybe that's a strange thing to say...
...because mainstream calisthenics culture suggests that the only thing that matters is getting the HARDEST SKILLS POSSIBLE.
Nailing the pistol squat
Holding the full planche
Mastering the handstand
...which can feel fun and amazing!
But the mainstream misses all the things we can learn about ourselves IN PROCESS.
It misses what we gain in our lives by even just taking one step forward towards a dream, even if we never reach social media's ideal.
No matter your skin color, gender, sexuality, body size, age, if you're curious about learning calisthenics JUST START!
Explore what YOU want for YOUR BODY and let that vision carry you towards what you're meant to learn.
Queer Calisthenics Beginnings is here to teach you HOW to build a solid strength and mobility base, as well as encourage you to trust yourself to craft the fitness journey that's right for you.
In six weeks, you'll learn how to...
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Train the chin up, push up, shrimp squat, pike press, bridge and other calisthenics classics
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Incorporate mobility to aid in recovery and boost your workouts
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Use a somatic tool to tune into your desires in fitness
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Adjust workouts according to how you feel on any given day
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Play with (wildly fun) animal movements to increase flexibility and coordination
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Progress, regress, and swap exercises according to your needs
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Train while minimizing injury and burnout
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Get stronger and more flexible on YOUR terms!
With this program you WILL become stronger and more self-aware...
EVEN IF you don't have a gym membership.
EVEN IF you don't have all the equipment.
EVEN IF you've never trained calisthenics before.
EVEN IF you've struggled to train on your own.
EVEN IF you only have 90 minutes a week to workout.
Less shame. More curiosity.
Success defined by you...
...and queer community to join you on the path.
If you want to get stronger so you can move through life with more freedom, play, and joy...
Queer Calisthenics Beginnings is for you.
What happens when strength work turns into play?
“I love exercising when I feel like there's some kind of play involved. I want to have fun, and Queer Calisthenics was exactly that.” - Cassidy H., they/them
“I had always wanted to do a shrimp squat. I thought that it was damn near impossible. And I was able to get one or two usable shrimp squats, which felt fantastic.” - Cassidy (cont.)
What others had to say...
"I felt like even though I was busy, I had calisthenics and movement on my mind more thanks to all the positivity and community activity" - Katrina O., she/they
"I can do a bridge! I can also do 15 consecutive push-ups and 5 consecutive chin-ups," - Ku'u, they/them
"Body feels lighter." - Jojo, she/her
Will this work for me?
Queer Calisthenics was designed for queer folks who are anywhere from beginner to experienced in fitness AND who are looking for community to train with. Our students include...
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Educators
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Organizers
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Pick up soccer fanatics
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Artists
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Busy parents
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People navigating chronic joint pain
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Fitness Coaches
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Calisthenics nerds
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People who don't have gym memberships
Through their journey,
shah (they/them) learned the importance of "progress over perfection" while training from home.
"Even if I couldn't do a full workout or put 100% into my movement practice, I met myself where I was at and still made progress. I got better form in my push-ups, surprised myself with my strength for the leg lifts and jumps, improved my hold length for the hollow-body holds!" - shah n. (they/them)
What you'll move through over six weeks
PART 1 — ASSESS
Start where you are.
Before you start training, you'll get a clear picture of your current strength, mobility, and movement capacity—so you can actually see where you're starting from.
You'll also learn how to:
- Perform your movement assessments
- Set an intention for your training through a short somatic practice
- Build a sustainable training rhythm around your actual time and energy
- Adjust your workouts when life (or your body) asks you to
- Swap movements based on your goals, preferences, needs, and available equipment
MOBILITY
Move with more freedom.
You'll have dedicated ~20-minute Upper Body, Lower Body, and Core mobility routines that you can weave into your training whenever they feel useful.
No rigid mobility calendar. Use the toolkit according to what your body needs.
PART 2 — TRAIN
Build strength, skill + body awareness.
You'll work through Upper Body, Lower Body, and Core training days, with A + B workouts that you rotate throughout four weeks.
Each workout combines:
- Skill development, coordination, and body awareness
- Strength + endurance training
- Follow-along warm-ups and cool-downs
- Movement demonstrations so you can learn at your own pace
- Options to adjust the workout to your needs
You'll also learn how to progress movements sustainably—so getting stronger doesn't have to mean constantly pushing harder.
PART 3 — REASSESS
See what changed.
At the end of the program, you'll repeat your original assessments and get to see what has shifted—not just in what you can do, but in how you move.
COMMUNITY + LIVE COACHING
Your purchase includes unlimited access to the Queer Calisthenics Discord community, where you can connect with other queer folks training alongside you.
During your six-week journey, you'll also have opportunities to join live group coaching calls where you can ask questions, troubleshoot movements, get coaching, and connect in real time.
WRAP-UP
Take it from here.
We'll close out the six weeks by celebrating your commitment and progress, reflecting on where you want to go next, and giving you space to share feedback.
ALSO INCLUDED
- 🎥 Movement demonstrations + follow-along workouts
- 📋 Printable + digital training logs
- 🧘🏽 Set Your Intention somatic practice
- 📱 Mobile app access
- 💬 Unlimited Discord community access
- 🏋🏽 Equipment guidance
- 🎙️ Live group coaching during your six-week journey
- and...
