{"id":56835,"date":"2021-10-16T13:25:08","date_gmt":"2021-10-16T13:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/\/\/?p=56835"},"modified":"2021-11-22T01:12:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T06:12:11","slug":"5-steps-to-work-through-your-fear-of-handstands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/5-steps-to-work-through-your-fear-of-handstands\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Steps to Work Through Your Fear of Handstands"},"content":{"rendered":"

It might sound crazy, but just a few years ago I was terrified to practice handstands.<\/strong> I remember going to CrossFit one day and seeing handstand push ups on the whiteboard. Suddenly I realized I needed to go food shopping instead of completing the WOD.<\/p>\n

Over the years I\u2019ve begun to get over my fear of being upside down, and now I practice handstands often. I still use the security of the wall, but just inverting in the first place was a big step.<\/strong> A lot of my progress was thanks to reading articles here on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n

So, here are my favorite tips from the archives that explain some steps you can take to get upside down.<\/p>\n

Step One: Acknowledge Your Fear<\/h2>\n

Willow Ryan<\/a>\u2019s piece, Dear Willow: I Am Afraid of Handstands \u2013 Help!<\/a><\/em> was one of the first articles I read that convinced me to start working on inversions. <\/strong>I liked it because Willow didn\u2019t try to convince the reader there\u2019s nothing to be afraid of. Instead, she focused on working through your fear and taking small steps. As she explained:<\/p>\n

Any way or attempt is better than being frozen in a pose. Create different thoughts around your sticking spot. The only way out of a ditch is to use your bean, grab some tools, and get to work. Think one foot in front of the other and move incrementally when the fears are the loudest. You can tread slowly and gently in this time while you adapt to new sensations or actions as your fears present themselves.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you\u2019re afraid of being upside down, that\u2019s okay. Do little things like hanging out in downward facing dog or even over the side of your bed.<\/strong> These small steps will help you get used to the feeling of being inverted. And don\u2019t forget to breathe. Not only will breathing keep you in control of your fear, but it will also create space and extension while you\u2019re upside down.<\/p>\n

Step Two: Practice Arm Balances<\/h2>\n

Practicing arm balances regularly was something I only discovered recently<\/a>. <\/strong>Do them every day to build arm and upper-body strength while also challenging your balance \u2013 without the added trick of having your feet over your head.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t an original thought. Coach Max Shank demonstrated how you can use frogstand to build up to a handstand in 2 Ways to Bulletproof the Freestanding Handstand<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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2 Tips to Improve your freestanding handstand<\/div><\/div>
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