exercises-dataset README

The project's README from github.com/hasaneyldrm/exercises-dataset. As one markdown file: README.md.

💪 Exercises Dataset

barbell bench press barbell full squat barbell deadlift pull-up dumbbell biceps curl dumbbell lateral raise

A comprehensive, ready-to-use fitness exercise dataset with 1,324 exercises — each with an animation GIF, 180×180 thumbnail image, category, body-part, equipment, target and muscle-group data, and step-by-step instructions in 10 languages (English, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Hindi, Polish, Korean, French).

Exercises Animation GIFs Thumbnails Languages Mobile App License

📱 Powers the LogPress app — an AI-assisted workout tracker; this dataset is its exercise data layer. Building your own fitness app? Drop it straight into your backend.

📦 Data Source

This repository provides:

📋 Table of Contents

🔍 Overview

This dataset is a curated collection of 1,324 fitness exercises for educational and research purposes. It covers a wide range of muscle groups, equipment types, and exercise categories — making it ideal for:

Each exercise entry contains:

Field Description
Unique ID Numeric identifier (e.g. "0001")
Name Full descriptive exercise name
Category Primary muscle group targeted
Target Specific target muscle
Muscle Group Supporting / synergist muscles
Equipment Equipment required (or body weight for bodyweight)
Instructions Step-by-step instructions for each exercise
Available Languages 🇬🇧 English · 🇪🇸 Spanish · 🇮🇹 Italian · 🇹🇷 Turkish · 🇷🇺 Russian · 🇨🇳 Chinese · 🇮🇳 Hindi · 🇵🇱 Polish · 🇰🇷 Korean · 🇫🇷 French
Media 180×180 thumbnail (image) + animation GIF (gif_url) per exercise — media © Gym visual, see License

🖥️ Interactive Browser & Developer Setup

This repository includes two ready-to-use HTML tools — no server required, just open in a browser.

Note: the browser displays each exercise's 180×180 thumbnail and animation GIF alongside its metadata and instructions.

index.html — Exercise Browser

A fully client-side exercise explorer with:

setup.html — Developer Setup Guide

A step-by-step guide for integrating the dataset into your own application:

  1. Database Setup — CREATE TABLE SQL for SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite. Generate a ready-to-run .sql file with all 1,324 INSERT statements, built entirely in your browser.
  2. API Integration — Copy-paste client code in JavaScript, Python, C#, Java, PHP, Go, and cURL showing how to call your backend API. Enter your base URL and all examples update live.
  3. Ask Your LLM — A structured prompt (choose your framework + database) that you can paste into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to generate a complete, production-ready REST API in one shot. Supports Express.js, FastAPI, ASP.NET Core, Spring Boot, Laravel, and Gin.

📂 File Structure

exercises-dataset/
├── data/
│   ├── exercises.json        # Full dataset — 1,324 exercise records (JSON array)
│   └── exercises.schema.json # JSON Schema (2020-12) describing every record
├── images/                  # 1,324 × 180×180 thumbnails  (© Gym visual)
├── videos/                  # 1,324 × 180×180 animation GIFs  (© Gym visual)
├── index.html               # Interactive exercise browser (client-side, no server needed)
├── setup.html               # Developer setup guide (DB import + API integration)
├── NOTICE.md                # Media attribution & license terms
└── README.md

Key Files

📊 Statistics

Metric Count
Total Exercises 1,324
Instruction Languages 10

Exercises by Body Part

Body Part Exercise Count
Upper Arms 292
Upper Legs 227
Back 203
Waist 169
Chest 163
Shoulders 143
Lower Legs 59
Lower Arms 37
Cardio 29
Neck 2

Exercises by Equipment

Equipment Exercise Count
Body Weight 325
Dumbbell 294
Cable 157
Barbell 154
Leverage Machine 81
Band 54
Smith Machine 48
Kettlebell 41
Weighted 36
Stability Ball 28
EZ Barbell 23
Other 83

Note: ~25% of exercises require no equipment at all — great for at-home workout applications.

🗂️ Data Schema

Each record in data/exercises.json follows this structure. A machine-readable JSON Schema is also provided for validation.

