Here are some of my thoughts on why you may wobble during a handstand:
1. Fear or Excitement
If you are new to handstands, the first few seconds of freestanding will be a special moment. You may experience fear, excitement, or even both! It might be a surprise, followed by unpredictable reactions. That’s normal and totally OK!
2. Breathing
You might be holding your breath, especially if it is your first time (see above). Regular breathing is best for a calmer handstand.
3. Soft Floors
Soft floors are not ideal for handstands because the feedback is not as instantaneous as with hard floors. You might tend to start overcorrecting or make more corrections than necessary, which will overwork your wrists and forearms. However, it is still a good idea to practice on different surfaces. Sometimes, I’ll do a couple on my thick yoga mat after stretching.
4. Passive Hands
The bigger the correction, the bigger the movement. Stillness comes from smaller and more frequent corrections. Ideally you want the index/middle finger forward and fingers spread wide. Flared or wider hands can be easier on the wrists, but it can weaken your corrections.
5. Body Tension
You want just enough tension to give you control. Not enough will turn you into a wet noodle. Too much tension, on the other hand, can slow down your reactions.
6. Weak Shoulders
Shoulders are the foundation of your handstand. In the early stages, it is better to push more than less to help you maintain the elevation.
7. Bent Elbows
Locked elbows rely on your bone structure, which is easier to control. However, when your elbows are bent, it is harder to maintain the same level of bending and you may fatigue earlier.
8. Conditioning
Fatigue can slow down your reactions and reduce the support from your body.
9. Practice
Hand balancing is a skill that requires a lot of reps and developed space awareness. It is totally normal to wobble at first.
10. Slow Warmup
Usually at the beginning of a session, your wrists/shoulders may not be fully warmed up (me!). It can also happen after a day off, and you may need some time to recalibrate your balance.
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