How a Former Gymnast Saved $1,200/Year and Got Stronger with Calisthenics (Real Story)
📖 Read Time: 12 Minutes | Updated: 2025 | Difficulty: All Levels
What happens when a passionate gymnast discovers they can’t afford $100/month gym fees? For 17-year-old Talen, it meant discovering something better. He found a training method that not only saved him $1,200 per year but actually improved his handstand, unlocked new skills, and kept him progressing even when gyms closed during lockdown. This is the data-backed story of how gymnastics training principles can transform your calisthenics journey – without the hefty price tag.
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⚠️ The Hidden Cost of Traditional Gymnastics Training
Most aspiring gymnasts face a harsh reality:
- $80-150/month gym memberships
- $50-100/hour for private coaching
- Limited training hours (4 sessions/week)
- Facility closures during holidays or emergencies
- Age discrimination (“too old” at 18+)
That’s $1,200-2,400 per year just for basic access. But what if there was a better way?
✨Meet Talen
Talen isn’t new to bodyweight training.
At the age of 17, he started gymnastics and fell in love with the sport.
But since he’s still in high school, gymnastics club membership can get expensive even with only four times a week.
Talen found an alternative that is way more affordable and provides convenient bodyweight training anywhere at any time. He found The Movement Athlete app.
📊 Gymnastics vs Calisthenics: Cost & Results Comparison
| Factor | Traditional Gymnastics | Calisthenics Training |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $80-150 | $8-47 |
| Training Frequency | 4x/week (facility hours) | Unlimited (anywhere) |
| Age Restrictions | Often “too old” at 18+ | No age limits |
| Equipment Needed | Full gym facility | Minimal or none |
| Skill Transfer | 100% gymnastics | 80% gymnastics + extras |
📖 What You’ll Learn:
- How Talen saved $1,200/year while improving his gymnastics skills
- The exact training method that improved his handstand in weeks
- Why 80% of gymnastics movements transfer perfectly to calisthenics
- The progressive system that works for ages 17-70+
- How to train during lockdowns, travel, or busy schedules
This is the story of Talen – The Movement Athlete
Since becoming a Movement Athlete, Talen has been continuously developing his bodyweight mastery through calisthenics which is closely related to gymnastics.
He never looked back and still trains with the app even when he’s in a gymnastics training facility.
Learn more about his story below.👇
🏃Active lifestyle
“I also have been a gymnast before. I’ve been interested in gymnastics for a while since I was a kid. Unfortunately, I got into it a little late.”
Talen has always had an active lifestyle. He also became a gymnast at an early age. However, due to the very high demands of the sport, the ages 10 and above can already be considered too late if you’re planning to compete at a very high level.
Regardless of competing, Talen enjoys the sport so much that he continuously trains with it.
In addition, he also just got certified as a personal trainer and works for the AmeriCorp doing conservation work, wildlife, and fire, and disaster response.
🤜He’s definitely not a beginner when he joined The Movement Athlete.
♥️Love for gymnastics
“I wish I would have gotten to it a lot sooner, but once I got to the age of 18-19. I wasn’t really able to compete in any gym anymore, unfortunately.”
Talen was competitive. He wanted to pursue gymnastics. Kids can start training for the sport as early as two years old. There are also recorded professional gymnasts that started later at the age of 12.
Gymnastics can be said to be the epitome of bodyweight mastery.💯 This is a systematic sport involving movement using your bodyweight or an apparatus and placing the body in mechanically disadvantageous positions.
Popular gymnastic apparatus is the gymnastics rings which require a high-level of upper body strength to master.🥇
High-level gymnasts don’t only display an incredible amount of strength. They also possess amazing agility, endurance, coordination, and balance, which is why starting at an early age is ideal for competition.
While everybody AT ANY AGE can train in gymnastics, starting your training at an earlier age puts you at a massive advantage for pursuing advanced gymnastics competitions.
✊Even though Talen might not be able to compete at his dream goal, he still wanted to train in gymnastics because he enjoys the sport so much.
Gymnastics expenses💸
“I couldn’t really afford paying the fees and stuff as a high schooler for $80 to $100 a month just for four classes.”
Unfortunately, gymnastics training doesn’t come cheap. Because of the huge facilities and specialized coaching, the rate of gym usage as well as hiring a coach, can get expensive.💰
Especially for the case of Talen who was just still at highschool during his start of interest in gymnastics.
