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Handstand Workout

Here is your full workout for today. This overview includes name, reps, and most important cues. IMPORTANT!!  To see the video click the (“+”) symbol next to the exercise name, and it will expand.

Look after yourself and only do what feels safe enough.
Make sure to warm up well. 

before every workout

Specific Warm Up

DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
W-Raises8 repsGo slow and focus pulling shoulder blades together
W to Y-Raises8 repsActively keep lifting arms up on Y-Raises
Back Extensions8 repsInitiate lift by externally rotating your arms until thumb is facing the ceiling
Arm Circles8 per directionExtend arms to the side and create small circular movements
Elbow Raises8 repsLift elbows as high as you can
Tuck on Back2x4Push out tall, keep your lower back on the floor at all times! Look at your hands. Keep your knees together and the feet on the same distance to the floor throughout the whole movement!
Straight to Straddle - On Back2x3Cover your ears with your shoulders, look at your hands pushing against the wall. Keep your lower back pushed against the floor. As soon as your legs open externally rotate them! Keep your feet at the same distance to the floor the whole time. Stop opening your legs when the feet begin to move upwards away from the floor!
Wrist Warm-UpFew reps eachChoose 2-3 Exercises, or feel free to add your own. Go through these until your wrists feel ready.
Shoulder Opener at Wall2x30sec
Shoulder Stretch on Floor2x30secLook at hands. Bring chest to floor. Isolate the stretch into the shoulders and keep hips over knees!
Shoulder Lifts on Floor2x4Look at your hands. Do not arch your back. First reach away from your to elevate your scapula. Only after lift the hands off the floor.
Back to the Wall Shoulder Shrugs2x6Keep your ribs in and do not arch your back. Keep your elbows locked. Bonus points if you can look up towards your hands.
Chest to Wall Shoulder Lifts2x4Push your entire body including chest, core and hips against the wall. Look at your hands. First reach up towards the ceiling to elevate the scapula and then back. If you can not reach back due to a lack of mobility push your armpits towards the wall instead.
Active Shoulder Opener at Wall with Foam Roller8xLook at your hands. Push the chest towards the wall and roll the roll against the wall in each rep.
up to 4x per week

Handstand Training

DemoExerciseSets & RepsHow to/Cues
Wall Walks2x3Scapular elevated at all times. Look at hands at all times. Walk as close as possible to the wall. Do not allow your stomach to touch the wall. Feet only!
L Handstand Single Leg Isolation Shrugs2x2 each sideElbows locked. Hands, shoulders & hips in 1 line. Bring your foot right above and push tall from your shoulders to visually get taller. Now hold this newly gained height whilst bringing the leg back to the wall slowly.
Single Leg Tuck Slide2x3 each sideJust like a regular tuck slide but pull down 1 leg at the time. Make sure your shoulders are covering your ears and that your hands, hips and shoulders stay squared at all times. Do not let the pressure of the leg push your shoulders away from the wall, keep your elbows locked and look at your hands!
Single Leg Slide to Tuck2x1 each side
Tuck Slides3x2Knees touch the wall. Knees stay together. Hands shoulder width apart! Look at your hands at all times. Do not round your lower back. Do not close shoulders.
Box Tuck Walk1x3Make sure your box is high enough so your lower back does not round in the tuck position. Better use a box too high than too low!
Box Tuck Single Leg Isolation2x2 each sideIn the box tuck position extend one leg out towards the ceiling. Make sure the leg stays in 1 straight line right above the hands, shoulders and hips. Keep your immobile leg fully bent! Make sure your box is high enough so your lower back does not round in the tuck position. Better use a box too high than too low!
Half Slide Away3x4Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Feet are the only thing touching the wall. Look at your hands and push out tall. Elbows locked. Move your shoulders to the front and slide the feet down the wall. When you are about to fall over stop and push your feet back up on the wall back to your starting position. Do not pull your hips during this movement. Do not arch your back. The only position change should be in the shoulders!
Slide Away3x2Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Feet are the only thing touching the wall. Look at your hands and push out tall. Elbows locked. Move your shoulders to the front and slide the feet down the wall. When you are about to fall over take off from the wall and align yourself in a straight, freestanding handstand. Come abck to the wall as one straight unit. Do not close your shoulders on the way back. Do not pull your hips during the slide away. Do not arch your back. The only position change should be in the shoulders!
45 Handstand Leg Isolations3x1 each sideFocus on isolation! Move 1 leg at the time only. Do not jump away from the wall. Do not bring the foot further away from the wall than the hands as a counterweight! Keep your shoulders over your hands at all times and do not arch your back!
Straight to Straddle at Wall1x3Externally rotate your legs. Do not arch your abck. Do not sink into your shoulders!
Lateral Leg Isolations from Straight at Wall2x3 each side alternatingExternally rotate the leg as soon as it moves. Do not move your shoulders or hips. Keep both perfectly centered and parallel towards the floor and each other.
Wall Tuck Jump2x4
Kneeling Shoulder Shrugs with Elastic2x12Look at hands. Elbows locked. Hands shoulder width apart. Extra slow on way down
up to 2x per week

