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Complete 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. 

Dashboard |  Workout

Specific Warm Up

DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
Forehead to W1x8Start with your head just off the floor and your hands underneath your forehead.
Rotate your hands for the thumbs to point towards the ceiling as your bring your arms to the W. Make sure you have a 90 degrees angle in your shoulders and that your elbows are in line with the shoulders. Pull your hands and elbows up towards the ceiling and not back.
Keep your chest on the floor the entire time and rotate your hands for the thumbs to point towards the ceiling.
Keep your legs engaged but on the floor. Point your feet and make your ankles touch.
Straight to W1x8Reach your hands out towards the front to elevate your scapula, then lift the hands up towards the ceiling keeping your chest on the floor.
On the way back stop with your elbows in line with your shoulders and a 90 degree angle in your elbows. Lift your forearms towards the ceiling and squeeze on top for a moment.
Keep your chest on the floor the entire time and rotate your hands for the thumbs to point towards the ceiling.
Keep your legs engaged but on the floor. Point your feet and make your ankles touch.
Back Extension1x8Lock your elbows and place your hands next to your hips. Start by internally rotating your arms so the back rounds and the pinky fingers touch the floor.
Then externally rotate your arms, squeeze your shoulder blades together in the back, look up towards the ceiling and engage the whole back lifting the upper body of the floor.
Keep your feet about shoulder width apart on the floor the entire time.
Move slowly! The longer this takes the more control and strength you will develop!
Elbow Lift1x8Interlock your hands behind your head and keep your forehead on the floor.
Lift your elbows up as you were trying to make them touch behind your head. Bring them back down slowly. Do not slam them into the floor.
Keep your legs engaged but on the floor. Point your feet and make your ankles touch.
Move slowly! The longer this takes the more control and strength you will develop!
Arm Circle1x12 each directionWith your arms locked and out by the side like an airplane perform small and dynamic circles.
Keep your chest on the floor and lift your head sligthly.
Keep your legs engaged but on the floor. Point your feet and make your ankles touch.
Salt Bae Wrist Curl1x8Start with the palm of your hand facing downwards in front of you.
Using your internal muscles stretch your hands open. Bring your wrist into full extension and spread your fingers wide.
Engage your forearm and hand muscles to make the tips of your fingers touch and curl your wrist into flexion.
Keep your hips and shoulders perfectly squared and parallel to the floor.
Wrist Warm Up1x20secGently stretch your wrists on the floor.
Rotate, twist and move them to stretch them in each direction.
Spend more time in positions where you feel less mobile or even stiff.
Keep your elbows locked and hands shoulder wide apart.
Wall Walk1x2Engage your whole body! Do not allow your back to arch or your shoulder blades to stick out behind your back.
Take small and controlled steps with your hands facing towards the front.
Only your feet should touch the wall. Do not place your knees, hips or chest on the wall.
Do not look at the wall. Instead look at the spot in between your hands.

