Handstand Accomplished!!!!
Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:07 pm
I first became interested in the handstand at the tender age of 10. A gymnastics instructor offered a gymnastics activity at school and I entered it with much enthusiasm. I put a lot of effort in all the skills that were taught, specially the handstand. But the results were very discouraging. I could not perform even ONE agaisnt the wall with the assistance from the instructor. I simply collapsed. So at the age of 10, I gave up saying to myself "Luigi, you are no good for this". Sadly, everyone agreed with me, including the instructor.
Many years went by before I came across Dynamic Tension. With it, came a little course on handbalancing. At first, I dismissed it. But then I saw photos of Mr. Atlas performing the feat, one at the age of 62. I even found a video of him performing a handstand in the beach, supporting each hand on the interlaced hands of his son and daughter. VERY inspiring
Thanks to being now in a perennial search of personal growth (which in hindsight started with doing the DT course), I was confronted with all the fears I had and the handstand one popped up. It is nonsense I cannot do it, I simply accepted the fact that I learn at a different pace to others. I had compared myself and comparison with others has no place in my new found life. So I decided I will master the handstand.
My plan was to take it in small steps. I had to make previous steps before trying the handstand because I needed them. That meant making a progression from easy to harder exercises to work up to the free handstand. For that, I came up with the following progression:
BTW, I practiced 3 times per week without straining, leaving the pose with a few seconds "in the bank". So there you have it, my "method" to manage a handstand for hard cases just like me!!!!! Also, please have under your belt the 12 week DT course before attemping this!!!! Also if you feel you are straining DON'T DO IT!
Many years went by before I came across Dynamic Tension. With it, came a little course on handbalancing. At first, I dismissed it. But then I saw photos of Mr. Atlas performing the feat, one at the age of 62. I even found a video of him performing a handstand in the beach, supporting each hand on the interlaced hands of his son and daughter. VERY inspiring
Thanks to being now in a perennial search of personal growth (which in hindsight started with doing the DT course), I was confronted with all the fears I had and the handstand one popped up. It is nonsense I cannot do it, I simply accepted the fact that I learn at a different pace to others. I had compared myself and comparison with others has no place in my new found life. So I decided I will master the handstand. My plan was to take it in small steps. I had to make previous steps before trying the handstand because I needed them. That meant making a progression from easy to harder exercises to work up to the free handstand. For that, I came up with the following progression:
- Tuck headstand. Is a headstand with the knees resting on your upper arm, so from the side you appear tucked. I worked up to 1 minute.
- Headstand agaisnt the wall. In the headstand you place your head on a pillow, with your hands a little wider than shoulder width and away from the body so that the elbows are are 90° aproximately. The head and hand placement on the floor from a triangle, so that you support yourself kind od like a tripod. The legs are straight up against the wall. I worked up to 1 minute.
- Free standing headstand. A headstand performed without the help of a wall. I worked up to 1 minute
- The crane pose: Squat down and place both hands on the floor, shoulder width apart, in front of feet. Slowly tilt forward until the feet leave the ground, with legs ouside the arms. I worked up to 1 minute
BTW, I practiced 3 times per week without straining, leaving the pose with a few seconds "in the bank". So there you have it, my "method" to manage a handstand for hard cases just like me!!!!! Also, please have under your belt the 12 week DT course before attemping this!!!! Also if you feel you are straining DON'T DO IT!
I am planning on getting the number up to 10 before trying to dip fully. I'll let you all know how I'm doing 
You know, basically a push-up is an horizontal pushing movement, whereas a handstand push up is a vertical pushing movement. I while be still using the wall though.