Straight Arm Conditioning

DemoExerciseSets & RepsHow to/Cues
Bench Zombie to Slow Lower2x3Focus on the Bench Zombie technique first! Then focus on working against gravity. Slow the downwards momentum down as much as possible. It is normal that your legs might drop to the floor like heavy stones during the first attempts. Over time you will identify and then train the muscles needed to control this drill!
Elevated Standing Pike Planche Leans2x6
Walking Dead2x10Lean your shoulders in front and push your index finger into the floor. Push your hips towards the ceiling so your feet lift off the floor. Keep your hips in that high position, striaghten out your shoulders and pull your feet towards your hands using your hip flexors and compression muscles. Place your feet on the floor right by your wrist, replace your hands and start again from the top!
L Sit Push Ups with Elevated Hands2x6
Planche Lean Pull Through to L Sit2x4
Vertical Wall Walks - Legs Together2x down & back up on each sideThe longer this takes the better. Focus on every Position. Opposite hip on top of the supporting shoulder & hand. Floor hand close to the block. First transfer all the way on top then push up vertically only! Leave the floor hand on way up on the floor as long as possible!
up to 2x per week

Bent Arm Conditioning

DemoExerciseSets & RepsHow to/Cues
Dead L HSPU with Elevated Hands3x6
Extra Deep Push Ups with Elevated Feet2x6-8
L Handstand Shrugs2x12Place your feet on a box, table or chair. Look at your hands. Elbows locked. Hands, shoulders and hips in 1 vertical line. Slowly sink into your shoulders and push back out tall!
Elastic HSPU2x12Look at your hands. Lock your elbows fully every time! do not arch your back!

You made it!

You’ve reached the end of this workout. Go use your legs and get food, a drink or whatever else gives you joy! 

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With all wrist warm ups there is no specific number I want you to do, just do them until your wrists are fully warmed up. Generally better take more time to warm up instead of less. Pick the exercises that feel the best for your wrists, and if you already have a wrist warm-up routine, just go with that one.

Exercise 1 - Place palm of hand on the floor in various positions and angles (e.g. fingers facing your knees, fingers pointing to the outside, etc) while you load weight on to your arms gently

Exercise 2 - Place one hand on top of the other and only move your arm around (from straight to bend, imagine you are drawing circles with your elbow)

Exercise 3 - Place back of hands on ground and gently load weight on to your arms. Move around from side to side, front and back to stretch them out a bit.

Extend your arms in front of you and open/close your hands. Work on extending your fingers fully.

Start with your hand open facing towards the ceiling in extension. Now bring the tip of all 5 fingers together and and flex your wrist.

Put hands together in front you in a prayer position. Move hands downwards and elbows out to introduce a stretch. Go through these until wrists feel warm and ready