So...I'm not nearly as consistent, not even doing it every day...but your videos, after looking for a long time around for like a push to get me moving...your vids...you! Are making it happen, so thanks. Still my depression and/or anxiety win some days, but these are definitely helping even if I never get to the handstand. I am loving the journey and the way you encourage us and that they really are for beginners!! So really, really really thank you ❤️
Hello and thank you so much for sharing your experience. Your body is always there for you, to connect to, to shelter you and to bring you new experiences. I am happy to hear that these videos helped you. I hope this daily high five with your body continues to support you, lots of love
This is helping! I'm not in handstand yet, but regularly in pole class we do tripod headstands. I've been spotty with these . . . sometimes I can get them, sometimes I can't. Last night, going into the tripod with my instructor spotting me, I was just like, "Okay. Round your shoulders to use those back muscles. Fingers dig into the floor. Belly pulled in. You're not gonna fall." And not only did I get it . . . I got it WITH CONTROL. Like, it wasn't the usual crapshoot of "Can I shove my weight back to a balance point before I tip forward?", it was a controlled, slow, steady movement to get my hips above me and then hold them there while my legs unfolded. And the panic voice in my head was like "My arms can't hold this!" but another voice was like "Yes they can. You've been practicing and getting sore and practicing again, and there is strength there, and they can hold you." Duuuuuude.
Hello Rose, thank you for your lovely feedback! I really enjoyed reading it :) it is exactly what I was hoping for. That you improve your handstands, confidence and also take away a transferable skill in terms of upper body strength. Well done and keep going :)
Day 9 here. I was doing some exercises prior to this and I realized I have gotten stronger ☺️☺️☺️. Thanks Natalie. Can’t wait to finally get my handstand
Trying to do a handstand by the time I'm 50 and this is the best youtube video yet. Thank you for your calm voice and encouragement. I love this complete step by step process.
Locking the elbows out properly and weight baring and push up training are so crucial to my confidence when doing kick up training, which had helped me tremendously. Thank you, Natalie. I’ve been away for a while, now I’m back. I will review the 30 days course in a few days, write my journal, and go back to your Vimeo course next week from the beginning. 💕
I'm no where close to a handstand yet, but in yoga class the other day, I was not only able to hold crow for much longer and steadier than I have ever before, but was also able to do side crow on both sides for the first time. My hands and wrists feel so much more strong and balanced thanks to your Couch to Handstand!
9/30 days! ✅ Thank you for the reminders to dig my fingers into the ground and the assurance that being a touch out of breath in the inversions is normal! Thank you! 💛
I most certainly have fallen on my head from a handstand onto a bare concrete floor (in a live, in-person class)! I listened very, very closely to your guidance on locking out your elbows in today's lesson. ;) While I'm here, I might as well heap some praise on the class in general. Pre-pandemic I did dance trapeze for several years, and would occasionally go to handstand classes because it was supposed to be good for me. ;) I hated it so much!!! Kicking up to a handstand was no problem as a kid, but at age 52 I just couldn't figure out how to do it, and found it ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING as well. Well, after 9 months of no aerials (and not much other exercise) I decided I had to focus my efforts on *something*, and found this 30 day class, and thought I'd at least try it. This is exactly what I needed -- relatively gentle, easy progressions to get used to putting weight on my hands, strengthen and open my shoulders, understand the movement pathways towards a handstand, and gain some confidence. Your cues are great and very positive, and I have had very few issues with fear/panic so far, and instead focus on the strength and skill that I am gaining. I also love the goofy jokes! Thank you! :)
Thanks Natalie! You're an inspiration. We have been watching these videos during quarantine and they are helping us to stay active! We really enjoy your warm teaching style and we dig the paint job on these yellow walls
I am really enjoying following these classes. My hand balance confidence and core stability has really improved & we’re only on day 9. Looking forward for what’s to come. Thank you xx
Thank you for your reassurances and explanations. Today I didn't try to push my body, and things went so much better. Funny how relaxing into things whilst remaining firm gives more stability! Even my wrist is feeling the benefits. x
Great to hear that! I hope your wrists are coping well! Yes pushing yourself can sometimes be good but sometimes it also closes doors to all movement that requires elements of release.
You are an amazing teacher! I really enjoy every video and look forward in doing these exercises every day. Thank you for sharing these with us. By the way, I would be interested to see a video for correcting the posture, as I noticed that some exercises include that a little bit.