👀Looking for an alternative
“So I was looking for an alternative, like an app. I could train that at home and kind of still do the same thing that I was doing at Gymnastics Place. So I looked into apps and I found TMA…”
Talen was determined to train with a gymnastic approach, so he searched for an app that could offer the same amount of challenge and structure that gymnastics training provides. And then he found The Movement Athlete.
At first, he was skeptical, but he gave it a try with the available free trial period.
If you want to check it out, click the link below:👇
🎯 Save $1,200/Year Like Talen Did
No equipment needed • Takes 5 minutes • Instant personalized plan
🔥Gymnastics VS Calisthenics
“Gymnastics is calisthenics in a way. So I decided to try TMA out, and I was not disappointed at all!”
Gymnastics isn’t synonymous with calisthenics. HOWEVER, both sport make use of bodyweight exercises to develop the fitness level of athletes. In fact, many movements in calisthenics also came from gymnastics, such as the following:
✔️Planche – Ultimate Planche Guide
✔️Front Lever – The Ultimate Guide to Front Lever
✔️Handstands- The Ultimate Guide to Freestanding Handstand
✔️Ring Dips – Ultimate Guide to Ring Dips
✔️Muscle-ups – Ultimate Guide to Muscle-ups
At the same time, both disciplines also utilize bodyweight fundamental exercises to build a solid foundation of strength, mobility, muscle, and endurance. Research shows that 80% of gymnastics strength elements can be effectively trained through progressive calisthenics methods.
Here are the calisthenics fundamentals which is also emphasized in The Movement Athlete App:
👊 Pull-ups – The Ultimate Guide to Pull-ups
👊 Push-ups – The Ultimate Guide to Push-ups
👊 Dips – The Ultimate Guide to Bodyweight Dips
👊 Squats – Squat Progressions
👊 Core work – The Best Core Exercises
👊 Basic Wall Handstand – How to Wall to Handstand
But what’s the difference between gymnastics and calisthenics?
⚡️Gymnastics is a sport, and you’ll hear of it from the Olympic competitions. Calisthenics, in our context, is an exercise training method. It’s basically weightlifting but using your body weight instead of weights, dumbbells, and barbells.
Gymnastics has diverse elements in the sport. It’s not only about rings and floor work or balance beams. It’s quite complex and also involves a form of an artistic element.
💥In calisthenics, you can also get creative, but generally, it mostly focuses on the strengthening and conditioning side. Although we also have Street Calisthenics which is also a sport that offers more dynamic aspects similar to gymnastics.
You can use calisthenics to build up strength and condition your body for gymnastics elements. There are many overlapping layers between the two disciplines which is why Talen opted to work on calisthenics for now.☝️
“I even ordered a pair of gymnastics rings to get back on the rings again. It was great to have TMA be able to implement that with it too because gymnastics is part of calisthenics too, so I love that they have that aspect on there too.”
⚡️The Movement Athlete Experience
Options on Skills to Work on
“…the whole entire training style of going into the app and being able to choose different skills you want to work on and choose how well you did the skill. I thought that was awesome.”
✊Specificity is king when learning skills.
While working on many skills simultaneously can yield results, it’s not as efficient as working on 1-2 major skills at a time, especially for strength skills such as planche and levers.
This is why The Movement Athlete app offers an opportunity to choose your next path upon mastering the calisthenics fundamentals.
Talen enjoys this feature as he knows he’ll be able to make more meaningful progress this way.
Choosing a specific goal lets him enjoy himself more and stay motivated in his workout.
But what guaranteed his progress are these elements of The Movement Athlete training approach:
☑️Progressive Training System
🎯 “What makes calisthenics progressive?”
Progressive calisthenics adjusts difficulty through leverage changes, not just adding reps. For example, push-up progressions move from wall → incline → knee → full → diamond → archer → one-arm, each increasing strength demands by 15-20%.
Many calisthenics programs fail to maintain progressiveness in the workout.
For the most that we see, cookie-cutter workouts just keep on adding reps and sets on push-ups.
Yes, this is still progressive, but it is one-dimensional. It offers to build up muscular endurance, which is only one aspect of fitness.
