Most people I meet can’t do the handstand, have never tried and when I ask them to learn it with me, they most often shy away, saying no thank you!
However, I don’t give up and do my best to gently convince folks who train with me to start practicing the handstand. It’s simply the toughest, but the most rewarding single exercise you can perform.
Fact!
Just think about it: Your legs are your biggest muscle group and have to carry the whole of you around all day long.
Now you’re going to be standing upside down, on your comparatively small arm muscles, supporting your legs and full body weight.
That’s a darn hard ask for your arms, shoulders, back, core and neck.
However, the more you practice the handstand, the stronger your upper body, in particular your shoulders, back and core will become, along with a much more positive and confident mindset!
The handstand is a profound isometric exercise that helps the consolidation of your core strength and improves blood and lymph circulation.
In addition, if you perform the handstand regularly, it boosts your bone strength, muscles, heart, brain, and lung function.
In short, the handstand is powerful and builds a much stronger you in body and mind!
The secret to rewarding exercise is repetition and a sensible flexible routine — 2 to 4 times per week, maximum. Overdoing it is called overtraining, which is counterproductive.
The handstand is challenging for most — letting go and choosing to commit your weight and balance in the care of your hands can be slightly scary for beginners, but the end goal is worth it.
After mastering the art of balancing your body weight on your hands, it becomes second nature, lending a great sense of achievement and positivity.How to Learn the Handstand against a wall.
Let’s look at 6 top benefits the handstand delivers:
1. Less Stress and a Happier Life
The handstand increases the blood flow to your brain due to gravity and your energy output. By practicing daily handstands, you’ll be boosting your confidence, while fending off stress, making you a happier person.
2. Handstands Boost the Feel-Good Hormones
Practicing the handstand releases endorphins our “feel-good hormones,” as a result, you’ll enjoy a better mood, less anxiety, and a happy and positive mindset.
3. Increased Strength and Confidence
Regularly standing on your hands will hugely boost your upper body strength and confidence.
The best part? You can do it from the comfort of your home, or anywhere, no gym membership is required.
4. The Handstands Works Your Whole Body
Your full concentration and focus are required, and you’ll work every muscle in your body by standing on your hands.
Handstands also make oxygenated blood more available for the tissues and cells in your body to re-build.
5. An Escape from the Sedentary Lifestyle
Standing upside down is fun and can be done practically anywhere. If you have to sit around a lot for your work, all you need to do a few times a day is get upside down against a wall on your hands.
Repeat your maximum duration, 2 to 3 sets.
A brilliant micro-workout is completed!
Set your phone or watch on the ground below you, so you can record the time of each handstand, aiming for longer durations in your next session.
6. Worry No More about Gym Subscriptions
As I’ve mentioned a few times already, you don’t need a gym to master the handstand. All you require is you, a wall, and practice.
If you perform the handstand and a couple of other awesome bodyweight workouts every other day, you definitely won’t need to hit the gym anymore.
The best part? You save a heck of a lot of time and have more fun learning how to use your body as your gym.
Summing it up.
In short, learn the handstand — You and everyone else, young or older can master this fulfilling and powerful skill.
Put the handstand in your calendar, like you do a business meeting, along with a plank and a few other movements I recommend.
You’ll soon be very fit, beaming with confidence and happiness!
Rob