Wall Training

DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
Tuck Slide2x3Make sure your shoulders stay right on top of the center of your hands. Do not push them open in the direction of your armpits or allow them to close and slide in the direction of your back.
Keep your knees together and make them touch the wall as you pull them down.
Pull your knees as low as possible whilst engaging your lower back. In the tuck position your hips need to be in a slight anterior pelvic tilt. As soon as your lower back rounds and your hips flip into a posterior pelvic tilt your knees are too low.
Lock your elbows, elevate your scapula and look at the spot in between your hands.
45 Handstand Single Leg Tuck Slide2x2 each side none alterntatingAlign your hips, shoulders and top foot on top of the center of your hands. Create a 45 degree angle at the hips for the other foot to touch the wall.
Isolate the movement into the working leg only. Place the knee on the wall and pull it as low as possible without un-squaring the hips or flipping them into a posterior pelvic tilt.
Focus on the immobile leg. Keeping it perfectly stable is much harder than moving the other knee down to the tuck and back up.
Make sure your shoulders stay right on top of the center of your hands. Do not push them open in the direction of your armpits or allow them to close and slide in the direction of your back.
45 Handstand Lateral Leg Isolation2x2 each side none alterntatingAlign your hips, shoulders and top foot on top of the center of your hands. Create a 45 degree angle at the hips for the other foot to touch the wall.
Focus on the rotation of your leg inside of your hip. In the straddle position the leg needs to be externally rotated. When the leg is on top it needs to be in parallel.
Focus on the immobile leg. Keeping it perfectly still is much harder than moving the other one to straddle and back.
Due to the nature of this exercise you will be slightly piked in your single leg straddle position. This is ok as you gain lots of shoulder strength and coordination but moving the wall leg not just against gravity but also against the friction of the wall. Find a flat and even wall and wear slippery socks!
Single Leg Tuck Take Off1x1 each sideEngage your lower back and pull your hips into an anterior pelvic tilt so that your knee doesn't touch the wall during your tuck slide.
Align the foot on top of your hips, shoulders and center of the hands. Before you take the second foot of you should already be in full control of your handstand.
If you feel like you have to arch your back to use the top leg as counter weight your alignment is off. Push out tall from your shoulders and move them on top of the center of your hands instead of trying to force this to work by opening into a banana position.
Bend your tuck knee fully as you take it off the wall and bring your heel close to your glutes. This will help bring the weight on top of the center of your hands.
Single Leg Tuck Take Off to Straight1x1 each sideFocus on your Tuck Take Off first! Everything else is bonus.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Time your hips and knee. If you were watching this drill from the side the foot should travel up and back down on one vertical line.
Do not slide the moving foot along the immobile leg. instead create a small gap and keep your shin in a right angle to the floor.
Single Leg Tuck Take Off to Straddle1x1 each sideMove both legs into the straddle simultaneously. Time your movement so both feet finish their journey in the same moment.
Keep your hips and shoulders perfectly squared and parallel to the floor.
Make sure your shoulders stay right on top of the center of your hands. Do not push them open in the direction of your armpits or allow them to close and slide in the direction of your back.
Remind yourself how to do a Single Leg Tuck Take Off first. Stay clean from start to finish.
DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
L Handstand Single Leg Isolation1x2 each side alternatingBring the leg on up slowly to align it with your hips and shoulders on top of the center of your hands.
With the leg on top pressure on your shoulders is less horizontal and more vertical. Use this to push out extra tall. Work on holding this newly gained height on the way back down to the starting position.
Engage your back and pull your hips into a slight anterior pelvic tilt when you are brining the leg back to the wall to keep your weight in the fingertips. Do not allow your lower back to round when returning to the L.
In case of a temporary lack of hamstring flexibility bend your knee slightly to ease the tension.
L Handstand Leg Isolation2x1 each sideAlign the foot on top of your hips, shoulders and center of the hands. Before you take the second foot of you should already be in full control of your handstand.
If you feel like you have to arch your back to use the top leg as counter weight your alignment is off. Push out tall from your shoulders and move them on top of the center of your hands instead of trying to force this to work by opening into a banana position.
Focus on the way back and isolate the movement in 1 leg at the time. Do not use your top leg as a counter weight.
In case of a temporary lack of hamstring flexibility bend your knee slightly to ease the tension.
Wall Take Off to Straddle to Straight2x1 each side
Box Tuck Leg Isolation2x1 each sideAlign the foot on top of your hips, shoulders and center of the hands. Before you attempt to take the second knee off you should already be in full control of your handstand.
If you feel like you have to arch your back to use the top leg as counter weight your alignment is off. Push out tall from your shoulders and move them on top of the center of your hands instead of trying to force this to work by opening into a banana position.
Make sure the box for your tuck is high enough. Your hips have to be in a slight anterior pelvic tilt and never in a posterior one. Consider placing a mat or something soft on the box to soften the blow in case you lose control and come down a bit faster.
