X

To do a handstand, first face a wall and place your hands on the floor 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) in front of it. Practicing in front of a wall will make doing a handstand easier when you’re first starting out. Straighten your legs so you’re in downward dog pose, then walk forward until your shoulders are lined up with your wrists. Next, raise one of your heels up toward the ceiling, and come up onto the ball of your foot that's still on the floor. Now, press into your hands and lift your bottom heel up in the air. Bring your top heel up to the wall so it’s resting on it, followed by your bottom heel. Pull your stomach in toward your spine and bring your shoulders up and away from your ears to help you balance. Then, try pressing off the wall with your feet and seeing how long you can hold a handstand for. When you’re finished, lower your feet back down to the ground one at a time. You can also do a handstand by walking your feet up the wall. First, get into downward dog pose with your heels 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) away from the wall. Then, press into your hands and walk both of your feet up the wall so they’re at a 90-degree angle with the wall. Walk your hands closer to the wall until your shoulders are lined up with your wrists. Now, continue walking your feet up the wall while walking your hands closer to it. Stop when your hands are 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) away from the wall and the tops of your feet are pressing into it. Then, practice pressing your feet away from the wall and holding a handstand for as long as you can. To come back down, walk your hands forward while walking your feet down the wall. If you want to learn how to do a handstand without the help of a wall, keep reading the article!