Hello Jane, thank you for your kind words. So happy to hear that you are enjoying this journey. Do you mean correcting the everyday standing body posture? or handstand posture.
Thank you so much. So far I have finished till day 9. There have been breaks of 1 or 2 days in between. Just wanted to know if that is okay? Am definitely feeling my shoulders and shoulders blades a bit changed in a nice way especially when I wake up and also sometimes in the day time too when I am fully awake and I try to feel the change. And I can feel. Still it feels like a long road ahead and feel afraid I may not be able to get there. In anycase it still is good. Thank you once again for being such a gentle yet very clear teacher.
Hello, thank you for sharing your question. It is totally fine to take brakes. The most important thing is that you establish a regularity and that you stick with it and don't give up. :)
Hello Dan, it may take time for your wrists to get more flexible. You should stretch them every day and do strengthening exercises if they give you trouble.
Hi Natalie, for the elbow locking i have a question. It immediately helped in the first minute. But my elbows are hyperextended meaning they really rotate and come out. So in completely locked state, my hand is not straight but becomes like wide V. So is it ok?
Hello, My ellbows do the same, they hyper extend to a V shape. A phisiotherapist would say that this is not good but in my experience with students it is fine unless you feel pain, which can happen when you practice more. If that is the case and you feel pain, I would advise you to inlcude more push ups in your training to strengthen the muscles around the elbow joint. With practice you wil find a natural position for your elbow that is comfortable. Change and experiment a bit with the position and see what feels best.
Natalie, thank you so much for your videos, I have been greatly enjoying them as someone who has always loved gymnastics and dreamed of learning a handstand. Quick question for you, if you are able to answer. How normal is wrist pain? After one hold of anything with weight in the wrists (such as the supported mini handstand with the stool in this video) my wrists are absolutely screaming at me. I am held back from holding the full 20 seconds and I don't feel like it's a lack of core or shoulder strength, I feel like I could hold for longer in those areas, but my wrists hurt really badly and I have to come down. I'm wondering if this is just normal and something that will get better over time as my wrists get used to having weight on them, or should I be concerned?
Hiya and thank you for sharing your experience. I would recommend you pause the course for a week or two and invest in developing a daily wrist strengthening routine. Keep doing that routine before you then do the classes each day. The pain goes away quickly in my experience once you start to do strengthening exercises: wrist stretches: ua-cam.com/video/yKvvmWuunM8/v-deo.html
Maybe you've never seen anyone fall on their face, but I can assure you it happens. :-( And yes, letting the elbows bend is the problem. Anyway, thanks so much for all your videos - they've been a big help to me in my handstand journey.
Hi Trisha, That is because day 9 just came out today and I am publishing two videos every week in the coming weeks. I have a 7 week course on Vimeo which you can have instant access to and keep for life: vimeo.com/ondemand/handbalancing
So...I'm not nearly as consistent, not even doing it every day...but your videos, after looking for a long time around for like a push to get me moving...your vids...you! Are making it happen, so thanks. Still my depression and/or anxiety win some days, but these are definitely helping even if I never get to the handstand. I am loving the journey and the way you encourage us and that they really are for beginners!! So really, really really thank you ❤️
Hello and thank you so much for sharing your experience. Your body is always there for you, to connect to, to shelter you and to bring you new experiences. I am happy to hear that these videos helped you. I hope this daily high five with your body continues to support you, lots of love
This is helping!
I'm not in handstand yet, but regularly in pole class we do tripod headstands. I've been spotty with these . . . sometimes I can get them, sometimes I can't. Last night, going into the tripod with my instructor spotting me, I was just like, "Okay. Round your shoulders to use those back muscles. Fingers dig into the floor. Belly pulled in. You're not gonna fall." And not only did I get it . . . I got it WITH CONTROL. Like, it wasn't the usual crapshoot of "Can I shove my weight back to a balance point before I tip forward?", it was a controlled, slow, steady movement to get my hips above me and then hold them there while my legs unfolded. And the panic voice in my head was like "My arms can't hold this!" but another voice was like "Yes they can. You've been practicing and getting sore and practicing again, and there is strength there, and they can hold you."
Duuuuuude.
Hello Rose, thank you for your lovely feedback! I really enjoyed reading it :) it is exactly what I was hoping for. That you improve your handstands, confidence and also take away a transferable skill in terms of upper body strength. Well done and keep going :)
Day 9 here. I was doing some exercises prior to this and I realized I have gotten stronger ☺️☺️☺️. Thanks Natalie. Can’t wait to finally get my handstand
dear Natalie, your personality and knowledge are true value. thank you so much for this!!!!!!!!!! much love to youuu
Trying to do a handstand by the time I'm 50 and this is the best youtube video yet. Thank you for your calm voice and encouragement. I love this complete step by step process.