Focus on the way back and isolate the movement in 1 leg at the time. Do not use your top leg as a counter weight. Stabilize your hips with your back and use your hip flexors to actively pull the first knee down until it touches the box.
Box Tuck Hover1x1 each sideAlign the foot on top of your hips, shoulders and center of the hands. Before you attempt to hover the second knee you should already be in full control of your handstand.
If you feel like you have to arch your back to use the top leg as counter weight your alignment is off. Push out tall from your shoulders and move them on top of the center of your hands instead of trying to force this to work by opening into a banana position.
Make sure the box for your tuck is high enough. Your hips have to be in a slight anterior pelvic tilt and never in a posterior one. Only place the knees on the box.
Keep your hover knee fully bent and keep the foot close to your glutes. This will help bring the weight on top of the center of your hands.
Box Tuck Single Leg Isolation2x2 each sideBring your foot on top to align it with your hips, shoulders and center of your hands.
Time your hips and knee. If you were watching this drill from the side the foot should travel up and back down on one vertical line.
Keep your immobile leg fully bent and the heel close to your glutes. Place your shoulders on top of the center of your hands and push out tall.
Make sure the box for your tuck is high enough. Your hips have to be in a slight anterior pelvic tilt and never in a posterior one. Only place the knees on the box.
DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
Slide Away1x3Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Your feet should be the only thing touching the wall. Lean your shoulders towards the front and slide your feet down the wall. , Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Your feet should be the only thing touching the wall. Lean your shoulders towards the front and slide your feet down the wall until your feet naturally lift off the wall. In this moment travel the feet away from the wall and the shoulders back to align everything on top of the center of your hands.
Do not pull your hips or arch your back. Stay in a perfectly straight line from shoulders to toes. The only position change should be in the shoulders and wrists.
Move slow and stay in control at all times. Do not use momentum to get off the wall. Do not jump off the wall and do not take 1 foot at the time off the wall.
Come back to the wall with your entire body from wrists to toes in 1 straight line.
Straddle Slide Away1x3Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Your feet should be the only thing touching the wall. Lean your shoulders towards the front and slide your feet down the wall. , Start with your body in a perfectly straight line. Your feet should be the only thing touching the wall. Lean your shoulders towards the front and slide your feet down the wall until your feet naturally lift off the wall. In this moment travel the feet away from the wall and the shoulders back to align everything on top of the center of your hands.
Don't just lock your legs inside of your hips but actively push them open. Do not accidentally close your legs whilst leaning towards the front., Lock your legs inside of your hips. Do not accidentally close your legs whilst leaning towards the front.
Do not pull your hips or arch your back. Stay in a perfectly straight line from shoulders to toes. The only position change should be in the shoulders and wrists.
Keep your elbows locked and elevate your scapula fully at all times.
Slide Away to Straddle1x2Focus on the Slide Away first. It is the main priority. Hold your freestanding handstand before moving on.
Open your legs into the straddle slowly. Not only will you have to catch your legs against gravity and momentum but also will your body become shorter. If your are not perfectly align this angle change will be surprising for your balance.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Keep your elbows locked and elevate your scapula fully at all times.
Straddle Slide Away to Legs Together1x2Focus on the Slide Away first. It is the main priority. Hold your freestanding handstand before moving on.
Engage your glutes whilst closing your legs to avoid piking at the hips.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Keep your elbows locked and elevate your scapula fully at all times.
Straddle Slide Away to Straight to Straddle2x2Remind yourself how to do a Slide Away first. Lean your shoulders towards the front the get the feet off the wall and stabilize your handstand.
When your legs are together your feet should be in a parallel position. As soon as your legs open they have to rotate externally.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Keep your scapula elevated, elbows locked and and the weight in the fingertips at all times. Look at the space in between your hands and engage your legs!
Slide Away to Straddle to Straight2x2Carry your legs into the straddle from the straight. The downward movement of the legs in combination with gravity will create momentum. The faster you go the harder it will be for your shoulders to stay elevated and your elbows to remain locked.
When your legs are together your feet should be in a parallel position. As soon as your legs open they have to rotate externally.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Keep your scapula elevated, elbows locked and and the weight in the fingertips at all times. Look at the space in between your hands and engage your legs!
Slide Away to Lateral Leg Isolation2x1 each sideKeep your hips and shoulders perfectly squared and parallel to the floor.
Focus on the rotation of your leg inside of your hip. In the straddle position the leg needs to be externally rotated. When the leg is on top it needs to be in parallel.
Keep both elbows locked and shoulders elevated. Due to the nature of the movement you will have more weight on one side of your body. It is up to you to create the visual illusion of the weight staying perfectly even between your hands.
You are very close to the wall which forces you to engage properly and follow correct form. If not your foot will touch the wall!

