I’m returning for yet another edition of these slightly silly core exercises to help you with press handstand!
Do you find these core exercises silly?
You might think they are….and I don’t blame you…until they ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING FOR YOU!
Let’s not loose sight of the forest amongst the trees, ok?
As you saw with the previous press handstand core exercise, the Low-Crow Hold. These silly exercises aren’t as easy as they look.
Do this one if:
- #1 is hard for you
- Because I said so! (and it works!) ok?
If you had a hard time pulling your thighs up to your chest in the last one. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do this!! In the long run, it’ll save you TIME and ADVIL (from all the headaches you get from trying yourself, silly)
Let’s get on with it, shall we?
What’s a stupid Core Pushup gonna do for me might you ask?
Before you begin to fret the hard part. Just see if you can lift your thigh up toward your chest in Plank. ok?
Now hold it there and do Chaturanga WITHOUT letting that leg of yours move. It. stays. there.
Doing this builds:
- An extreme amount of core strength
- That intense feeling in the pit of your stomach? Same feeling when you’re about to Press
- Arm strength to an extreme (extra pushing power is ALWAYS GOOD)
The Nitty Gritty Necessary Details
- When you lower, you MUST NOT allow your elbows to splay out to the sides, pin them in right next to your rib cage
- Don’t let the leg (the one bent in) move AT ALL
- Come as high up on the back toes as possible
- Yes, this’ll make your arms strong, but it’s primarily for building a powerful core
It’s important to stay focused on the task at hand.
What’s required to do a press handstand:
- Enough arm strength to press into the ground
- The ability to press with your triceps and not your shoulders
- Core strength to hold yourself up (and in a pike)
- Supreme awareness of your hips (we’ll talk about this soon)
- Mechanics are BY FAR more important than anything else
Doing this ONE, SIMPLE yet CHALLENGING exercise will help with all of the above!
Your Homework. Yes, I SAID YOUR HOMEWORK!
In the comments below, share:
What is the most difficult part of this exercise for you? Plus describe what you feel working in your body when you do this.
What is the most difficult part of a Press Handstand for you?
Some super secret Press Handstand tips with all of us? Yes, you awesome ball of awesomeness, grace us with your presence.
–Brian
Subscribe to the blog & get 5 FREE sequences that’ll help you with a Press Handstand.
So far so good. Best core I’ve ever had
Glad it worked! Let me know if you have any questions. 🙂
i can’t do it!!!!
I’m so glad to find this article! Press up handstands have been my challenge. Only sometimes can I do it. I’ve been looking for tips on what to do. I know for a fact my core needs to be stronger. But I’m super happy to find this! Very helpful!
Thank you Stephanie! Glad you enjoyed it. Let me know if you have any questions. 😀
I can do straddle press handstand but it’s very hit and miss. I think not only is coping with the bit painful wrists after a while from leaning over its definitely the core engagement that I find difficult to feel and get right. I would really like to be able to do the straddle press from sitting on the floor or from little parallettes but I can’t for love or money get my hips up higher than elbow height. Very frustrating. I’m going to build up my core strength with your exercises. Thank you 🙂
Hi Dale, getting the straddle press from the ground is tough and it takes a slightly different engagement of the hips. It’s great to work on getting your press from standing down solid first, both straddle and straight-leg. That’ll go a long way in building up the strength and the technical wherewithal to get it from the floor!
I can straddle press yoga, but it is hit and miss. Exercise is good for weight loss. Exercise changes the way your body training. I definitely feel that it is difficult to get right to the core of the engagement after a while leaning on not only to deal with that bit painful wrists. I really like to sit on the floor or slightly want to be able to straddle the press than the height of the elbow, but I get my hips up high, not for love or money can. Very frustrating. I’m going to build up my core strength exercises.
Irfan, sounds good. Keep me updated!
I’ve been trying to do the straddle press and getting my hips over and coming up right on my toes but still no lift off. I have a long torso and shorter legs lol! . Any tips?
Hi Pam, trying practicing with your feet elevated on blocks. That’ll train the proper motion for getting the hips over the shoulders!
Thanks so much! Will do that