What if you want to build more strength?💪
🌟 Why The Movement Athlete is Different
We’re not for Instagram fitness models or genetic freaks. The Movement Athlete was built by ordinary people, for ordinary people who want extraordinary results.
📊 Progressive, Not Random
Unlike YouTube workouts, we use gravity-based progressions that systematically build strength by manipulating leverage, just like gymnastics coaches have done for decades.
- Wall push-ups → Incline → Full → Archer → One-arm
- Each step increases gravity’s effect by 15-20%
- No guesswork, just physics
🎯 For Real People, Not Athletes
Our users include:
- 50+ year-olds achieving their first pull-up
- Busy parents training in 20-minute sessions
- Office workers fixing decades of bad posture
- Former athletes rediscovering movement joy
The secret? Our AI doesn’t just pick random exercises. It uses 100+ micro-progressions to find your exact level—not too easy (boring), not too hard (injury)—but just right for growth.
Talen discovered what 100,000+ ordinary people already know: You don’t need talent, youth, or genetics. You need the right progressions.
☑️Friendly for beginners to advanced!
“I like the progression of it because if you’re a beginner, like, I was just starting out into it, it can be a little confusing. And TMA kind of had their progressions. I needed to be able not to be afraid to try new skills and utilize them in a way I can use them for other skills.”
Progressive training is encompassing. It’s not only for beginners. It’s not only for the advanced. Each level has a suitable progression that can meet an individual’s needs and situation.
The Movement Athlete app caters to all skill levels.🤸
Are you a complete beginner? No worries, we’ll provide the workout and guidance for you, especially for new movement patterns you’re not familiar with.
Do you have prior calisthenics experience? We’re happy to challenge you and guide you to new skills!🔥
☑️Personalised Training
💪 Your Gymnastics Strength Journey Starts Here
Join 100,000+ ordinary people achieving extraordinary results—without the $100/month gym fees.
✅ 5-minute assessment
✅ Personalized plan
✅ Zero equipment
Speaking of designing programs catered to Talen, the TMA app also emphasises personalization in the training program.
📍Cookie-cutter workouts or one-size-fits-all programs look good on paper, but can be harmful in practice.
🎯A training program should be tailored to your skill level, lifestyle, and goals.
If not, you’re going to get either injured, get stuck in a plateau, or end up frustrated with inconsistent workouts.
The Movement Athlete app first studies your capabilities through an extensive assessment before generating a tailored program.
🎯At the same time, you can also adjust your training frequency, training duration, goals, and available equipment in each workout.
This way, you can stay consistent with your training while getting a challenging workout for efficient and safe progress.
☑️Adaptive Training (Autoregulation)
🎯 “What is autoregulation in training?”
Autoregulation adjusts workout intensity based on daily performance feedback. Studies show athletes using autoregulation make 23% better strength gains while reducing injury risk by 40% compared to fixed programs.
In addition to personalization, the TMA app adjusts the programs based on your current mood, energy levels, and past sessions.
This is called 📍autoregulation.
Applying this strategy allows Talen to get the most from this workout, even during the days when he’s not feeling his 100%.
In an ideal world, you would want to gradually increase your intensity in every workout.
But in reality, this is not always sustainable. We have a life outside of training (even if you’re a professional athlete) and things can get busy.
Other responsibilities in life also require mental, physical, and emotional energy. You can get tired from your workout in the long run if you try to sustain a high level of effort throughout your journey.🏃
In addition, pushing hard too much can lead to overtraining which can lead to overfatigue and injuries.
Instead, you can maintain a good level of challenge while toning it down just enough through autoregulation.
💯This way, training is still fun, effective, safe, and can last for the long run.
Adaptive training keeps you consistent for the long haul of the fitness journey.
5 Life-Changing Benefits Talen Discovered
From broke gymnast to thriving athlete—here’s what changed
💰 Saved $1,200/Year Instantly
“I’m like, wow, this is a lot cheaper than gymnastics.”
Gymnastics gym: $100/month
TMA lifetime access: $497 once (pays for itself in 5 months)
Result: Professional coaching in your pocket for 90% less
🚀 Immediate Skill Improvements
“I immediately got a lot better at my handstand. It was great having progressions leading up to it.”
The secret? TMA uses the same gymnastics progressions professional coaches use—but breaks them into micro-steps your body can actually handle. No more guessing, just systematic improvement.
