Intro to Handstands

This course is suitable for: students brand new to handstands; those who are struggling to kick up; and those who’ve started to kick up but find holding handstands uncomfortable. If you can hold handstand for over a minute and are looking for fun challenges; variations and new technique tips- please join our open classes. 

To master handstands and backbends, you will need:

• strong core
• strong, agile shoulders
• flexibility in hamstrings
• strong, agile  spine
• an understanding of  biomechanics
• to eliminate your fear
•  

This week we will introduce you to how the whole body works to enable handstands and spine extensions (backbends).

We will assess everyone’s general level then spend about 25-30 mins on core skills and drills. 

Each class includes active handstand and backbending drills

For handstands your shoulders need to be stable and strong. For the bridge postures, shoulders need to be strong and flexible. 

The drills this week have the added benefit of reducing shoulder and neck pain as the area increases in strength and mobility. 

How does a session on hamstrings improve handstands? You’ll see, after work on releasing hip; glute and hammy tension, how much more freedom you’ll have to kick into handstand. And for those who can already kickup- the stretchy and strong hammies are one of the key requirements for press handstands. 

Fun bridge variations are also possible once your hips and hamstrings are more open

Don’t underestimate how important strong back muscles are to supporting a straight line handstand. 

We will really delve into safe bridge poses for those who are new to backbending; and strong bridge variations for those who have joined the course to go deeper. 

Anyone here for the tips and skills to work on standing to bridges; handstand to bridges and walkover variations will learn all the tips and techniques in this class. 

With all our body parts working, let’s spend an evening upside down. We go back to the basic headstand. Basically anything we want to master on our hands, from basic kickups – to presses to upside down lotus poses; we should master in headstand first. 

Forearm balances are the ultimate shoulder strengthener and are the best pose to teach the biomechanics of free balance handstands. 

And finally- the handstand. we will focus on correcting your posture if you are newer to handstands; or offering fun and challenging variations if you are more advanced. Areas such as: free balancing; press handstands; walking on hands will be covered here