Field Type Description
id string Unique numeric identifier (e.g. "0001")
name string Full exercise name (e.g. "3/4 Sit-up")
category string Body part category (e.g. "upper arms", "chest", "back")
body_part string Same as category — body part targeted
equipment string Required equipment (e.g. "dumbbell", "body weight")
instructions.en string Full step-by-step instructions in English
instructions.es string Full step-by-step instructions in Spanish
instructions.it string Full step-by-step instructions in Italian
instructions.tr string Full step-by-step instructions in Turkish
instructions.ru string Full step-by-step instructions in Russian
instructions.zh string Full step-by-step instructions in Chinese
instructions.hi string Full step-by-step instructions in Hindi
instructions.pl string Full step-by-step instructions in Polish
instructions.ko string Full step-by-step instructions in Korean
instructions.fr string Full step-by-step instructions in French
instruction_steps.<lang> array[string] Same instructions split into an ordered array of steps, per language (en, es, it, tr, ru, zh, hi, pl, ko, fr)
muscle_group string Primary synergist muscle group
secondary_muscles array[string] Additional muscles involved
target string Primary target muscle (e.g. "biceps", "pectoralis major")
media_id string Original media reference id (e.g. "2gPfomN")
image string Path to the 180×180 thumbnail (e.g. "images/0001-2gPfomN.jpg")
gif_url string Path to the 180×180 animation GIF (e.g. "videos/0001-2gPfomN.gif")
attribution string Media copyright notice — "© Gym visual — https://gymvisual.com/"
created_at string ISO 8601 timestamp of record creation

Sample Record

{
  "id": "0001",
  "name": "3/4 sit-up",
  "category": "waist",
  "body_part": "waist",
  "equipment": "body weight",
  "instructions": {
    "en": "Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head with your elbows pointing outwards. Engaging your abs, slowly lift your upper body off the ground, curling forward until your torso is at a 45-degree angle. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.",
    "es": "Túmbate sobre tu espalda con las rodillas flexionadas y los pies apoyados en el suelo. ...",
    "it": "Sdraiati sulla schiena con le ginocchia piegate e i piedi appoggiati a terra. ...",
    "tr": "Sırt üstü yatın, dizlerinizi bükün ve ayaklarınızı yere düz koyun. ...",
    "ru": "Лягте на спину, согните колени и поставьте ступни на землю. ...",
    "zh": "平躺，膝盖弯曲，双脚平放在地上。...",
    "hi": "अपने घुटनों को मोड़कर और पैरों को ज़मीन पर सपाट रखते हुए अपनी पीठ के बल लेट जाएँ।...",
    "pl": "Połóż się płasko na plecach, ugnij kolana i oprzyj stopy płasko na pod ...",
    "ko": "등을 바닥에 누워 무릎을 구부리고 발을 바닥에 붙입니다. ...",
    "fr": "Allonge-toi sur le dos, les genoux fléchis et les pieds à plat au sol. ..."
  },
  "muscle_group": "hip flexors",
  "secondary_muscles": ["hip flexors", "lower back"],
  "target": "abs",
  "media_id": "2gPfomN",
  "image": "images/0001-2gPfomN.jpg",
  "gif_url": "videos/0001-2gPfomN.gif",
  "attribution": "© Gym visual — https://gymvisual.com/",
  "created_at": "2026-03-18T12:31:32.854798+00:00"
}

🎬 Sample Exercises

Each example ships a 180×180 thumbnail (image) and animation GIF (gif_url), © Gym visual.

1 — Barbell Bench Press · Chest

Barbell Bench Press

Equipment: Barbell · Target: Pectorals · Secondary: Triceps, Shoulders · Media ID: EIeI8Vf

The Barbell Bench Press is the cornerstone of chest training and one of the "Big Three" powerlifting movements. Lying flat on a bench, you lower a loaded barbell to your chest and press it back up explosively. It simultaneously recruits the pectorals, triceps, and anterior deltoids, making it the single most effective exercise for upper body pushing strength and chest mass development.

Key cues: Retract and depress your scapulae before unracking. Keep your feet flat on the floor, arch your lower back naturally, and maintain a shoulder-width grip. Lower the bar under control to mid-chest and drive up through the heels.

2 — Barbell Deadlift · Upper Legs / Back

Barbell Deadlift

Equipment: Barbell · Target: Glutes · Secondary: Hamstrings, Lower Back · Media ID: ila4NZS

The Barbell Deadlift is widely regarded as the ultimate full-body strength exercise. It engages virtually every major muscle in the posterior chain — glutes, hamstrings, and lower back — while also demanding significant contribution from the upper back, traps, and grip. Proper spinal alignment and bracing technique are critical for both performance and safety.

