When people sign up for my series, I often get asked “What can I do to prepare?” Historically I have answered that as long as you practice flow or power yoga, you’ve got enough of a base. However, I’ve got one more strength builder to recommend (it’s not necessary in order to start the series, but you’ll be farther ahead in your handstand practice than you would be without doing the below) and some stretches.
This is a GREAT strengthener. Walk up the wall as far as you can/as far as feels safe (you are NOT going far enough to fall) and hold as long as feels safe (come down BEFORE you’re exhausted because you still need enough oomph to walk your hands out). Build to a 1-min hold. Do this 10x/day, 5-days/week. Thanks for the song recommendation Chris!
Shoulder flexibility is necessary in order to handstand. There are a number of different shoulder stretches you can do, so if you have fave’s by all means use them, but Gomukhasana arms (below) and down dog are my favourite ways to open my shoulders.
Splits are also SUPER important for handstands. You need flexibility to prevent injury while learning to fall out of handstand. You need left and right and straddle splits to cartwheel, which we do every class in the series. You need left and right splits to find balance on your hands (like holding your arms out for balance on a tightrope). You need open inner thighs (thus straddle splits) to straddle press, which is easier than pike press, and you need VERY open hamstrings to pike press to handstand. So, practice your splits leading up to the series.
And last but not least, wrist range. You need it to stand on your hands, so stretch your wrists leading up to the series!
