Q&A for How to Do a Chin Stand

Prepare your body for a chin stand with the Sun Salutation pose, or at least with the Downward and Upward Dog poses.

Do not continue to do the chin stand if it's causing you these kinds of problems. Talk to a yoga instructor for professional advice.

Try laying a towel or soft cloth under your chin. If you're a bit more experienced, put a hand or both hands under your chin.

Don't hold it, otherwise you may result in injury. Just perform it, then come right back down.

Your head is bent back almost to its maximum extent, so it can hurt a little. However, if you experience pain, or even discomfort, you may be putting your balance too far forward toward your head, putting too much weight on places that aren't meant to take such a weight. Shift your balance back toward your arms.

Being flexible will greatly help you while trying to accomplish this task.

Yes.

Stretch your back to get it to become more flexible. Make sure that you keep practicing.

Keep on stretching your back muscles and slowly get your feet on the floor.

Just keep using them until you feel more comfortable. If you feel like you're ready but not 100% sure, ask your coach.

If you're nervous, practice with an instructor.

No, a chin stand is actually where you place your chin on the ground and keep your upper chest curved. However, your hands are in the same position as a handstand.

It depends on how serious the injuries were and how long ago they occurred. It would be best to talk to your doctor before attempting a chin stand or any other physically strenuous activity.

You shouldn't perform any kind of gymnastic moves with a sore back. You could worsen your injury. Instead, rest until the pain goes away before resuming your exercises.

Use a breathing exercise. If you can't get breath don't hold it for long or you can face severe consequences.

Using a nail stretcher or alternatively a nail spreader. Make sure not to damage the tissue in between your toes and fingers.

You can try large books or really anything that helps. Just try and find something the right size that can support your weight.

Yes! You will be working on your flexibility and strength as a gymnast, so it’ll be easier!

This trick makes it harder to breathe because you are laying with your body weight on your neck and chest. Try to balance out your body weight by using your upper back so you don't have all the weight in one point. You can also push a little bit with your arms to relieve your neck.

You need to be really flexible to grab your feet in chin stand. Go into a chin stand, place your feet firmly on the ground in front of your head. Then slowly move your hands forwards to your feet and grab them.

You can use anything that supports your weight. You can also do it without support, but make sure you are strong and flexible enough to do it before you try.

Then you should practice more flexibility training. Stretch your back by doing bridge and seal pose.

It's called a "pretzel" in contortion. It's also still a chin stand/ chest stand even if you have your legs all the way to the floor.

If your chest feel uncomfortable, try not to have all your bodyweight on your chest. Push more with your arms and play around to find a balancing point you feel better with.

First, to get your legs ready to go up in the air, slowly lift each leg in the motion you would do for a normal chin/chest stand and repeat it on each leg 5 times. Another stretch to help your back is by simply doing a backbend; if you cannot do a backbend then look up an article on how to and it will really stretch your back. The last way is to do a pike stretch; it stretches the other part of your back. Make sure to stretch before and after you do a chin/chest stand. And yes, it is normal to feel a little pain but if it hurts too much, then take a break and come back later.