9 Moves to Help Anyone Master a Basic Handstand

Handstands need upper-body strength to hold your body straight upside down, despite their seeming simplicity.

Push-Ups

Pike push-ups target your shoulders and upper back and help you get acclimated to being upside down. 

Pike Push-Ups

Crow pose is a good next step since it requires upper-body, balance, and core power. Like a small handstand, it helps your hands and wrists get used to supporting your weight.

Crow Pose

Since the handstand is advanced, start with the headstand, the most stable inversion. Training inversions like headstand and forearm stand to assist in discovering

Headstand

The hardest inversion after headstand is forearm stand, but not as hard as handstand. Being on your forearms gives you greater balance surface. 

Forearm Stand

You can now try your first handstand with wall assistance. Begin "facing away from a wall, squatting, placing your hands down, and walking your feet up the wall.

Handstand Facing the Wall

Next, practice handstands beside a wall face the other way to learn them freely. Start with "dinosaur kicks," where you lever into an upright position that's not vertical to practice kicking up.

Handstand Against the Wall

Handstand in yoga requires a straight body, although it can be challenging to find balance at first. Some find handstands simpler with split legs.

Handstand Split

You're ready to balance without support in an open environment after learning to handstand against the wall. 

Handstand