How to Headstand - Step by Step

sabrina
Mar 18, 2020
2 min read

1. Before we are going to get started, it is essential to know where your head should touch the floor. Therefore you come into 'easy pose', place your flat hand on the top of your head. It should feel comfortable when you push down! If it feels uncomfortable you're either too far back or too far forward.

2. Next, you should align your arms. Grab onto the opposite elbows; this is the perfect distance you try not to change. Interlace your fingers and bring your head down, so that your hands are around your head.

3. Now that you know the alignments, let's try it on the mat. Come into a tabletop position, make sure your wrists are stuck under the shoulders and your knees under your hips. Grab onto opposite elbows to find the right distance. Interlace your fingers and bring the crown of your head to the floor. Now, it is really important to push through your shoulders, when you get into your headstand and the whole time you are upside down.

From here, tuck the toes under and push your legs straight. Start walking forward until your hips are over your shoulders.

Maybe this is as far as you come today, but it is crucial to get that right. When you are new to headstand practice, it can feel like your hips are over your shoulders, but they are actually not. You can also take a video of yourself.

4. Okay, so if you feel like you can not get any further, start bringing one leg up at a time by simply tucking your knee to your chest. Practice this movement for a few minutes. Then, slowly bring your other leg up as well.

5. Find your balance. Only then start to straighten one leg at a time. Do it as slowly as you can, to keep your balance.

6. I encourage you to do this without a wall, simply because it is a way better practice and you will find more balance this way. If you have this feeling of being safe falling backwards because the wall is there, you tend more to fall over.