Fast Fitness - Easy Handstand for Balance, Upper Body Strength -The Movie
Friday, May 09, 2008
Jolie Bookspan, M.Ed, PhD, FAWM
Here is Friday Fast Fitness - a quick, safer way to try a handstand. Standing on hands has many health and strength benefits and can be easily practiced in this way.
My student Dennis, Olympic medalist in wrestling, demonstrates in this short movie. Click the arrow to watch the movie:
- Stand with your back about a foot in front of a wall, and crouch to put your hands on the floor (avoid slippery surface)
- Put one foot high up on the wall, then lift the other foot up too
- To get down, step one foot back down, then the other
To see step by step still photos and more explanation, click the post
Fast Fitness - Easy Handstand where
David from Belgium shows the handstand plus how to add a nice overhead hamstring stretch.
Keep breathing. Smile. Relax. Send in your own photos of trying this. Be safe and have fun.
Movie © by Jolie
Labels: arm, balance, circulation, fast fitness, handstand, shoulder, strength, upper back, video/movie, wrist
Permalink |
Email Post 
The Healthline Site, its content, such as text, graphics, images, search
results, HealthMaps, Trust Marks, and other material contained on the
Healthline Site ("Content"), its services, and any information or material
posted on the Healthline Site by third parties are provided for informational
purposes only. None of the foregoing is a substitute for professional medical
advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a
physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may
have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice
or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Healthline
Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911
immediately. Please read the Terms of Service for more information regarding
use of the Healthline Site.
3 Comments:
At Tuesday, May 13, 2008 8:09:00 PM,
GingerB said…
My Yoga teachers uses that, but you hold you legs at a right degree angle to the floor.
It forces your back to be straight. Seems to me it sets you up for more shoulder action.
I don't think I'll ever be able to do a handstand without the wall.
At Wednesday, May 14, 2008 6:37:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
Two questions...
1. What is your take on doing dips? Not talking about dipping off a chair behind you with limited ROM, but regular dips, facing a kitchen counter corner or between parallel bars?
2. Since reading your book, I don't want to repeat my faulty patterns when picking up a 45 lb dumbbell from the floor, so not sticking out butt as you admonish. Should I still try to be as vertical (back) as possible with only a small arch, even when picking up a heavy object (vs. a bodyweight squat without external load.)? Thank you... Dave
At Thursday, July 10, 2008 12:37:00 PM,
Jolie Bookspan, M.Ed, PhD, FAWM said…
Ginger, holding the legs at a right angle does not "force" anyone's back to do anything. I have seen many students hold their back rounded (or overarched) regardless of the angle of the legs and hip. Holding the legs at a right angle does not train you to hold your body straight the way you need for simple standing, walking, running, and any movement using neutral spine. In other words, it is not functional. It does not transfer knowledge, strength, or function to real life. My work is to restore and train better function.
The same applies to the shoulder. You control it yourself using your own muscles.
Practice until you can do the handstand without the wall. Like anything else, you will get better with work.
A post on all this, with photos - Using a Handstand for More Than an Exercise - Real Life.
Post a Comment
<< Home