It’s not just a handstand
Handstands; love them or hate them, they have an allure. Almost as if a handstand is some mystical unspoken sign that you’ve achieved peak yoga performance (it’s not.). At least that’s how it was when I first began yoga, for score and 1000 years ago! I would watch in awe as the one or two practitioners in the front row of class floated up effortlessly, wishing I could be just like them one day, and now, I am AND I teach handstands! (handstand program HERE + Online Studio HERE).
HOWEVER; I practiced yoga for about 7 years before actually understanding and being able to hold a handstand. Did it need to be this long of a journey, ABSOLUTELY NOT; but as they say…what I learned along the way is what matters. In hindsight, now I can share my knowledge of exactly what I would and more importantly would NOT do to achieve my first handstand with you. So buckle up and lets get our feet off the ground!
First of all, I of course knew of handstands, but it wasn’t until my yoga practice became consistent that I WANTED to handstand, that I admired the handstand, that I NEEDED the handstand. Like most people, I don’t have an extensive gymnastics background. So yoga class was the place where I first experienced the magic of handstands. With that being said, more often times than not; the way yoga teachers teach handstand isn’t the quickest or most reliable path to handstand. I’m not saying ALL yoga teachers, but I am confident in saying MOST; because yoga teacher training isn’t handstand training or calisthenics training. Yoga training is a spiritual work-in. Handstands by design are created by intelligent repetition and 200 hours of yoga teacher training usually does not have enough time to dedicate to hand balancing. This was indeed my experience. Teachers with good intentions would just tell me to “kick-up!!!!” “kick against the wall!” “kick harder” and so this created lot’s of time after class kicking my feet up to the wall proudly feeling like I was making progress on my handstand…spoiler alert. I was not.
I also practiced in a lineage with a fixed sequence for the beginning half of my yoga journey. While this came with loving devotion + spiritual benefits galore, this fixed sequence really didn’t include certain physical aspects that prepared students for handstands AND on top of that, encouraged many repetitive movements that when done overtime without proper form or strength can cause injury! Which I ended up with along with many others who were very devoted. A gnarly shoulder injury caused from over use and general lack of knowledge on my part and on those sharing the practice with me became my reality. This is no-ones fault, because when you know better you do better right?
So this halted my handstand journey; heck it halted the way I practiced yoga indefinitely. I went from doctor to doctor, spine surgery suggested but that never sat right with me. So I left the mat and hit the gym. I found an amazing trainer who was able to slowly help me understand and rehab the muscles that were laying dormant and allowing my injury to progress. The thing with overuse is that the bigger muscles take over and then the stabilizing muscles can’t do their job, causing all sorts of out of whack issues!
As I began to heal I didn’t even care about handstands, I became obsessed with moving intentionally and understanding the WHY behind movements. My practice changed from repetition with no reasoning to intentional and fluid poses where the transitions and how I got into the postures were just as important as the postures themselves. A practice where it all was a piece of a greater puzzle and the goal was to move freely, without pain. My practice became my recipe for a more intelligent body. I became stronger than I EVER IMAGINED. I slowed down, I listened to my body and in turn, it sped me up.
Back to handstands. Fast forward a few years later and the idea of handstands began to creep back into my mind. I had been healed for a few years now, pain free, moving and grooving. I started training handstands, slowly, with the assistance of teachers who had not just a yoga practice but a HANDSTAND PRACTICE. I started with 15 minutes a few times a week, building courage, building strength until I was getting some real hang time. Fast forward and I wanted to refine. I began to seek out more teachers who were trained in the skill, particularly those who had a background in acrobatics or circus, I participated in a handstand teacher training and learned SO MUCH.
The thing we don’t realize when approaching handstands from a yoga background is that, there is a foundation that needs to be laid for our handstands to grow strong and tall. We need to take great care of our wrists, shoulders and joints that aren’t used to bearing weight on them. Theres a methodical way thats almost fool proof for anyone to achieve a handstand. Handstand is a SKILL, which means with the right drills, the correct amount of time under tension (holding the drills) and the proper knowledge of form, ANYONE can begin to train and achieve their handstand. Take it from me, if you want to learn handstand, find someone who knows how to handstand and dont rely on kicking up randomly, expecting to magically fly!
Handstands ARE magic, but the magic is created by intelligent repetition and working with your specific bodies strength + challenge areas. The awe comes from our own dedication + sweat equity. I take pride in my handstand journey because I know what it took for me to get here. And handstands aren’t just physical. My handstand practice has been a life raft through turbulent experiences. Handstands have helped me overcome fears and realize my true strength, they have been a place of solace when the entire world feels loud and confusing. Handstands have tethered me to the here and now. Time spent hovering through the air is a special gift allowing my brain to become quiet and my heart to open to the true wisdom of my body. Devotion spills from every handstand, joy expands with every success or tumble out. So no, it’s not JUST a handstand, it’s a reminder of where I’ve been and who I can become.
All of this to say, if you want to learn handstand, I know you can and I hope you do. If you want someone to guide you through the process in under 7 years (haha) I have a 30 day handstand program HERE and I also have an online yoga studio HERE including the handstand program and over 100 yoga classes; many include intelligent ways to practice and refine your handstand.
Sending you love + handstands
xx
Jess
Want to feel more confident in your handstand? This program consists of classes designed to be repeated so you can see your effort progressively pay off!
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