Key cues: Set up with the bar over your mid-foot. Hinge at the hips, grip just outside your legs, brace your core hard, and keep the bar in contact with your shins throughout the lift. Drive the floor away, lock out at the top by squeezing glutes and extending hips fully.

3 — Barbell Full Squat · Upper Legs

Barbell Full Squat

Equipment: Barbell · Target: Glutes · Secondary: Quadriceps, Hamstrings, Calves, Core · Media ID: qXTaZnJ

Often called "the king of all exercises," the Barbell Full Squat demands coordinated strength across the entire lower body and core. Breaking parallel maximizes glute and hamstring activation compared to partial squats. It is the foundation of nearly every strength and hypertrophy program.

Key cues: Bar on upper traps (high bar) or rear deltoids (low bar). Brace your core before descent, push knees out in line with toes, sit into your hips, and descend until your thighs pass parallel to the floor. Drive through the whole foot to stand.

4 — Dumbbell Biceps Curl · Upper Arms

Dumbbell Biceps Curl

Equipment: Dumbbell · Target: Biceps · Secondary: Forearms · Media ID: NbVPDMW

The Dumbbell Biceps Curl is the most recognized isolation exercise for the arms. Training each side independently helps identify and correct strength imbalances between limbs. The supinated (palms-up) grip maximizes biceps contraction at the top of the movement.

Key cues: Stand tall with elbows pinned to your sides. Supinate your wrists as you curl up, squeeze at the top, and lower under control without swinging. Avoid using momentum from the shoulders or lower back.

5 — Pull-up · Back

Pull-up

Equipment: Body Weight · Target: Lats · Secondary: Biceps, Forearms · Media ID: lBDjFxJ

The Pull-up is the gold standard bodyweight exercise for upper body pulling strength. It primarily develops the latissimus dorsi — creating the coveted V-taper — while heavily involving the biceps, rear deltoids, and core stabilizers. It scales from beginner (band-assisted) to advanced (weighted).

Key cues: Dead hang from an overhand grip, shoulder-width or slightly wider. Initiate with your lats by depressing your shoulder blades, then pull your chest toward the bar. Lower fully between reps to maintain range of motion.

6 — Dumbbell Lateral Raise · Shoulders

Dumbbell Lateral Raise

Equipment: Dumbbell · Target: Delts · Secondary: Traps · Media ID: DsgkuIt

The Dumbbell Lateral Raise is the go-to isolation exercise for building shoulder width. It directly targets the lateral (middle) head of the deltoid, which is responsible for the broad-shouldered look. Controlled tempo and strict form matter far more than load.

Key cues: Stand with a slight bend in your elbows throughout. Raise the dumbbells out to the sides until your arms are parallel to the floor — no higher. Lead with your elbows, not your wrists. Lower slowly under control to maximize time under tension.

🚀 Usage Examples

Python — Load and Filter

import json

with open("data/exercises.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
    exercises = json.load(f)

print(f"Total exercises loaded: {len(exercises)}")

# Filter by category
chest_exercises = [ex for ex in exercises if ex["category"] == "chest"]
print(f"Chest exercises: {len(chest_exercises)}")
# -> Chest exercises: 163

# Filter by equipment
bodyweight = [ex for ex in exercises if ex["equipment"] == "body weight"]
print(f"Bodyweight exercises: {len(bodyweight)}")
# -> Bodyweight exercises: 325

# Get all unique categories
categories = sorted({ex["category"] for ex in exercises})
print("Categories:", categories)

# Access multilingual instructions
ex = exercises[0]
print(ex["instructions"]["en"])  # English
print(ex["instructions"]["es"])  # Spanish
print(ex["instructions"]["it"])  # Italian
print(ex["instructions"]["tr"])  # Turkish
print(ex["instructions"]["ru"])  # Russian
print(ex["instructions"]["zh"])  # Chinese
print(ex["instructions"]["hi"])  # Hindi
print(ex["instructions"]["pl"])  # Polish
print(ex["instructions"]["ko"])  # Korean
print(ex["instructions"]["fr"])  # French

Python — Load with Pandas

import json
import pandas as pd

with open("data/exercises.json", "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
    data = json.load(f)

df = pd.DataFrame(data)

