If you’re following me on Instagram, you might know that I’m kinda addicted to handstands. Not without a reason though. Here I am giving you my 10 favorite ones!
1. Fun Everywhere
My inversion practice is THE time to be playful and lighthearted! I always enjoy a good challenge and handstands definitely are a fun one. Once you’ve learned to hold a handstand there are always new variations, entries and leg variations to explore.
I also like how you can do handstand everywhere, no equipment needed – and you can do it with your friends by your side.
2. Upper Body strength
Even a short handstand practice each day will go a very long way in strengthening your hands, arms, shoulders, and every other muscle in your upper body. Just think about it, doing a handstand means that you are literally standing on your hands, that means all of your weight is in your upper body and in your arms.
3. Strong Core
Handstands are my favorite way to strengthen not only my arms and shoulders – but also my core! In a handstand, we’re constantly engaging our abs as well as all the muscles in our back to achieve balance. To me, handstands are so much more exciting than simply doing sit-ups ;).
4. Balance and Full Body Engagement
If you’ve ever tried a handstand, you know that besides strength, you’ll also need to have some serious balancing skills in order to be able to hold yourself up. Freestanding handstands, especially, require you to have full control over your body and to constantly make small adjustments to avoid falling. I believe practicing freestanding handstands increases your balancing abilities and your full body engagement like no other exercise can.
5. Stimulation of the Endocrine System
Bringing your heart over your head also leads to an increased blood flow to the head which stimulates the endocrine system, especially the hormonal glands in your head and throat. The thyroid glands for example help to regulate your metabolism and the increased amount of blood flowing to them causes the increased production of T3 and T4, 2 hormones which help to boost your metabolism, thereby helping you burn more calories and keep the weight off. The increased blood flow to the head also stimulates your adrenal glands to produce less cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone and the decreased production of it makes you feel less stressed out and helps to relieve minor depression and anxiety.
6. Improved Blood Circulation
When inverting you obviously reverse the blood flow in the body and thereby you increase circulation to your upper body while relieving pressure on your feet and legs. Your eyes, your skin, your scalp – they all benefit from the extra oxygen and nutrient rich blood that’s sent to your head when you turn upside down. Improved blood circulation in the brain also leads to enhanced concentration, memory and processing abilities. Thereby handstands increase mental function and your ability to keep your mind sharp and clear.
7. Energizing Effect
Most inversions build heat in the body and wake you up. The flood of blood to your brain is energizing and calming at the same time, and can air in relieving minor depression.
8. Fresh Perspective on Life
Turning my body upside down literally gives me a new perspective on life. I’ve learned that there is always another way to approach a situation/problem.
9. Patience
Working up towards a challenging posture like a handstand requires humility and perseverance. We learn to fall out of a pose and to get back up again. We try not to be too hard on ourselves, laugh and have fun in the process. Those many many attempts before we „get it“ remind us of how much more we have to learn, and how truly it is about the journey, not simply the destination.
10. Confidence
Most of all: Being able to support my body weight with my arms makes me feel freaking empowered. From that first kick up into handstand, conquering the fear of falling over and finally finding seconds of hangtime – to my first puppy press and other fancy stuff. Inversions give me trust in my own abilities and remind me of my awesomeness. They show me that I can achieve whatever I set my mind to while also teaching me to stay humble.
Was für eine fabelhafte Website. Ich bin total begeistert. Wunderschöne Fotos und ansprechend informative Texte.
Wow, ich hatte mich zuvor noch nie wirklich mit der Thematik beschäftigt . Man spürt wie es dich erfüllt und du deine Leidenschaft im Leben gefunden hast 🙂 Ich habe bisher noch nie Yoga gemacht aber du hast mich neugierig gemacht..
Vllt habe ich ja bald meine erste Stunde..
Weiter so, du machst das wirklich gut..