The 30-Day Handstand Plan
A step-by-step programme to take you from absolute beginner to holding incredible handstands in 30 days!
Before you get started there is something I NEED you to do and I promise you won’t regret it!
I need you to set up your phone and film your handstand attempt. Just a few tries, that’s all. And don’t worry if it’s non-existent! You will absolutely LOVE looking back on this video as your handstand progresses and will be such an easy way to see how far you’ve come. Go do it NOW, then come back to explore the rest of the plan!
Day
1
Welcome
Watch this video first so you know what to expect throughout this programme and how to approach the challenge.
Handstand Basecamp
Let's get started on our handstand journey! This class will serve as a benchmark for you to assess where you're currently at with your handstand practice, and get you ready for what's coming up in the next 30 days.
Day 2
Learn: Wrist Mobility
This is first of your 'Learn' classes. In the this class we'll learn the essentials you need to know about wrist mobility, before putting it in to practice in the next class!
Wrist Mobility
A class to help you build strength and flexibility in your wrists. You will need a stick (or a pen!) for this class.
Day 3
Kick Up Level 1
This class is your introduction to kicking up at the wall.
If you can already kick up at the wall, you still need to take this class before moving on to Level 2, because we'll cover some of the important foundations that you need understand before moving forward in this challenge.
Day 4
Learn: Shoulder Strength
Knowledge is power! This class will help you understand the role of your shoulders when handstanding. This is an important one as the shoulders are, in my opinion, the most influential area when it comes to nailing your handstand.
Strength Endurance
Let's build our endurance to help us be able to hold a handstand for longer, but also be able to take more practice attempts each time before we tire.
This class will be repeated a few times throughout this challenge to really help you build the strength you need for handstands.
Day 5
Learn: Shoulder Mobility
We need good shoulder mobility to be able to handstand, but what does 'shoulder mobility' actually mean? Let's find out!
Shoulder Mobility
This is your shoulder mobility training class. You will need a couple of yoga blocks, a stick (or a strap would work), and a surface such as a box/bench/chair/ coffee table etc.
Day 6
Ready in 5
This is your 5 minute warm-up class to help you start opening the joints and engaging the muscles that you need to handstand.
Ideally this should be done before any handstand practice session.
EMOM
EMOM = 'every minute on the minute'.
This is a quick training class for getting your practice reps in and building your strength.
Day 7
Learn: Hamstring Length
Do we need to be flexible in order to handstand...?
Lengthen the Hamstrings
This class will explore a few different techniques to help you improve your hamstring flexibility. You may want a yoga block handy for this class.
Day 8
Strength Intensity
Strength Intensity is all about increasing how much power we can get out of our muscles.
Props needed:
Resistance Band
This class will be repeated a few times throughout this challenge to really help you build the power you need for handstands.
Day 9
Learn: Core
Understand the role your core plays in your ability to handstand.
Core + Leg Strength
A class to help you strength your core and leg muscles. You'll need a chair for this class.
Day 10
For Day 10 you are going to choose your Kick Up class level.
You may decide to retake Kick Up Level 1, or if you feel ready, move on to Kick Up Level 2. There is no rush to progress through these Kick Up levels. Work where you feel is best suited to your current ability.
Day 10
Kick Up Level 1
This class is you introduction to kicking up at the wall.
Kick Up Level 2
As well as working on our kick up, in this class we will explore balance and alignment drills.
You need to be able to kick up at the wall to get the most out of this class. If you're still working on that, take Kick Up Level 1.
Day 11
Learn: Gaze
Where should you look when handstanding...?
Ready in 5
Use this Ready in 5 class as your warm-up for the next class, Gaze Drills for Balance.
Gaze Drills for Balance
In this class we will explore gaze drills to help improve our proprioception and balance.
Day 12
Learn: Proprioception
Learn how proprioception can help our handstands.
Puppy Love
In this class we explore Puppy Press entry in headstand which is an entry that many find their first headstand with!
Day 13
Wrist Mobility
A class to help you build strength and flexibility in your wrists. You will need a stick (or a pen!) for this class.
Ready in 5
Your 5 minute warm-up class to help you start opening the joints and engaging the muscles that you need to handstand.
EMOM
A quick training class for getting your practice reps in and building your strength.
Day 14
Strength Endurance
Let's build our endurance to help us be able to hold a handstand for longer, but also be able to take more practice attempts each time before we tire.
Day 15
Lengthen the Hamstrings
This class will explore a few different techniques to help you improve your hamstring flexibility. You may want a yoga block handy for this class.
Day 16
Ready in 5
Use this Ready in 5 class as your warm-up for the next class, Learn to Fall.
Learn to Fall
In this class we'll go through ways that we can overcome our fear of falling!
