Why I Succeeded in Handstands (and Why You Should Do Exactly What I Did)
Before I started doing handstands, I had already been working out quite a lot. A few years before discovering yoga, arm balancing, and acroyoga (which was also a significant part of my life at one point), I used to do HIIT workouts. Because of that, my first handstand wasn’t a dramatic failure (although I want to emphasize that I don’t see anything wrong with “failure” — it’s how we learn!). It was tricky and a little confusing, but I didn’t collapse under the weight of my own body.
My first handstand happened during an Iyengar yoga class at a local gym. I remember we all had to stand in front of a wall (lined with mirrors), place our hands on the floor, and kick up. It was a beginner’s class, and it was crazy that we attempted that! It took me a few tries before I managed to kick up and place my feet on the wall, but eventually, I succeeded. Since that day, I think I’ve practiced handstands almost every single day. I got completely hooked!
I want to reflect here on my current experience teaching handstands and the struggles I observe in others. Many people struggle to hold their own weight, don’t understand the concept of deep core engagement, bend their elbows when carrying their weight, or lack the ability to create enough tightness in their body to maintain a stable shape upside down. Sometimes, this is due to fear or not yet feeling comfortable in the pose. However, in most cases, the issue is simply a lack of strength.
There are many ways to build strength. Personally, I’ve always preferred bodyweight training and wasn’t particularly interested in weightlifting, although I see the great benefits of both. My workouts were usually compilations of different exercises targeting the core, arms, legs, glutes, and cardio. Even if a bodyweight exercise focuses primarily on one part of the body, it often strengthens other areas as well — and that’s what I love about bodyweight training. Handstands are a bodyweight exercise, so becoming familiar with bodyweight training beforehand helped me immensely when I started practicing them.
I remember the day I tried my first push-up. I was doing online workouts with Zuzka Light, who offered 20-minute snack-sized workouts. I fell in love with that format — short, intense, and easy to fit into my daily routine! But back to the push-up: I couldn’t do it. For context, I was in my 20s when I attempted it, so all the "crazy" things I’ve done with my body happened when I was an adult — and I think that’s important to share! It took me just one attempt to realize I couldn’t do a push-up and a few weeks of daily work to achieve 10 in a row.
By the time I tried my first handstand, I had already learned how to do push-ups. I could do V-ups, hold a 1-minute plank, had strength in my arms, and had gained quite a bit of flexibility through regular yoga practice. That same year, I had also been practicing Ashtanga yoga and started doing acroyoga, which further increased my core strength.
I’m sharing my story because I want you to see another perspective. It’s not just about trying and eventually succeeding; it’s about putting in the hard work to get there. I always recommend focusing on building strength for about three months before seriously working on handstands. Otherwise, you might get discouraged by how challenging they are. Here’s the thing: handstands aren’t inherently difficult, but they do require a lot of hard work and consistency before you succeed. And that’s the hard part — showing up for yourself consistently is hard.
I was fortunate to have intrinsic motivation to train, with only occasional need for external inspiration. If external motivation helps you, I’ve recorded a workout a while ago, designed to help you prepare for handstands. It’s tough, but effective! You can check it out below. If you like it, leave a comment under the video to let me know it was helpful! Please - remember that if you really want to get stronger, you need to exercises at least 3 times a week, and ideally 5 times a week (even if it’s just 30 minute workouts).
Consistency is the key to success.