# Top categories by exercise count
print(df["category"].value_counts().head(10))

# All barbell exercises targeting upper legs
barbell_quads = df[(df["equipment"] == "barbell") & (df["category"] == "upper legs")]
print(barbell_quads[["name", "target", "equipment"]])

JavaScript / Node.js

const exercises = require("./data/exercises.json");

console.log(`Total exercises: ${exercises.length}`);

// Bodyweight exercises only
const bodyweight = exercises.filter(ex => ex.equipment === "body weight");
console.log(`Bodyweight exercises: ${bodyweight.length}`);
// -> Bodyweight exercises: 325

// Group exercises by category
const byCategory = exercises.reduce((acc, ex) => {
  acc[ex.category] = (acc[ex.category] || []);
  acc[ex.category].push(ex);
  return acc;
}, {});

// Access multilingual instructions
const ex = exercises[0];
console.log(ex.instructions.en); // English
console.log(ex.instructions.es); // Spanish
console.log(ex.instructions.it); // Italian
console.log(ex.instructions.tr); // Turkish
console.log(ex.instructions.ru); // Russian
console.log(ex.instructions.zh); // Chinese
console.log(ex.instructions.hi); // Hindi
console.log(ex.instructions.pl); // Polish
console.log(ex.instructions.ko); // Korean
console.log(ex.instructions.fr); // French

TypeScript — Type-safe Usage

interface Exercise {
  id: string;
  name: string;
  category: string;
  body_part: string;
  equipment: string;
  instructions: {
    en: string;
    es: string;
    it: string;
    tr: string;
    ru: string;
    zh: string;
    hi: string;
    pl: string;
    ko: string;
    fr: string;
  };
  instruction_steps: {
    en: string[];
    es: string[];
    it: string[];
    tr: string[];
    ru: string[];
    zh: string[];
    hi:

exercises-dataset (hasaneyldrm/exercises-dataset)

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22.9K ·GitHub
Exercises-dataset
What is this?A ready-to-use fitness exercise dataset with 1,324 exercises, each including an animation GIF, a 180x180 thumbnail, muscle-group and equipment metadata, and step-by-step instructions in 10 languages. It is the data layer that powers the LogPress workout-tracking app.
Is this a finished app, or just raw data I plug into my own project?It's raw data (data/exercises.json plus images and GIFs) with a matching JSON Schema, not an application. Two standalone HTML files (index.html, setup.html) are included only to browse the data and help you integrate it elsewhere.
How do I get this data into my own backend?Open setup.html in a browser: it generates ready-to-run CREATE TABLE and INSERT .sql files for SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQLite, plus copy-paste client code in JavaScript, Python, C#, Java, PHP, Go or cURL for calling your own API.
Do I need a server or any library just to browse the data?No. Both index.html (the exercise browser) and setup.html (the integration guide) are fully client-side — just open them in any modern browser, no backend or install step required.
Does this come with a working REST API out of the box?No, there's no ready API — setup.html just gives you a prompt template to paste into an LLM (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) that generates one for you in a framework of your choice.
Does any of this require an internet connection once downloaded?No, the dataset, images, GIFs and the two HTML tools are all local files that work entirely offline after cloning the repo.
What's the actual license for the data and the images?The code and JSON data are MIT-licensed, but the thumbnails and GIFs are copyrighted by 'Gym visual' and used under separate media terms spelled out in NOTICE.md, not plain MIT.
How many exercises actually have an animated GIF?All 1,324 exercises ship with both a 180x180 thumbnail and an animation GIF, stored locally under images/ and videos/.
What equipment types are covered?Body Weight, Dumbbell, Cable, Barbell, Leverage Machine, Band, Smith Machine, Kettlebell, Weighted, Stability Ball and EZ Barbell, among others; about 25% of exercises need no equipment at all.
Which frameworks can the LLM prompt generate a backend for?The setup.html prompt supports Express.js, FastAPI, ASP.NET Core, Spring Boot, Laravel and Gin, paired with your choice of SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL or SQLite.
What are similar projects?wagtail, typeorm, directus, anythingmcp, openGym, sql-server-samples, chartdb, redash
Which topics is it in?gym, fitness, health, mssql, exercises, json-schema, react-native, dataset, mysql, i18n, sql, multilingual
Creator
hasaneyldrm
Size
125.5 MB
Stars
22.9K
Updated
CommitJul 16
Age
7mo
Commits · 90 Days