🎯 Never-Ending Skill Challenges
“TMA has really kept me up on my game and allowed me to continue to learn new skills.”
100+ skills from beginner to elite. While gym classes repeat the same routines, TMA continuously unlocks new challenges: muscle-ups, human flags, planche push-ups—skills that take years to master.
🌍 Train Anywhere, Anytime
“I could just take this anywhere, and I could go back and be able to use that if I wanted to.”
Park, hotel, living room—your gym is wherever you are. No more missed workouts due to gym hours, holidays, or travel. Just open the app and train.
💪 Pandemic-Proof Progress
“During quarantine…having TMA there to be still able to train and be sane was great.”
When gyms closed, Talen kept getting stronger. No equipment? No problem. TMA adapts to what you have—even if it’s just floor space. Consistency = Results.
📊 The Bottom Line: More Skills, Less Money, Total Freedom
⚠️ 5 Mistakes Gymnasts Make When Switching to Calisthenics
- Skipping fundamentals – Even gymnasts need to master basic progressions
- Training too frequently – Without facility limits, overtraining is common
- Ignoring lower body – Calisthenics requires deliberate leg training
- No structured program – Random YouTube videos won’t match gymnastics coaching
- Expecting instant results – Skill transfer takes 4-8 weeks of consistent practice
Solution: Follow a progressive, personalized program that respects your gymnastics background while building new foundations.
📌Takeaway
Talen has fallen in love with gymnastics training.
But because of the expensive gym membership and coaching fees, Talen needed an alternative.
And the alternative actually offered more than what Talen had expected!☝️
Since training with The Movement Athlete, Talen has improved his gymnastics skills, developed more strength, and now enjoys new advanced challenges thanks to an adaptive, personalised training approach.
🌟What Talen wants to share with you
“And what would I tell someone who is on the sales page deciding if they would like to purchase? I would tell them just do it. It’s really worth it honestly, especially if you’re paying high gym membership already.”
Talen says TMA is so good that gym memberships are nothing compared to the app. You can even use TMA in gymnastics places. You can take TMA anywhere and train as if you have a personal coach guiding your workout.
“You won’t be disappointed with the results at all.”🏆
If you’re interested in becoming a Movement Athlete, we invite you to take an assessment first to know your strengths and weaknesses before your calisthenics journey.🤸
This will also allow our powerful AI to design a program based on your current skill level.
Are you up to the challenge?
📋 Frequently Asked Questions
Can calisthenics really replace gymnastics training?
For strength and skill development, yes. Calisthenics covers 80% of gymnastics movements including handstands, levers, and muscle-ups. You’ll miss apparatus-specific work (pommel horse, uneven bars) but gain flexibility, convenience, and significant cost savings. Many gymnasts use calisthenics for supplemental training.
How long does it take to see results switching from gymnastics?
Gymnasts typically see improvements within 2-4 weeks due to their existing strength base. Handstand endurance often improves first, followed by new skill acquisition. The key is following progressive programming rather than random workouts. Talen improved his handstand “immediately” with proper progressions.
Is calisthenics suitable for older athletes (30+)?
Absolutely. Unlike competitive gymnastics with age restrictions, calisthenics welcomes all ages. Our data shows successful athletes from 22-70 years old. The progressive nature and joint-friendly movements make it ideal for maintaining strength and mobility as you age.
What equipment do I need to start?
Beginners need zero equipment – just floor space. As you progress, a pull-up bar ($20-40) opens up dozens of exercises. Gymnasts often add rings ($30-50) to maintain their ring strength. That’s $70 total investment versus $1,200+ yearly gym fees.
How much does quality calisthenics programming cost?
Professional calisthenics programs range from $8-47/month, compared to $80-150 for gymnastics facilities. Annual programs offer the best value at around $97/year. You get personalized programming, progress tracking, and unlimited training access – features that would cost $500+ monthly with private gymnastics coaching.
About The Movement Athlete
We’ve helped 100,000+ athletes transition from traditional training to calisthenics since 2018. Our algorithmic approach analyzes millions of workout data points to create personalized progressions that work. Former gymnasts like Talen consistently achieve better results at 90% less cost.
Expertise: Calisthenics Programming • Gymnastics Transitions • Movement Science • Personalized Training
🔥 Limited Time: Free Assessment Worth $197
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