The Tulum Handstand Progression...or What I Did on my Summer Vacation

[yellow]

I've been...intrigued...for some time by the handstand. A friend here is big on Crossfit, and one of the things they've been working on since the beginning of the year is handstands. Jealous, I decided that I, too, wanted to be able to do a handstand.

After a few half-hearted attempts at home, I decided that I would attack the challenge every day of my recent vacation. I had the perfect handstand-learning medium (sand) and nothing but time. So I vowed to give it a go. I wasn't under the illusion that I could master it in 9 days' time, just that I could progress beyond thinking about it.

So I started the first full day of our vacation. I didn't get to the "balance point" until probably day 3 or 4. Note that I still have a wicked non-beach tan and that I'm barely holding it together:



This same day, my friend and I were walking on the beach and we came upon a local doing...handstands. We spoke with him for a while and learned that he practices 3 times a week and has been doing so for a year. He was quite talented.

As the vacation progressed, my handstands and tan (in spite of SPF 50) progressed in a manner that surprised and delighted me. By day 7 I was holding at least 2 seconds and by the end of the trip, on day 9, I was able to hold it for maybe 5 seconds (4.89725 seconds). My spouse, usually not so supportive of my crazy fitness "ideas", enjoyed sitting in a chair or in the water watching his crazy wife get inverted over and over and over.

Here is the final day. I am motivated to keep it up. I figure it's a good substitute for push ups since I've been slacking on those for quite some time.

The starting position:



The plant:



And the STAND!!



Doing handstands has a funny effect on others. Any time I was out practicing, kids and adults both would try it out.



P.S. This is the first time I've worn a bikini in over 20 years. I have to say it was quite....liberating, for some odd reason.

[mimitabby]

Applause!! great tan and great handstand. I never did get past the 2 second mark.

[SadieKate]

P.S. This is the first time I've worn a bikini in over 20 years. I have to say it was quite....liberating, for some odd reason.

Well, of course it is when you have the figure for it.

The inner child comes out once again.

[Veronica]

My Gawd you look hot in that bikini! Can we do a brain transplant?

V.

[yellow]

I should add...

In the "starting position" picture, behind me is the track of a green sea turtle that laid eggs the night before. There were hundreds of nests all along this beach.

Also, V, most of the time the top was not even on. However, it should be noted that the top is size XS AND has padding. My damn rib cage is bigger around than most of the rest of me.

[aka_kim]

How cool (about the handstand)!

You look like the "after" picture in some weight loss / muscle building ad - IOW, great!

[Veronica]

You know how the grass is always greener...

I'd take reduced boobage to have great legs and a flat tummy. Boobs get droopy eventually. Great legs are forever.

V.

[SadieKate]

I am so doomed.

[Tuckervill]

You look marvelous!

I could do a handstand back in the day. May have to try it again.

Karen

[indysteel]

How cool (about the handstand)!

You look like the "after" picture in some weight loss / muscle building ad - IOW, great!

Seriously. What's your secret? I'm signing up for whatever it is.

[Mr. Bloom]

Doing handstands has a funny effect on others. Any time I was out practicing, kids and adults both would try it out.

You're right...I'm ready to try!

My spouse, usually not so supportive of my crazy fitness "ideas", enjoyed sitting in a chair or in the water watching his crazy wife get inverted over and over and over.

I know how he feels...but despite that, Silver has abs like yours!

[maillotpois]

I'm impressed!!!

(And I, too have the rib cage bigger than other parts thing going on. Oh well. )

[Grog]

Compliment a woman on her body... surely she'll find something to talk it down a little. This being said, I like the idea of a Big Ribcage Club...

You look wonderful yellow, your quads and biceps are spectacular, and you are really cool, standing on your hands. It is indeed contagious!!!

[OakLeaf]

I've never even been able to stand on my head.

And I wish I looked half that good upside down or right ways up

Yellow, you rock!

[yellow]

Secret? Some of it is genetics (I'm a pear, and I have never carried weight around my middle), a lot of it is high mileage trail running with lots of steep downhills (hence the giant quads), but I think the primary thing that has "helped" me over the years is something an old whitewater kayaking friend hammered in to my head: put your "stress" in your core...not your neck, not your shoulders, not your jaw...your core. It was very helpful to ground myself using my abs and glutes when I was boating. And I think since then I've always carried "stress" in my abs (I don't boat any more...got too old and scared, but I loved it when I did it). I suck at all of the trendy core exercises. I'm not that strong right now, due to several months of general slacking.

OK, but seriously, this is about HANDSTANDS, ladies. I never realized it required so much finesse. It's pretty magical when you hit that balance point and can stay there.

They have a handstand pushup video on the Crossfit website. Whoa. This is the handstand video that I've been studying most. I still have too much of a "bend" in my spine.

Who went out and did a handstand today?