Handstand workshop

A brief discussion on handstand and where it fits into the Ashtanga practice. Followed by a breakdown of the steps to get there along with a demonstration of how to work towards this challenging pose.

This tutorial is all about neutral and square hips in your one-legged kickups into handstand. Having your hips move at the same rate is the emphasis here. Using downdog, find a nice way to "feel" what it's like to find neutral hips while moving into handstand with your legs apart. If you aren't quite ready for middle of the room inversions, take this class to the wall for support. Props Suggested: Wall space.

Designed to help you get into handstand with no props. The main obstacles to lifting and balancing in this pose are tight hamstrings and a loosy goosy core. Open your hamstrings and charge your core up while investigating the energetic alignment of your core architecture, giving you the best chance of lifting up and balancing in this pose. Good luck and come back to this practice over and over. Eventually the pose will come through!

Plank is a fundamental asana that creates awareness around your shoulder girdle, core body, pelvis and legs. Essentially, plank is a full body discovery that can give way to a greater understanding of arm balances and inversions like handstand. Expect a number of planks (some with long holds) and variations, as you sweat, work hard, and arrive into the present moment. Counter all of your shoulder work with heart openers and savasana.

Turn your frustration into fun when attempting to kick up into handstand. A combination of specific techniques mixed with a little wild wild west will get you up and handstanding in no time.

Handstand is the elusive, dreamy pose that seems leagues away from your grasp. This short tutorial gives you the tools needed to tackle this grand posture all in due time! Break down the basics, the alignment and the homework. Props Needed: Two blocks and a strap.

Handstand brings blood flow to the head and wakes up the nervous system. However, many people suffer compression in the wrists in handstands. Carefully prepare the wrists, arms and shoulders to prepare for handstand against the wall. Props Needed: Wall space and a strap.

This practice is all about your shoulders. Using plank pose as your primary focus, navigate through quick shoulder and core strengtheners followed by fun opening variations. Starting with downward dog, move quickly through powerful strengthening poses as you workout your shoulders and arms. Hold the last pose in the sequence, gomukhasana, to achieve a greater opening in your shoulders. Power up your shoulders and arms while building heat with this short and intense practice.

Balancing in handstand in the middle of the room is a right of passage that requires patience, practice, and courage. This tutorial will give you some important hints to make your asana aspiration of balancing in the middle of the room a reality. Practice this class at a wall if you want a little support. Prop Suggested: Wall space.

This practice will create stability throughout your shoulder joint to allow for greater range of motion and enhanced mobility. Featuring straightforward asanas with some shoulder-opening additions, you'll get your body moving while easing areas of tightness. Begin with a seated warm up using your strap, the flow through surya namaskars, side planks and warrior II variations. Class concludes with upper body stretches and a brief meditation. Props Needed: A strap.

This handstand conditioning class moves through a full-body warmup with special emphasis on the wrists, shoulders, and hips to prepare you for handstand. Perfect for when you don't have a ton of space to move, you can either practice against a wall or the middle of a room. We'll focus on building endurance by holding, proving that you can still build strength and increase your energy while you're on the road! Props Needed: Wall space.

Your hands and shoulder girdles are essential foundational aspects for arm balances and inversions. A tutorial style class, use detailed instruction to move through various exercises designed to create strength and awareness around your hands, arms, and shoulder girdle. A great practice with plenty of detail for both student and practitioner. There is even a little self massage to conclude your practice. Props Needed: Two blocks and a strap.

This practice is all about kicking up into handstand with one leg. Challenge yourself by kicking with your leg in a bent-knee position instead of the typical L-pose. Expect a heat-building flow featuring hamstring openers and core work, along with shoulder strengtheners and openers. If you're newer to handstand practice, this is for you! Props Suggested: A block.

This practice is dedicated to the back of your legs! Hamstrings are often asked to open and stretch in most yoga classes today, but before you can create length in a muscle, you need the muscle to understand how to engage. Expect a heavy dose of one-legged balancing, use of blocks and poses like ardha hanumanasana, parsvottanasana and standing splits as you practice creating stability and strength in your hamstrings. Props Needed: Two blocks.

Focus on developing greater core, arm and shoulder strength while building up to handstand. This flow practice will awaken and rejuvenate your entire body while teaching you tips to refine your handstand or approach it for the very first time. Students that are new to handstand will be given a brief tutorial on the getting into the pose while seasoned handstanders will get to bypass this tutorial and dig deeper into this pose and many others.