Tag: flexible

Handstand Training Progress

November 6, 2023

So you want to learn how to hold a handstand but you don’t know where to start?🤸🏼
Balancing in a handstand is something I’ve always aspired to do and I can proudly say that after years of practice, I can now hold it for over a minute!💪🏼
So how did I achieve my goal? First and foremost, it takes CONSISTENCY, PATIENCE & TIME…
It won’t happen over night and you must be disciplined, but soon enough you will begin to notice progress.

At the start of my handstand journey, I used a wall to find my balance and test how long I could push away from the wall to stand freely. It was also necessary in these early stages to build my upper body strength, particularly in my wrists. I would occasionally feel the strain in my wrists but I would never push to the point of pain.
After about a year of daily training like this, I found I was able to find my balance for a few seconds or more without the wall. As I got more confident, I continued to experiment with finding my handstand stance unassisted. This can be the most frustrating stage as gauging that optimal position for balance and executing it without help, is the trickiest bit. However, with trial and error I learnt how it felt in my body when I did successfully find balance, and soon enough I was doing 20-30 second holds. Into my second year of daily practice, I discovered that by holding my legs in a split position, I could maintain the handstand longer. It’s important to note that this technique does require a very flexible and strong back, so it was all about strengthening the entire upper body as well.
Continued daily practice led to holding the handstand for about a minute every time. I had finally reached a level of stability at which I could experiment with different shapes within the balance and I found myself recreating the incredible yogi poses I’ve always admired on Instagram. 

It’s now three years on and I can hold my handstand for a minute on demand and even demonstrate my party trick in fun locations for awesome scenic shots on holiday.
By following these tips and tricks, you too can achieve your handstand balancing goals!🏅

Checkout my Instagram Reel here – https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzGMRmpMh55/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Dance More Dances; Once a Dancer, Always a Dancer

January 22, 2023

I can’t quite believe it’s been almost 7 years since I graduated dance college. Whilst I continued to work professionally as a Dancer and Actor for a few years following my degree, soon I found myself moving to Australia and on a different career path as I discovered my passion for events working in Sydney. Over the last few years I’ve done some dance classes here and there, but mostly I just continue to do my Ballet exercises as part of my daily workout routine.

Moving my body every day is a non-negotiable for me as I’ve danced since I could walk and I know the benefits daily movement has for be both physically and mentally. My daily workout routine consists of a warm up, usually cardio based, strengthening exercises either focused on core, glutes, upper body or legs, a plank, a handstand hold, ballet barre and a good stretch to finish. I’ve always stayed supple even now I don’t dance professionally which I have achieved by stretching every single day; I believe consistency is key when it comes to staying fit, active and healthy.

Now nearing my 28th Birthday, I realised it had been too long since I’d hired a studio and practiced some dancing. The other night in fact I lay in bed thinking about my old dance routines and how amazing it used to feel expressing myself through dance, so this weekend I decided to dig out the old lycra and hire the local hall to do some dancing.

Reality is it has been a good 5 years or so now since I danced professionally, so my body doesn’t quite move in the same way these days. It really does make me appreciate how good I was back in my prime dance days. I’m still very proud of everything I achieved and only now looking back, do I realise I should’ve had more belief in myself and my skills at the time.

So although I can’t split leap and pirouette the way I used to, I still get that buzz when I put on the music and dance an old routine and practice some moves. Dancing will forever be in my heart and remain my souls method of expression for life; once a dancer, always a dancer ❤