Thank you for your lovely words! Welcome on board!
Locking the elbows out properly and weight baring and push up training are so crucial to my confidence when doing kick up training, which had helped me tremendously. Thank you, Natalie. I’ve been away for a while, now I’m back. I will review the 30 days course in a few days, write my journal, and go back to your Vimeo course next week from the beginning. 💕
I'm no where close to a handstand yet, but in yoga class the other day, I was not only able to hold crow for much longer and steadier than I have ever before, but was also able to do side crow on both sides for the first time. My hands and wrists feel so much more strong and balanced thanks to your Couch to Handstand!
Fabulous! Sounds great, well done it's your hard work :)
9/30 days! ✅ Thank you for the reminders to dig my fingers into the ground and the assurance that being a touch out of breath in the inversions is normal! Thank you! 💛
;) well done!
Whenever i feel stressed i do workout with you . This is very helpful i feel peaceful right now
Thank you a lot
Thank you, that is great to hear. I hope I have a calming influence :)
I most certainly have fallen on my head from a handstand onto a bare concrete floor (in a live, in-person class)! I listened very, very closely to your guidance on locking out your elbows in today's lesson. ;)
While I'm here, I might as well heap some praise on the class in general. Pre-pandemic I did dance trapeze for several years, and would occasionally go to handstand classes because it was supposed to be good for me. ;) I hated it so much!!! Kicking up to a handstand was no problem as a kid, but at age 52 I just couldn't figure out how to do it, and found it ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING as well. Well, after 9 months of no aerials (and not much other exercise) I decided I had to focus my efforts on *something*, and found this 30 day class, and thought I'd at least try it. This is exactly what I needed -- relatively gentle, easy progressions to get used to putting weight on my hands, strengthen and open my shoulders, understand the movement pathways towards a handstand, and gain some confidence. Your cues are great and very positive, and I have had very few issues with fear/panic so far, and instead focus on the strength and skill that I am gaining. I also love the goofy jokes! Thank you! :)
Thank you :) I hope your handstand journey continued after this. Best wishes
I love love love your Couch to Handstand series so far! Time flies although it's challenging but fun :)
Thank you so much and welcome on board :) Let me know how it goes.
Thank you so, so much for your help in getting improve in my mobility.
Thanks Natalie!
You're an inspiration.
We have been watching these videos during quarantine and they are helping us to stay active!
We really enjoy your warm teaching style and we dig the paint job on these yellow walls
Aww thank you for your kind words! Best wishes, stay safe and make the most of this time.
You seem like a very sweet person. Your voice makes me relaxed. :)
Thank you!
From Holland
Thank you :) Waving to you from London!
Plank part was a little bit challenging
I fell during the side planks
But I defenetly feel like my arms are stronger than before
Thank you natalie :)
Keep up the good work! It takes time :)
Today practice felt so good, thank you 😘 I really appreciate your way of teaching
Thank you and I hope the rest of the course goes well too.
Moving right along. Thank you.
I am really enjoying following these classes. My hand balance confidence and core stability has really improved & we’re only on day 9. Looking forward for what’s to come. Thank you xx
Thank you for sharing your experience :) Step by step can take you a long way. Congratulations for making it until day 9. Best wishes
I'm doing this before my yoga practice and it is helping a lot! I start it already warmed up. Danke Lehrer!
Yay! Great to hear that it helps your yoga practice!
Thank you for your reassurances and explanations. Today I didn't try to push my body, and things went so much better. Funny how relaxing into things whilst remaining firm gives more stability! Even my wrist is feeling the benefits. x
Great to hear that! I hope your wrists are coping well! Yes pushing yourself can sometimes be good but sometimes it also closes doors to all movement that requires elements of release.
I so love to practice with you! It is fun and challenging! And it feels so good to be able to do more day by day! Thank you!
Thank you for your lovely feedback! Welcome on board and keep up the good work. Best wishes!
Day 9 ✅ Thanks for the reminder and emphasis on locking out the elbows. Trying to make all of the little details second nature.
