CircoplexFor climbers and boulderers
The push your pulling sport is missing
Handstands as straight-arm pushing and shoulder opening, from circus hand balancer Ben Lowrey.
One short email a day for a week: a short film, a drill demo and one small thing to try, from Ben Lowrey. Free, for ages 18 and over.
Founding price £47 until 30 November 2026, then £67
How handstands fit a climber
Push, not pull
Straight arms overhead: the opposite of a lock-off.
Open the shoulders
Ben's view: pulling tightens them. He starts every session opening them.
Shapes for tight shoulders
Let a leg hang over the top while the range comes.
Memories
What learning with Ben feels like
Memories from our workshops, retreats and Circoplex Sundays, 2016–2019.
Studio session, April 2017 
Handstands at Chew Valley Lake, October 2018 
Countryside workshop day, April 2018 
Cannock workshop, January 2018 
Cannock workshop, January 2018 
Handstands at Chew Valley Lake, October 2018
Watch free previews
Most people's shoulders are restricted, especially aerialists, trapeze people, silks, climbers, pole dancers, anybody who's pulling their lats and their biceps are going to get buff.
Sound familiar?
- Your shoulders round forward from all the pulling
- Arms overhead feels tight and short
- You don't know what to train for 'the other half'
- A tuck handstand feels impossible
In Ben’s words
Ben Lowrey started learning handstands in 2013, came to hand balancing through yoga and began teaching at the end of 2015.
“Most people's shoulders are restricted, especially aerialists, trapeze people, silks, climbers, pole dancers, anybody who's pulling their lats and their biceps are going to get buff.”
“This is the most important stretch we can do for handstands. It's going to open our shoulders.”
“It's just the center of gravity, and it's just the position that you can get your body weight into.”
What you get
- Free 7-Day Starter firstOne short email a day, before you decide anything.
- 4 full coursesAbout an hour each, including two on flexibility.
- 10 tutorialsStep by step, each with a written article.
- 43 daily drillsShort demos to follow at home.
- A 12-week programmeThe order to do it all in.
What climbers get in the library
- Pushing work that balances a pulling sport
- Opening shoulders tightened by pulling
- Leg-over and split shapes for tight shoulders
- Short wall drills for rest days
- Flexibility work for tight, strong people
Before you sign up
- “I'd rather climb.”
- A few minutes on rest days is enough to practise. No extra session needed.
- “My fingers need rest.”
- Keep handstands off hard finger days and stop if anything hurts.
- “Is this injury prevention?”
- No. It's balance and pushing practice. For injuries, see a physio.
Handstand questions from climbers
What happens after 30 November?
The founding price of £47 is for purchases made by the end of 30 November 2026, UK time. From 1 December 2026 the library costs £67. Buying at £47 gets you exactly the same access, and the same 14-day refund, as buying at £67.
Do handstands help with climbing?
They train the opposite of a pull: pushing overhead with straight arms. Ben names climbers among the people whose shoulders get tight from pulling. No claim here that it improves your grade.
Are handstands good antagonist training for climbers?
They're a push and an overhead shoulder position, which climbing rarely trains. Treat them as balance practice with a pushing load.
Will handstand practice hurt my fingers or wrists after climbing?
Handstands load the wrists in extension. Warm up, keep sessions short after hard climbing, and stop if anything hurts.
Should I practise before or after climbing?
Many people use rest days or a short block after an easy session. Don't stack it on a hard finger day.
Why pay £47 when the drills are free?
The drills are free. The library adds the full courses, including flexibility for tight people, and a 12-week order.
Free tutorials to start with
The Ultimate Handstand Library
Over 5 hours of teaching across 4 courses, 10 tutorials and 43 drills, sequenced into a 12-week programme.
The tutorials and drills are free; the library adds the full courses and the programme that sequences them.
£47 including VAT, paid once.
Founding price until 30 November 2026, then £67.
Pay once — lifetime access*
*for as long as Circoplex runs, and at least 10 years from your purchase; if it ever closes, 90 days' notice and a download.
14-day refund, no questions asked: ask within 14 days of buying and get all your money back.
Payments are processed by Stripe/Link (Onelink, LLC) as merchant of record. Onelink, LLC sends your payment receipt, and the charge appears on your statement as LINK.COM* CIRCOPLEX. Circoplex sends a separate access confirmation.
The library is open now.
Who it isn’t for
- It is not a quick fix. There are no promised timelines: a handstand takes regular practice over time.
- It is not live coaching. The library is recorded teaching, so nobody watches or corrects your form.
- It is not for anyone a doctor or physiotherapist has told to avoid being upside down.
- Ben says himself that the press to handstand is not right for every body.
The free 7-Day Handstand Starter
One short email a day for a week: a short film, a drill demo and one small thing to try, from Ben Lowrey.