Day 17
For Day 17 you are going to choose your Kick Up class level.
You may decide to retake Kick Ups Level 1 or 2, or if you feel ready, move on to Kick Up Level 3. There is no rush to progress through these Kick Up levels. Work where you feel is best suited to your current ability.
Day 17
Kick Up Level 1
This class is you introduction to kicking up at the wall.
Kick Up Level 2
As well as working on our kick up, in this class we will explore balance and alignment drills.
You need to be able to kick up at the wall to get the most out of this class. If you're still working on that, take Kick Up Level 1.
Kick Up Level 3
In this class we'll continue to refine our kick up, and start working towards a free-standing handstand.
Day 18
Shoulder Mobility
This is your shoulder mobility training class. You will need a couple of yoga blocks, a stick (or a strap would work), and a surface such as a box/bench/chair/ coffee table etc.
Day 19
Strength Intensity
Strength Intensity is all about increasing how much power we can get out of our muscles.
Props needed:
Resistance Band
Day 20
Ready in 5
This is your 5 minute warm-up class to help you start opening the joints and engaging the muscles that you need to handstand.
EMOM
This is a quick training class for getting your practice reps in and building your strength.
Day 21
Core + Leg Strength
A class to help you strength your core and leg muscles. You'll need a chair for this class.
Day 22
For Day 22 you are going to choose your Kick Up class level.
You may decide to retake Kick Up Levels 1, 2, or 3, or if you feel ready, move on to Kick Up Level 4. There is no rush to progress through these Kick Up levels. Work where you feel is best suited to your current ability.
Day 22
Kick Up Level 1
This class is your introduction to kicking up at the wall.
Kick Up Level 2
As well as working on our kick up, in this class we will explore balance and alignment drills.
You need to be able to kick up at the wall to get the most out of this class. If you're still working on that, take Kick Up Level 1.
Kick Up Level 3
In this class we'll continue to refine our kick up, and start working towards a free-standing handstand.
Kick Up Level 4
In this class will be take some drills at the wall, and explore a few different entires into a free=standing kick up.
Day 23
Learn: Pincha
Practicing Pincha can be a way to build the strength and balance you need to handstand, whilst giving your wrists a bit of a break!
Flirting with Pincha
What’s going to help us improve on Pincha? Open shoulders, hamstring flexibility, core strength and upper body strength - you’ve got it all here. Grab a block for this class and feel free to use a wall space for your inversion.
Day 24
Lengthen the Hamstrings
This class will explore a few different techniques to help you improve your hamstring flexibility. You may want a yoga block handy for this class.
Day 25
Wrist Mobility
A class to help you build strength and flexibility in your wrists. You will need a stick (or a pen!) for this class.
Strength Endurance
Let's build our endurance to help us be able to hold a handstand for longer, but also be able to take more practice attempts each time before we tire.
Day 26
Ready in 5
Your 5 minute warm-up class to help you start opening the joints and engaging the muscles that you need to handstand.
EMOM
This is a quick training class for getting your practice reps in and building your strength.
Day 27
Exploring Shapes
A straight-up handstand is not necessarily the easiest to hold, so let's explore some different shapes and ways of taking our handstand.
Day 28
Strength Intensity
Strength Intensity is all about increasing how much power we can get out of our muscles.
Props needed:
Resistance Band
Day 29
Ready in 5
Use this Ready in 5 class as your warm-up for the next class, Gaze Drills for Balance.
Gaze Drills for Balance
In this class we will explore gaze drills to help improve our proprioception and balance.
Title
Take 30 minutes to climb your way to compass pose with me! This vinyasa yoga flow class is going to lengthen your hamstrings, open your hips and broaden into your side body and shoulders to prepare you for compass pose!
Day 30
For Day 30 you are going to choose your Kick Up class level: Level 1, 2, 3 or 4.
Day 30
Kick Up Level 1
This class is you introduction to kicking up at the wall.
Kick Up Level 2
As well as working on our kick up, in this class we will explore balance and alignment drills.
You need to be able to kick up at the wall to get the most out of this class. If you're still working on that, take Kick Up Level 1.
Kick Up Level 3
In this class we'll continue to refine our kick up, and start working towards a free-standing handstand.
Kick Up Level 4
In this class will be take some drills at the wall, and explore a few different entires into a free-standing kick up.
Congratulations!
Well done on completing The Handstand Plan!
Don't forget to take a little video of your handstand to compare to where you started to see how far you've come!
If you've caught the inversion-bug and want to keep developing your strength, skills and mobility for getting upside down, why not give the Progress to Pincha challenge a go? A lot of the strength and skills you've built in this challenge will serve you well in that one!