Most people haven’t ever tried the handstand, and pretty much everyone I teach it to doesn’t want to — they are fearful and believe they’ll never master it.
There’s no reason to be scared of the handstand — everyone can learn how to do it. All it takes is a little determination, willpower, and maybe a tiny kick in the backside!
Staying with it, practicing daily, and making it a habit is — as always — the only way forward.
You can’t slack if you want to be a “handstander” instead of a “grandstander!”
The norm these days seems to be folks dancing, singing, and posting selfies on Tik-Tok and Instagram instead of doing something more valuable with their time.
Learning new skills and exercising would be one better way to go, which is why I encourage people to try their hand at the handstand.
I don’t spend much time on social media, and particularly not Insta or Tik-Tok, as I find it all a bit sad and boring. I would rather write, read, hike a volcano, swim, or ride my motorbike for my entertainment, thrills, and health.
And that’s the reason I love to do crazy things like waterskiing, the animal crawl, jumping off waterfalls, and, of course, the mighty handstand.
I have to admit though — I’ve been slacking somewhat in my handstand practicing routine of late due to having too much on my plate.
But now, Christmas time is in the house; I aim to focus more on myself and perfect the handstand to beat 30-seconds of free-standing. I’ll report on my progress after the New Year.
Let’s look at the 10 best benefits of the Handstand.
- Supports core strength
- Helps blood and lymph circulation
- Boosts bone, muscle, heart, brain, and lungs and lung health
- Reduces stress and increases the sense of achievement and happiness
- Reduces anxiety and fear through the release of the happy hormone — endorphins
- Huge increase of your upper body strength and confidence
- Increases your sense of balance
- Works all body muscles
- Increases your focus and concentration
- No more gym subscription is required!
How to learn the handstand.
On a towel, place your hands 1 hand length away from a wall, facing the wall. Get into the sprinting starting position, one leg forward with your knee under your belly, one leg stretched out.
I call this the starting leg and the guiding leg.
Push off and up with your starting leg. Your guiding leg reaches for and touches the wall behind you. Swing up, and voila — you’re in the handstand position.
I know that sounds easier than it is, but that’s the basic mechanics of how this works — the rest is down to you practicing.
It helps in the beginning if you have someone help you by grabbing your legs and guiding them up and against the wall.
Please check out my instructional video here.
But I guarantee if you keep trying — daily for 5 minutes — you will make your handstand reality within 3 days!
After that, keep up this exercise every other day, go longer and longer each time to build your muscle and mental strength. You’ll soon notice a significant improvement in your upper body shape, power, overall confidence, and well-being.
In Summary.
The handstand looks and sounds daunting to most, but don’t worry; it’s not that hard to learn. If you put in the effort and master it, you’ll experience a phenomenally fast physical and mental boost.
Once you’ve managed to stand on your hands for more than 30 seconds at a time, you’ve built powerful shoulder, arm, back, core, and mental strength, enabling you to achieve many more things, physically and with your mind.
The handstand doesn’t only boost your overall fitness and health; it changes your mindset and makes you understand that you are stronger and more capable than you ever imagined to be!
As we age, it’s crucial to seek out and master challenges to keep yourself and on top of the game and to stay there, forever.
Age does not matter; everyone can master the handstand — just set your mind to it, and do it!
Thanks,
Rob
