Handstand does not only bring out the inner kid in you, it’s actually also really good for you (health wise).
1. They make your upper body crazy strong
In order to stay upside down for any length of time, you'll need a great amount of shoulder, arm, and upper back strength, because you’ll be bearing your full weight on your hands for an extended period of time. To build up strength (especially with my arms being my weakest point), I try to practice the handstand on a regular basis. I first started with the handstand against the wall for a approximately 5 to 10 seconds, and as I continued with yoga practice, I gradually managed to build up more strength. These days I'm able to do the handstand away from the wall –a.k.a. freestanding handstand.
I guess practice does make perfect.
2. They'll increase your balance
Frequent handstand practice will increase your balancing abilities. Once you get over your fear of falling, freestanding handstand feels like child's play. Like I mentioned earlier on I learned freestanding handstands by first practicing against the wall, then carefully started to take my feet off the wall for as long as possible –increasing my balancing abilities.
3. They build core strength
Since staying upside down forces you to stabilize your muscles, you're constantly working your abs, as well as other key muscle groups such as your hip flexors, hamstrings, inner thigh muscles, obliques and lower back while in a handstand. Therefore, training handstands every day does get you a well balanced, super strong core.
4. They can boost your mood and regulate your metabolism
Not only will handstands make you strong and help improve your balancing abilities, but according to my yoga instructor handstands can also make you feel happier, since the blood flow to your brain has an energizing and calming effect, especially when you're feeling really stressed out.
Handstands also stimulates the thyroid and pituitary glands, which can actually help regulate your metabolic rate.
5. They help with bone health, circulation and breathing
When you’re upside down in a handstand, your normal blood floor inverts, increasing circulation to your upper body while relieving pressure on your feet and legs.
They also benefit your spine, increase bone health in your wrists, arms and shoulders, and stretch your diaphragm, your main breathing muscle, which in turn increases blood flow to your lungs.
So there you have it. The reason why handstand is one of my favorite exercises. It benefits my health and makes me happy!
