The journey to handstand!
Most who follow me on Instagram know I’m super flexible, but the one thing I wish I could do is the ultimate yoga asana, a handstand or Adho Mukha Vrksasana.
(ah-doh moo-kah vriks-SHAHS-anna)
adho mukha = face
downward (adho = downward, mukha = face)
vrksa = tree
There are so many prep poses for this body strengthening asana that I am trying to master first, like headstand and forearm stand. I have my hand stand down, but I just can’t hold past 10 seconds in a forearm stand now, so I know my journey to handstand is still months away (if I’m lucky). I still practise handstands every morning by holding it against a wall, or in my case a huge window 😛 It helps to practise every morning because I can feel the progress I am making. I hold it longer and longer every day and sometime I don’t touch the wall/window behind me.
My very first headstand!
When I try hand stands away from the wall at the yoga studio, I feel more courageous and my fear of falling is gone, just from a simple 3 minute hand stand practice every morning.
I always have to stretch my shoulders and wrists before attempting hand stands, and you should ALWAYS remember to stretch, at least for 20 minutes before doing inversions and arm balancing.
In the above video is my main shoulder stretch, it really open up the shoulders and prepares them for the pressure and weight ahead.
The handstand is still something that seems so far away, but in the 4 months I have been practising, the improvement is there, and I can only hope for more in the next months to come! Below I show you how I have been improving my hold and core strength. Usually I kick up using my strongest leg which is my right leg. I tried to kick up using my left and it was SO weak that now I practise this neat prep stretch in the video below. I can safely kick up strongly from both legs and can really feel the muscles in my ab area pushing through.
My goal is to hold a free standing handstand for over 15 seconds comfortably by the end of the year.
Think I can make it?
Hi….you liked something I posted on Instagram and I found your website that way. I love that you share your video of your journey to handstand, and not the final result– because I’ve no doubt you can make it– because it really is about the journey and not the perfect asana at the end of it. ??