Q&A for How to Walk on Your Hands

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  • Question
    How do you balance yourself with your hands?
    Tanya Berenson
    Gymnastics Instructor
    Tanya Berenson is a Gymnastics Instructor and the General Manager of the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics. With over 25 years of professional gymnastics experience, Tanya has also served as a consultant to USA Gymnastics, has served as the USA World Maccabi Games Head Coach, USA Gymnastics Meet Director, and RAS counselor. She holds a B.Ed. in Early Childhood Development from the University of California, Los Angeles.
    Gymnastics Instructor
    Expert Answer
    Make sure your hands are not too close together or too far apart. Ideally, they should be about shoulder-width apart. Also, make sure to hold your core tight so that your back is aligned.
  • Question
    How do I stop falling over?
    Community Answer
    Your legs are unbalanced. Try to move them into a position that keeps you upright. Practice this position over and over. Also, believe in yourself. That helps you a lot.
  • Question
    How do I keep my body straight? Whenever I kick up, I always fall forward or back. What am I doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    This is something that took me a long time to learn. You need to find your center of balance. Practice a lot and try walking on your hands step by step in order to maintain balance.
  • Question
    What is a good tip to gain arm strength?
    Community Answer
    You could use weights and do weight training. Without weights you can just do a bunch of pushups and carry things when grocery shopping. You can also do the handstands by the wall and do handstand pushups.
  • Question
    I'm very scared to try this - any tips?
    Community Answer
    Try just doing a handstand against a wall and then work on picking your hands up one at a time. Move away from the wall as you get more comfortable.
  • Question
    What can I do if I have trouble staying up?
    Community Answer
    You can use your fingers to control your balance. If you're falling forward, press (put more weight on) on your end of fingers, or you can just imagine your grabbing the floor. If you're falling back, then press on your palm more.
  • Question
    Can I try doing this on my bed?
    Community Answer
    Not recommended, unless it is just a large mattress flat on the floor. Otherwise, you could fall off the bed and hurt yourself.
  • Question
    How can I find my balance if I can't stand on a handstand very long?
    Community Answer
    Lean your shoulders forward when you attempt your handstand. Also, if you don't have enough strength in your arms, then try some conditioning like pushups. Handstands on the wall also work on your core, building your endurance and strength.
  • Question
    How can I regain my balance if I have been able to walk on my hands, but lose my balance easily?
    Community Answer
    Practice makes perfect! Start practicing a couple inches from a wall; if you feel like you're going to fall, lean your feet onto the wall.
  • Question
    How can I learn to put both of my legs up when I can only put my right leg up?
    Community Answer
    It would probably take you some time to figure out how to do it, so don't be disappointed if it doesn’t work right away. Try pushing harder with your dominant leg, and practice with your back against a wall.
  • Question
    I keep walking really quickly on my hands and I can't go slow. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    When you kick up your legs, don't be aggressive about it. Be gentle. And your hands control how fast you go, so work on that, too.
  • Question
    I take 2 steps when trying to walk on my hands and I fall. Why is that?
    Community Answer
    Your upper body may not be strong enough yet.
  • Question
    I can already do a handstand and take baby steps, but then I fall. I have been trying for several months now and I still can't do it. How can I get more balance?
    Community Answer
    Have somebody hold your legs up while you start to walk, eventually they'll let go.
  • Question
    How can I do it without a spotter?
    Community Answer
    You can't hurt yourself too badly if you fall from a handstand, so you don't really need a spotter. Just tuck your neck if you fall over.
  • Question
    When I fall I always land on my back and it is very painful. I am even doing it in a comfortable spot, but it still hurts. Any advice?
    Community Answer
    If you're about to fall, do a safety roll, which is just a forwards roll so you don't land on your back.
  • Question
    Will this work on a trampoline?
    Community Answer
    It might. First, see if you can do it on grass.
  • Question
    Are push ups the best exercise to increase arm strength?
    Community Answer
    I would say they are, because they are the quickest and cheapest way to work out, all you need is yourself! Make sure you do them properly though, or else they're useless. Keep your hands just over shoulder width apart, facing forward with your body in a straight line, then push yourself up, making sure you keep your body in a straight line until your arms are fully extended. After that, bend your arms until your biceps are parallel to the ground. Then repeat.
  • Question
    What should I do when I feel pain in my elbows during a handstand?
    Elyssalynne
    Community Answer
    You should get down from the handstand immediately. Otherwise, you could injure your arms. It will help if you do exercises to strengthen your muscles in that specific area.
  • Question
    What if I don't have a spotter?
    Community Answer
    Try it on the wall, and move your hands back and forth.
  • Question
    How do I keep my toes straight?
    Community Answer
    Just work on pointing your toes while standing still in a handstand. Push your toes and try to imagine them touching your arch. It can be quite painful if you go to far, but you should only feel like someone is holding your toes in place.
  • Question
    What if I don't feel comfortable moving away from the wall, and I don't have a spot, mat or anything really to help me?
    Community Answer
    Start off by moving a few inches away from the wall, so that if you get scared you can bend your knees and still touch the wall. As you begin to feel more confident, try walking with blankets or pillows underneath you before trying without anything.
  • Question
    Which is better: big steps or little steps?
    Community Answer
    The more experienced you get, the bigger steps you can take. I can walk for long periods of time on my hands, and I prefer 20-inch spacing.
  • Question
    How to do handstand pushups?
    Community Answer
    First try it against the wall and then do the push up handstands against the wall. Then, once you feel comfortable without the wall, try it by yourself. After that, it's just a case of continuing to practice.
  • Question
    What should I do if my back keeps arching and I can't hold my handstand for long periods?
    Community Answer
    Try strengthening your core to gain more control and balance between your back and abs.
  • Question
    I can walk my handstand for a little bit but I keep falling and I am worried if collapsing
    Natlaie
    Community Answer
    Try to work on your handstands first. Once you can hold a handstand for a long time, try again.
  • Question
    I keep on tipping sideways. What can I do to stop it?
    Community Answer
    Try keeping your arms straight and try to find your center. Also, keep practicing and you will get it.
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