The handstand is an empowering move. It requires power but is more profound. The premise is to maintain balance, albeit in an absurdly awkward position. In order to accomplish the goal, you must possess a degree of physical strength.
At the same time, there is an emphasis on the psychological, specifically the capacity for self-trust and confidence that you will not fall. Not to mention the need to find tolerance for the discomfort of turning the world, as you know it, upside down, having the blood rush to your head with merely your hands supporting your weight.
In accomplishing even mere seconds, you win over the fear and break your own resistance replacing those with courage, agility, and a desire to take it to another level. But what if you have no balance with your handstand? What are some key reasons, and how can you overcome them?
Reasons for A Lack of Balance with Handstands and How to Overcome It
The premise behind a handstand is balance. To get into the position and maintain it for any length of time, you have to be strong and mentally prepared. Some people simply cannot make it work in the upside-down pose for several reasons, whether physically or mentally or maybe a little of each.
But that does not mean you cannot work on those issues to where you’re able to hold the pose for longer than mere seconds – check out http://www.howtohandstand.com for some pointers. Some of the reasons these moves might be giving you some troubles include:
** Strength / Flexibility in The Wrists
If you cannot achieve adequate extension with your wrists to where your hand and forearm can go into an angle of < 90 degrees, the recommendation is that you avoid freestanding handstands until you can.
Lacking this ability means getting into a proper handstand is impossible without potential loading injuries to other joints from the odd positioning you will be forcing your elbows and shoulders into to facilitate the pose.
Working on wrist range of motion exercises to increase strength and flexibility, followed by drills to test how it maintains extension under gradual loads, will ultimately result in the ideal move.
** There is Fear That You are Not Aware Of
Many people develop a paralyzing, visibly shaking in fear at the mere thought of going upside down into handstands. There are probably few who dive right in and do the quintessential handstand. It is a gradual process. Many newcomers start out using modifications against the wall, moving up to freestyle slowly.
It takes a considerable amount of strength, confidence, and self-control, not to mention comfortability all of which take time. Some of the variations you can begin with to lead you to these levels of comfort include:
- Pike holds (foot-supported)
- Chest-to-wall handstand
- Bear walks
- Half handstand
Rushing into a freestanding pose too soon can prove self-defeating as your concentration will center on falling and not at all on your performance. Before you can genuinely begin to balance, you will need to develop the confidence that you can fall successfully. Practice taking the cartwheel out of the move without worrying about balance. Once there is an assurance that everything will be fine if there is a fall, you then can focus more on your technique.
A Long Hold Does Not Mean You Appreciated the Moment
The more you push yourself to develop your technique and maintain the pose, the longer it will take you finally to get it. A handstand is not merely a physical activity. It tests mental and emotional strength as well.
The training is an opportunity to learn where your strengths and weaknesses are. It involves working on yourself, mind, body, and spirit in an effort to accomplish a task.
With most “workouts,” pushing harder is encouraged. Handstands are an incredible workout but pushing harder is not going to help you achieve better balance. View this link to learn what you might be doing wrong in your attempts to balance.
Balance happens when a body and mind work together to ensure you are fully aware of what is happening physically. In that way, you can adjust maintain the state. The accomplishment leads to a vast array of positive emotions aside from sheer joy and is meant to evolve your confidence to its next level.
With a mindful activity like handstands, the idea is to keep yourself present at the moment. It is essential to pay attention to every detail of the process and perform each step with intention and purpose. Every action should involve thought and movement. Your mind will direct your body. When you focus on each individual motion and move the training along gradually, you will meet and exceed your goals.
Final Thought
There is a vast range of steps that go into completing handstands, many details you need to remember like head position, pointing toes, tuck / squeeze the butt, pushed / elevated shoulders, hands positioned, ribs in /down, lower back straight. It can genuinely be overwhelming if you let it. The thing to remember is it is a process as with anything, but it is a gradual and mindful process. It is okay to take your time through it, focus, and let yourself get lost in all that is happening.
There are multiple mindfulness techniques and visualization cues people use to help put the mind and body in sync to achieve the pose. Once you get it, the next goal is holding it.
If you achieve communication between your mind and body, you can maintain your balance while your mind instructs the body to adjust itself to stay in that state. Holding the position is merely a matter of staying present in the moment, keeping your focus, and understanding how long your body’s strength can withstand it.
People attempt to make world records for the duration for which they can keep a handstand. The indication from people able to do these is that once you have learned it, it becomes second nature -you will never want to stand upright again. Maybe sometimes the world looks better from that standpoint. We will have to give it a shot.
Follow Us