Those of you who know me are aware off my math and science background prior to my life as an acrobat. Sometimes old habits die hard.

I want to take a basic concept out of algebra and apply it to a complex movement like the press to handstand.

The press is a very technical movement that requires a combination of strength, flexibility, coordination and body awareness. To make it even harder, this is all done while maintaining balance.

While I do not believe in set right and wrong ways to perform a skill there are ways to make it more mechanically efficient.

To conceptually explain this movement, it is important to know that in balance and alignment there are certain priorities. The first priority here will always be shoulders. Shoulders are a crucial link between your body and the floor or apparatus.

What we are looking for is that the arms are vertical. This means that the shoulder should be directly over the hand. If it is not, chances are the position is more difficult to hold than it needs to be. Ideally we want to spend as little time as possible in a position where the arms are not perpendicular to the floor.

How does this apply to the press? Take a look at the starting position: