Musings from a life learning yogini

The 2pm class is full, so I added a 12:30pm class. I LOVE handstands, so it excites me no end that others love them too. 🙂 Only 4 spots left in the 12:30pm class, so if you’re interested, let me know STAT!

When people sign up for my series, I often get asked “What can I do to prepare?” Historically I have answered that as long as you practice flow or power yoga, you’ve got enough of a base. However, I’ve got one more strength builder to recommend (it’s not necessary in order to start the series, but you’ll be farther ahead in your handstand practice than you would be without doing the below) and some stretches.

This is a GREAT strengthener. Walk up the wall as far as you can/as far as feels safe (you are NOT going far enough to fall) and hold as long as feels safe (come down BEFORE you’re exhausted because you still need enough oomph to walk your hands out). Build to a 1-min hold. Do this 10x/day, 5-days/week. Thanks for the song recommendation Chris!

Shoulder flexibility is necessary in order to handstand. There are a number of different shoulder stretches you can do, so if you have fave’s by all means use them, but Gomukhasana arms (below) and down dog are my favourite ways to open my shoulders.

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Splits are also SUPER important for handstands. You need flexibility to prevent injury while learning to fall out of handstand. You need left and right and straddle splits to cartwheel, which we do every class in the series. You need left and right splits to find balance on your hands (like holding your arms out for balance on a tightrope). You need open inner thighs (thus straddle splits) to straddle press, which is easier than pike press, and you need VERY open hamstrings to pike press to handstand. So, practice your splits leading up to the series.

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And last but not least, wrist range. You need it to stand on your hands, so stretch your wrists leading up to the series!

Our Northshore handstand community is building! SO fun. By request, here are the dates, time and location for the next series. Send me an email for more information!

Here comes the next one! The class will be limited to 10 students, shoot me questions if you have them.

 

I receive a lot of questions about these progressive handstand series and who can take them. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions:

 

*You don’t need to know how to handstand. That’s why you’re coming!

*You don’t need to have been upside down before.

*This class is for all levels, so we’ll work where you’re at. We can move into groups to work or work individually depending on everyone’s levels.

*Once you have the knowledge and know the drills, this series is about regular handstand practice with coaching, so you can work throughout the week and then come back for more instruction, practice time and tips from the group!

*You don’t have to practice throughout the week, but if you want to improve, you’ll need to. It’s like anything. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

*Depending on where you’re at, I will help you build strength and flexibility and work on learning to fall out of handstand safely, balance, and press. There are exercises, drills and conditioning to learn all of that. It’s not magic. It’s practice.

 

$100 for the full series of 5 classes. I am going to keep the class limited to seven students for this session. Six full-session students and one spot if you can only make some of the classes. If you’ve not taken my series before, I require you to register for the full series as I introduce new knowledge, drills and skills at each class. If you’ve been to my series before and you cannot attend all five sessions, I will hold one spot open for that purpose. It will be first come first serve, so if you want certain dates, let me know.

 

To register or with questions, please email me at: purcelldeb@gmail.com