Friday, October 06, 2006

Top 6 Things To Teach Yourself To Walk On Hands

Walking on your hands is a classic sign of elation, improves your upper body strength, and looks ridiculous enough for you to try.

  1. Begin with one foot in front of the other and arms raised by your ears.
  2. Lean over while swinging your arms out in front of you towards the ground.
  3. (Do this while you are swinging your arms) Start lifting your dominant leg behind you.
  4. Push forward with your remaining leg and bring your hands to the ground, all while lifting your remaining leg off the ground. The trick is to do this all at the same time.
  5. Don't freak out. Put your legs straight up and balance yourself. Concentrate on keeping your legs in the air. You may have to stumble around on your hands to keep balance, but that's OK. If you have gotten this far, you can handstand.
  6. Move on arm at a time while leaning slightly in the direction you want to go. Little steps are easiest if you are just learning.

Little Tips:

  • Start on grass or gym mats. For sure.
  • A good idea would be to tuck in your shirt.
  • This will probably take you a long time to figure out. Don't be discouraged.
  • If you are falling as though you are going to land on your back, you can always bend your arms, tuck your head, and roll out of the handstand.
  • Stop when your arms are tired. You aren't training anything by falling on your head.
  • Get a friend to spot you by standing a safe distance in front of you to catch and then hold your calves while you're in a handstand. They could also stand behind you, but you need to be careful not to kick them!
  • You can also practice or start out while facing a wall. The wall can act as your "spotter" and help you work on balance, as well as keep you from falling farther and landing on your back.
  • Prepare your arm, shoulder, abdominal, and back muscles for this workout by exercising regularly. Your leg muscles are strong from doing this all your life. Don't expect that your upper body is going to be ready overnight.
  • Don't bend your arms, and don't bend your legs. You will fall as soon as you start bending things. (notice the girls that look like they are falling in the picture have bent legs and arms)
  • If you are having trouble kicking up to a full handstand, try doing a handstand against a wall. Practice this several times before you start walking. Like a baby, you have to stand before you walk.