How to Get Started With a Handstand When You’re Still a Little Afraid of It
When we launched last week a test stand on the hands , I admitted that I was not very comfortable to be upside down, but I was hoping to change that. Yesterday I did my first handstand against the wall and felt strong and steady. I will tell you a few secrets.
First, I followed the advice of tallnproud commenter and started watching a series of videos on how to learn how to do a handstand . In the very first video, we learn a thing or two about a handstand against a wall:
- Bend over and place your hands on the ground before starting to climb. Don’t try to do it in one smooth motion.
- Put your hands forward (towards the wall).
- Make sure your elbows point away from the wall, which means that your elbow holes are facing the wall.
- Lock your elbows, or if your joints are straightening too much, just try to keep your arms as straight as possible. And keep them under lock and key – if your elbows start to bend, you are toasty.
As luck would have it, I walked into a CrossFit class one day and my skill of the day was handstand push-ups. This meant I had a suitable wall, wide open space, and a coach to stop me if I was going to do something stupid. And friends, that’s all it took. I remembered the points above, folded my arms and … I made a handstand on the wall . In fact, several. And then I took my first baby steps tohandstand push-ups(cheaters) , which is an adventure in itself.
If you are still working on turning upside down, this video from the series mentioned above will be a good start. It includes a set of movements designed to warm up your wrists and shoulders, and ends with the practice of getting out of a bad handstand. These are essentially the same motions as the cart wheel, so you just have to get comfortable with making the ugly cart wheels at odd angles. Magic happens in this video with many different ways to approach the handstand.
So tell us how the challenge is progressing – have you already managed to get off the ground? Where are you in the process?