Workshop Handstands

One of my teachers says "Anyone can do handstands, but not everyone will."

I find this to be true, and today I want to mention some different ways to work on your handstands.

Throw in a couple of these each day and you'll be a hardcore handstander in no time.

This L variation is great when you're working on building strength in your upper body.
Hands can be directly under shoulders as you get more used to it.
Eventually you can take one leg straight up... then both if you're feeling bold.

How to Get There: Come into a slightly short-stanced downward-facing-dog pose at the wall.
Balls of your feet in the wall/floor crease and your heels on the wall. From there you walk your feet up the wall.
When you're ready to come down you can walk your feet back down the wall.

At the Wall - Take your fingertips about 4 inches from the wall.
Claw fingers down, squeeze feet together. Hands and feet reaching strongly away from each other.
Christina Sell (pictured) says if you can hold this at the wall for 2 minutes then you're strong enough to work on balancing away from the wall.

Working with a friend is magic!
Can work here on balance, OR on holding it for 1 minute.
Really works your strength and stamina.

Photos courtesy of Mark Ickes.