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How to Do a Handstand

Intermediate II
(22 Reviews)
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Rachel leads you through this intermediate practice where you will move to a peak pose of handstand, working step by step through the stages you need to do to practice this playful inversion safely. Note: You will need a wall to do the practice.

This can either be done as a stand-alone class or as Day 3 of Rachel's 7-Day Inversion Challenge.

Equipment

  • Strap
  • Block

Focus

  • Whole Body
  • Strength
  • Core Strength
  • Inversions
  • Neck/Shoulders
  • Arms/Hands

Style

  • Vinyasa/Power Yoga
The Schaef
January 10, 2024
Comment:

Very strong technical instructions on attaining handstand pose or working towards it.

ninadives
November 19, 2023
Comment:

i was convinced i wasnt strong (or brave) enough to even get close to a handstand. and i did not make it there yet; BUT --- i felt where i was going as i tried the little hop ups. so no - no handstand for me yet - but it feels realistic to me now ;) will come back to this for sure (and possibly update this comment eventually ;-))

Tanya De Andres
July 3, 2021
Comment:

Thank you so much for this class Rachel!! Yes handstands are quite scary! But I looove the dynamic of showing us first how to do it and then walking us through it, I feel as if my hand is being held through it :) definitely will keep working on this one! Thank youu!

Helen O
April 5, 2021
Comment:

These are great classes for shoulder and core strength, waking up some long neglected muscles. But I'm being held back by arthritis in the base of my thumb, which makes it increasingly painful to bear my full weight on my hands. Any tips for relieving this, or any modifications you can suggest for the pose? Or do I need to just accept the limitations of age and stick to headstands?

Comment Replies

Rachel Scott
April 6, 2021
Comment:

Hi Helen this is a great question ~
There may be props that could lift the base of your palm (yoga jellies) that may relieve the pressure on thumb by putting a small wedge under the heel of your hand. It will make balance a bit trickier, but could be an option. Also, doing handstand from dolphin (so forearm stand position - hands clasped or parallel, but head off the floor) is a way of taking the pressure off the thumb. It will be more shoulder opening and is a bit more challenging for the upper back, but it's a great variation to explore that still has the exuberant quality of handstand. These options may be a start?

Comment Replies

Helen O
April 6, 2021
Comment:

Thank you so much for this suggestion! I had never heard of yoga jellies, and they look a great option to explore, - and not just for handstand, as arthritis is affecting quite a few yoga poses for me. I'll also practice the forearm stand version, but am finding it quite challenging so far. On the plus side, all the core work and shoulder strengthening we have done during this programme has really improved my headstands (which don't hurt my hands at all!) so thank you so much for all your detailed cues and encouragement.

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