The Ultimate Handstand Tutorial
This intensive 60 minute handstand & inversions tutorial is suitable for Yoga, Pole, Gymnastic & Fitness people
Ben Lowrey’s Ultimate Handstand Tutorial is densely packed with over 30 segments which teach different handstand exercises.
The tutorial is highly edited to squeeze a large amount of tuition and explanation into a short amount of space, with many examples and camera angles, and with voice-over explanations which play whilst moves are being demonstrated.
This Tutorial will challenge you and guide you from the beginning of your journey all the way to being a confident handbalancer and inversion specialist. This is a tutorial you can keep referring back to as some of the moves might take years to master.
There is a dedicated segment for wall exercises which are suitable for beginners. That segment also contains strength exercises and drills to develop your shoulder stability. You will also find shoulder stretch exercises to open your shoulders.
Ben Lowrey has been influenced by a combination of formal circus handbalancing, gymnastics, capoeira, and yoga, and has produced a tutorial which draws upon elements of all those disciplines.
People in the Yoga world will find this tutorial is suitable to help them progress their inversions and arm balances on the mat, but this will also encourage them out of the yoga box to play with other movement skills which have been borrowed from other disciplines such as gymnastics and capoeira.
Forearm stand, head stand, tripod head stand and crow variations are included in this tutorial including one-leg crow, side-crow, and other fun arm-balance variations.
Strong emphasis is placed on flow, playfulness, experimentation, and intuition during this tutorial, the student is encouraged to listen to their own body and move in ways which feel right to them. Not only does this help prevent injury but it also keeps enjoyment as a central theme and guiding principle.
Ben Lowrey feels that this is a unique approach which resembles several disciplines but is a unique combination of them all.
Ben Lowrey is based in Bristol, United Kingdom and teaches handstand classes and workshops all around the country.
Whilst a range of Inversions are offered, this is primarily a handstand tutorial.
Part This is the warm up and stretching part of the tutorial.
The warm up is not just about getting the heart rate up, this is also where we begin the process of putting weight into our hands so that it starts to feel familiar.
Lots of drills and repetition are an important part of the process because it gets us out of our head and into our body, so that we experience the forces and gravity and learn to become more instinctive about controlling it.
Strong emphasis is put on drills and repetition over analysis or excessive conditioning – both of which often contribute very little to actual handstand confidence or progress.
Stretching exercises are explained in this part of the tutorial.
Part 2
This is the main bulk of the handstand drills. Walking drills are recommended because you will alternate legs and step into a handstand in the same way you would if you were demonstrating a handstand to friends.
Different leg positions condition your mind and body to control you limbs whilst upside down and you will become familiar with different body positions whilst inverted.
The movements and shifts in weight will teach your shoulders to stabilise your handstand as your weight shifts in different directions.
Part 3
This is an important part of the tutorial because it is dedicated to yoga style Inversions.
You will be asked to practise a regular crow to begin with but then many variations such as side-crow and one-legged crow will also be offered.
Further arm balances such as fore-arm and headstand are included with several variations which will challenge you with different leg positions. Â
Exercises to build you strength to press from crow to handstand are also included in the wall exercises segment.
Part 4
The yoga inversion are inserted in the middle of the tutorial to give your mind and body a rest from the handstand drills.
When you first begin learning handstands it is normal for your shoulders to become fatigued quite quickly.
This is worse at first and your shoulders will quickly strengthen and adapt over a period of several weeks.
It’s important to listen to your body and not push too hard. Take tests when necessary. If you experience significant pain or discomfort then stop.
In this segment you will find the ‘Press to Handstand’ which is a move which many people wish to learn.
Part 5
This section contains wall exercises which will help beginners find their balance if a spotter is not available.
Strength conditioning exercises are also given to strength and stretch the shoulders.
The wall is a useful tool and it should be incorporated into your practise.
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