It is all about making the little datails second nature :) Well done
It makes me so happy to see the improvement of my muscles. My arms don’t shake anymore when I lift my knees off the ground🕺
Wonderful! Thank you for sharing. I hope it went well in the remaining days :)
You are great, thanks. M getting confidence, hope I will do it at the end following you seriously. 🙏🙏👌👌
Thank you :)
You are so wonderful. Thank you so much.
thank you ☺
You are an amazing teacher! I really enjoy every video and look forward in doing these exercises every day. Thank you for sharing these with us.
By the way, I would be interested to see a video for correcting the posture, as I noticed that some exercises include that a little bit.
Hello Jane, thank you for your kind words. So happy to hear that you are enjoying this journey. Do you mean correcting the everyday standing body posture? or handstand posture.
Thank you for such a beautiful journey :)
Awesome natalie
Thank you so much. So far I have finished till day 9. There have been breaks of 1 or 2 days in between. Just wanted to know if that is okay? Am definitely feeling my shoulders and shoulders blades a bit changed in a nice way especially when I wake up and also sometimes in the day time too when I am fully awake and I try to feel the change. And I can feel. Still it feels like a long road ahead and feel afraid I may not be able to get there. In anycase it still is good. Thank you once again for being such a gentle yet very clear teacher.
Hello, thank you for sharing your question. It is totally fine to take brakes. The most important thing is that you establish a regularity and that you stick with it and don't give up. :)
Natalie I hope when I get to this day my wrists will be more flexible..luv you!
Hello Dan, it may take time for your wrists to get more flexible. You should stretch them every day and do strengthening exercises if they give you trouble.
day 8 day 9 done smile Much Thanks locking elbows is going in my journal smile
Great! Keep it up! Happy that you are still on board!
Thank you 🕺🕺
Thank you, Natalie
Can you count to 20 a bit faster Natalie:)
Haha, planks are good for you! They will get easier over time.
Hi Natalie, for the elbow locking i have a question. It immediately helped in the first minute. But my elbows are hyperextended meaning they really rotate and come out. So in completely locked state, my hand is not straight but becomes like wide V. So is it ok?
Hello,
My ellbows do the same, they hyper extend to a V shape.
A phisiotherapist would say that this is not good but in my experience with students it is fine unless you feel pain, which can happen when you practice more.
If that is the case and you feel pain, I would advise you to inlcude more push ups in your training to strengthen the muscles around the elbow joint.
With practice you wil find a natural position for your elbow that is comfortable. Change and experiment a bit with the position and see what feels best.
Thank you so much 💛💛💛
Natalie, thank you so much for your videos, I have been greatly enjoying them as someone who has always loved gymnastics and dreamed of learning a handstand.
Quick question for you, if you are able to answer. How normal is wrist pain? After one hold of anything with weight in the wrists (such as the supported mini handstand with the stool in this video) my wrists are absolutely screaming at me. I am held back from holding the full 20 seconds and I don't feel like it's a lack of core or shoulder strength, I feel like I could hold for longer in those areas, but my wrists hurt really badly and I have to come down. I'm wondering if this is just normal and something that will get better over time as my wrists get used to having weight on them, or should I be concerned?
Hiya and thank you for sharing your experience. I would recommend you pause the course for a week or two and invest in developing a daily wrist strengthening routine. Keep doing that routine before you then do the classes each day. The pain goes away quickly in my experience once you start to do strengthening exercises: wrist stretches:
ua-cam.com/video/yKvvmWuunM8/v-deo.html
Thank you, i like your tutorials, really good, grettings of Chile
Thank you, waving to you from London :)
Hey Natalie are hand grip clutchers are good for wrist exercises.
Can never do any harm I think, they are quite hard so start with less resistance first.
Maybe you've never seen anyone fall on their face, but I can assure you it happens. :-(
And yes, letting the elbows bend is the problem. Anyway, thanks so much for all your videos - they've been a big help to me in my handstand journey.
Ohh, I hope it never happened to you!! It happens when people just go for it, with guidance it is much less likely. All the best for your practice :)
I wanted to add. When I grip the floor, my fingers aren’t flat on the floor. Is that okay ?
They should not be flat, the knuckles should be up like like spider legs.
keen to follow these tutorials but can’t find any more videos past day 9☹️
Hi Trisha,
That is because day 9 just came out today and I am publishing two videos every week in the coming weeks.
I have a 7 week course on Vimeo which you can have instant access to and keep for life:
vimeo.com/ondemand/handbalancing
Ur too cute,2 important things and holding 3 fingers😂😂❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Always very precise ;)
Day-9 ✅...
The mini handstands are torture 🤧💔💔💔💔