this exercise makes working out seriously fuN

At CaliUnity, we’re big believers in movements that challenge both strength and mobility. One of our favourites for the shoulders? Skin the Cat.

Why It Matters

Skin the Cat isn’t just about getting upside down. It’s about building control, stability, and strength through a full range of motion. Done well, it can transform the way your shoulders feel and perform.

How to Perform Skin the Cat

We don’t mind too much about how you get upside down — but we do want to see control. Rather than flinging yourself into it, aim to move with strength and stability.

👉 The gold standard? Pull yourself up into the movement. That’s why we teach Skin the Cat alongside pull-ups. Ideally, you should be able to perform a pull-up first.

From there:
✔️ Perform a pull-up
✔️ Roll into Skin the Cat with control
✔️ Extend into a full range of motion
✔️ Return back through to the starting position
✔️ Finish with a strong squeeze

This combination of pull-up strength and full-body control makes Skin the Cat one of the best calisthenics movements for shoulder girdle strength and mobility.

What If You Can’t Do a Pull-Up Yet?

That’s okay. Without pull-up strength, getting into position is tough. But that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. This is where progressions, coaching, and support come in — exactly what you’ll find at CaliUnity.

Beyond Skin the Cat

Once you’ve built some confidence with straight arm strength, you can begin to explore other movements like:

• Back levers

• One-leg back levers

• Tuck front levers

If you want to dive deeper, you can always ask a CaliUnity coach, check out our free YouTube tutorials, or grab one of our free eBooks.

Why We Love It

Skin the Cat is more than just a skill — it’s a tool for unlocking shoulder health, control, and strength. It’s calisthenics at its best: challenging, rewarding, and transformative.

👉 See member stories below

P.S. Here’s our co-founder doing Skin the Cat; check it out!

P.P.S. If you want to do this move, come join a class or fill-in our intake form on the website!