Freestanding Handstands

DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
Straight to Straddle to Straight2x2Carry your legs into the straddle from the straight. The downward movement of the legs in combination with gravity will create momentum. The faster you go the harder it will be for your shoulders to stay elevated and your elbows to remain locked.
When your legs are together your feet should be in a parallel position. As soon as your legs open they have to rotate externally.
Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Keep your scapula elevated, elbows locked and and the weight in the fingertips at all times. Look at the space in between your hands and engage your legs!
Straight to Tuck to Straight2x2Move slow and work on staying in control at all times. The goal is not just to jump from one position to the next but even to control the journey between the positions.
Time your hips and knees. If you were watching this drill from the side the feet should travel down and back up on 1 vertical line.
Pull your knees as low as possible in the tuck but stop before your lower back rounds, shoulders close or elbows bend.
Vertical Leg Isolation From Straight2x2 each side alternatingPull your knees as low as possible without allowing your lower back to round or the hips to un-square from the shoulders.
Keep your immobile leg perfectly on top of the hands, shoulders & hips. Do not arch it towards the back as a counterweight.
Do not slide the moving foot along the immobile leg. instead create a small gap and keep your shin in a right angle to the floor.
Keep your scapula elevated, elbows locked and and the weight in the fingertips at all times. Look at the space in between your hands and engage your legs!
Straight to Diamond to Straight2x2In the straight position your legs should be in a parallel position. As soon as you pull into the diamond your legs need to externally rotate.
Imagine you are in a toaster. You do no want to burn your glutes, knees or toes! Only pull your feet as close as your flexibility allows it.
Isolate the movement into your legs. Keep your shoulders and hips perfectly stable.
Lock your elbows, elevate your scapula and look at the spot in between your hands.
Lateral Leg Isolation from Straight2x1 each sideFocus on the immobile leg. Keeping it perfectly still is much harder than moving the other one to straddle and back.
Focus on the rotation of your leg inside of your hip. In the straddle position the leg needs to be externally rotated. When the leg is on top it needs to be in parallel.
Keep both elbows locked and shoulders elevated. Due to the nature of the movement you will have more weight on one side of your body. It is up to you to create the visual illusion of the weight staying perfectly even between your hands.
Engage your legs! They make up a significant part of your handstand. Lock your knees, point your feet and squeeze the water out of them.

HSPU Conditioning

DemoExerciseReps/SetsHow to/Cues
Crow to Headstand - Elevated Head - Reps2x3Place the center of your head on the floor and not your forehead! Consider placing a pillow under your head or training on a mat for comfort and security.
Use blocks, books or anything similar just in front of your hands to decrease the range traveled.
From the headstand place your knees on the bottom end of your triceps. The bent elbow in combination with the bent knee creates a great platform to apply pressure.
Resist with your arms and shoulders when moving from the crow into the headstand to slow the movement down. The goal is to stay in control at all times. Place your head firmly before lifting the knees of the arms.
Pike Push Up Take Off1x3With your face close to the floor lean further towards the front to transfer your weight from your feet into your hands. Resist and take your feet off the floor for a short moment.
Allow your elbows to flare out naturally but aim to keep them approximately at a 45 degree angle. Keep your forearms vertical at all times and do not allow your elbows to point towards the back.
Place your hands shoulder width apart on the floor with your fingers facing towards the front! Lock your elbows and rotate their pits towards the front. Elevate your scapula!
Look at your hands and elevate your scapula in the starting position. Allow your scapula to depress naturally as you bend your arms.
Pike Push Up Take Off to Tuck Bent Arm Stand4x totalWith your face close to the floor lean further towards the front to transfer your weight from your feet into your hands.
Engage your whole body! Do not allow your back to arch or your shoulder blades to stick out behind your back.
Resist with your arms. From the moment when your feet leave the floor your arms should stay completely immobile with a 90 degree angle at the elbows.
Allow your elbows to flare out naturally but aim to keep them approximately at a 45 degree angle. Keep your forearms vertical at all times and do not allow your elbows to point towards the back.
Bent Arm Press Lower to Tuck L Sit - at Wall4x totalStart in a handstand with your feet touching the wall.
First bend your elbows keeping your shoulder - toe line perfectly stable. Then bend your knees. Slide your feet down the wall and pull your knees towards your chest. Finally, as you take the feet off the wall and lower to the tuck L Sit extend your arms.
Allow your elbows to flare out naturally but aim to keep them approximately at a 45 degree angle. Keep your forearms vertical at all times and do not allow your elbows to point towards the back.
Point your feet and slide them on the wall. Avoid walking your feet on the wall. Try using a wall that is smooth and even for your feet to travel without extra resistance.
Partial HSPU - Chest to Wall4x totalPlace a yoga block, high pillow, books or really anything else between your hands to decrease the range of motion your head travels.
Point your feet and slide them on the wall. Avoid walking your feet on the wall. Try using a wall that is smooth and even for your feet to travel without extra resistance.
Aim your head further towards the front and embrace the angle in your body. Focus on engaging your chest muscles and protract your shoulders slightly.
Your upper body should travel down and back up on the same line. Keep your back straight. Make sure not to look at your hands and not to push your shoulders towards your armpits on top.
Dead L HSPU - Elevated Hands2xmax -1Elevate your hands for increased range of motion.
In each rep place your head on the floor just in front of your hands and release pressure form your arms.
Allow your elbows to flare out naturally but aim to keep them approximately at a 45 degree angle.
Your upper body should travel down and back up on 1 diagonal line. Do not arch your back and do not push your shoulders towards your feet on top. Do not aim your nose towards the floor but your forehead.
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