The Movement Swap Blueprint🏋🏾♂️
One of the most important skills you can learn in fitness is how to make a program work for you.
That's why Queer Calisthenics Beginnings includes the Movement Swap Blueprint—a simple guide for figuring out what to do when a movement doesn't feel right, doesn't fit your goals, or just isn't your vibe.
You'll learn how to choose an alternative movement based on:
- What you want to train
- Your body's needs and current capacity
- Your preferences
- The equipment you have available
So instead of thinking, “I guess I just can't do this exercise,” you can ask:
“What's another way I could explore this movement pattern?”
You'll also get links to movement demonstrations so you can see your options in action.
Hi! My name is Adele.
And I truly believe anyone can learn calisthenics.
Unfortunately, though, most calisthenics content I see pedestals hyper fit cis-(or cis-passing) men in their 20s, which can be very discouraging for anyone else presenting differently.
As a former women's sports journalist, I know how important it is to create content that helps people to feel seen and understood so they have the inspiration to reach their goals.
But it can't just be representation for representation's sake.
It's got to be different.
In the case of a fitness program and the Queer Calisthenics Youtube channel, I knew this course had to speak to the value of honoring autonomy and desire.
Because so many of us –— queer, trans, BIPOC, neurodivergent — have been taught to ignore our wants and needs.
To silence our "no's" and forget our "yeses".
Long-story-short: I'm an ex-collegiate and CrossFit athlete who sacrificed her body in the name of social recognition, which I realize now was my way of creating safety for a young 1st gen Jamaican-Guyanese girl who was just trying to fit into her private school upbringing.
After years of recovering from injuries, calisthenics became a path to slow down, heal, and understand my body better.
This is all to say: I created this course for 2 reasons:
1. To start to fill in a visibility gap that I've felt has been missing for a long time. (There's so much work to do here, y'all.)
2. Share tools that have helped me to come home to my body.
My hope is that this queer community continues to blossom and that you'll join in on this experience, too!
Refund Policy
Queer Calisthenics Beginnings gives you the structure, tools, guidance, and support to build your strength and mobility practice.
What you do with it—and where you take it from there—is yours.
Your progress will depend on how you engage with the program, listen to your body, practice consistently, and make the tools work for your life.
Because the course includes immediate and LIFETIME access to the program materials, community, and resources, all purchases are final and non-refundable.
Please take a moment to make sure Queer Calisthenics Beginnings feels like the right fit for you before enrolling.
FAQ
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Do I need to be experienced with calisthenics?
Nope! Queer Calisthenics Beginnings was created for people who are new to calisthenics as well as folks who already have some fitness experience and want a more intentional way to train. You'll start by assessing where you are and then build from there.
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Do I need a gym membership or a lot of equipment?
No. You don't need a gym membership or a fully stocked home gym. Some movements may require access to basic equipment like a pull-up bar, but you'll get equipment guidance at the beginning of the program, and the Movement Swap Blueprint will help you find alternatives based on what you actually have access to.
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What if I have pain or physical limitations?
Queer Calisthenics is built around listening to your body and adapting your training—not forcing yourself through pain. You'll learn how to adjust movements and workouts according to your needs and capacity. That said, this program isn't medical care or individualized physical therapy. If you're dealing with an injury or medical condition, please consult an appropriate healthcare professional before beginning a new exercise program.
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How much time do I need to commit?
The program is designed to be flexible. The training sessions can range from about 30–60 minutes, and you'll learn how to adjust your training according to the time and energy you actually have. Even if you only have about 90 minutes a week to dedicate to training, you can still participate. The goal isn't perfection. It's building a sustainable relationship with movement.
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How does the six-week schedule work?
You'll begin with an assessment week so you can establish your starting point. From there, you'll alternate between your A and B training sessions throughout the six weeks, with mobility routines you can weave in according to your needs. At the end, you'll repeat your assessments to see what's changed. You'll have access to the full course materials so you can move through the program at your own pace within that six-week journey.
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What happens if I miss a workout or can't follow the program perfectly?
Nothing dramatic. 😂 You don't have to “make up” for missed workouts or start over. Life happens. You'll learn how to adjust your training according to your actual time, energy, and capacity—which is part of what sustainable training means. Learning how to make the program work for you is part of the program.
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What's included with my purchase?
You'll receive the full six-week Queer Calisthenics Beginnings course, including: Movement assessments, strength training, mobility routines, follow-along workouts, training logs, somatic intention practice, equipment guidance, mobile app access, unlimited Discord community access, live group coaching opportunities during your six-week journey
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Is there a community component?
Yes! Your purchase includes unlimited access to the Queer Calisthenics Discord community, where you can connect with other queer folks who are training, learning, asking questions, and sharing their progress. You'll also have opportunities to join live group coaching calls during your six-week journey, where you can ask questions, troubleshoot movements, and get coaching in real time.
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What's your refund policy?
Queer Calisthenics Beginnings gives you the structure, tools, guidance, and support to build your strength and mobility practice. What you do with it—and where you take it from there—is yours. Because you'll receive immediate access to the course materials, community, and resources, all purchases are final and non-refundable. Please take a moment to make sure Queer Calisthenics Beginnings feels like the right fit for you before enrolling.
Ready to Begin?
You don't need to be the strongest, most flexible, or experienced human in the room
You just need your intention
an a curious heart.
Let's see where it takes you.