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Dance acrobatics4 minutes

Learning handstands for adults: Step by step to success

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In short
  • A secure handstand requires stable shoulders and active body tension down to the tips of your toes.
  • Targeted rolling or turning to the side removes the fear of falling over and ensures safety during training.
  • By controlled swinging up against a wall, you can build up your vertical alignment step by step.
  • In a dance context, balance serves as a dynamic transition for fluid choreography across the room.

The handstand gives your choreographies a completely new dimension. With the right technique and a clear structure, you will overcome the fear of being upside down and master the balance on your hands.

What you need for your training

  • Sufficient free space in front of a stable wall
  • A non-slip exercise mat or clean parquet floor
  • Warmed-up wrists and stretched shoulders
  • Basic core tension in your abdomen and back

Why the handstand has its own dynamic in dance

In dance, the handstand is much more than a static gymnastic exercise. It serves as a dynamic transition, a spectacular accent, or a starting point for fluid floor work. If you want to learn the handstand as an adult, the fear of falling over often stands in your way. However, this fear can be systematically reduced through targeted training of the wrists and shoulder stability. In modern dance, such as Modern Dance and Contemporary, dancers use the handstand to seemingly defy gravity and create fluid transitions into the floor. The focus here is not on rigid symmetry, but on control over your own center of gravity, so you can elegantly glide into the next movement at any time. A solid foundation in Acro Dance for floor work helps you build the necessary core tension without overwhelming yourself.

Five steps to vertical balance

  1. Warm up your joints thoroughly

    Rotate your wrists intensively and stretch them in all directions on the floor. Warm up your shoulders with gentle circles and push-ups on your knees to prepare your joints for the strain.

  2. Walking up the wall

    Place your hands shoulder-width apart in front of a wall and walk your feet backwards up the wall. Hold this position while looking at your hands for a few seconds to build strength.

  3. Swing up facing the wall

    Place your hands a hand's width in front of the wall, place one foot close to your hands, and swing the other leg upwards, keeping it straight. The second leg follows until both heels touch the wall.

  4. Testing your free balance

    Push yourself actively up from your shoulders and pull your heels away from the wall, centimeter by centimeter. Use your fingertips like brakes to maintain your delicate balance in the space.

  5. Landing safely and in control

    Turn one hand slightly to the side and place one foot on the floor to the side to finish the exercise safely. This controlled rolling motion takes away your fear of falling.

Align correctly instead of swinging uncontrollably

How it works

  • Spread your fingers slightly and actively grip the floor
  • Push your shoulders actively up towards your ears
  • Tighten your core and glutes firmly
  • Practice the emergency exit to the side regularly

Avoid this

  • Place your hands flat and completely relaxed
  • Sink into your shoulders and let your head hang
  • Create a strong arch in your lower back
  • Become stiff as a board for fear of falling

The checklist for your handstand training

Before training

Preparation

In motion

Meanwhile

After training

Follow-up

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Yes, you can absolutely learn to do a handstand safely as an adult. The key is a structured approach that protects your wrists and gradually strengthens your shoulder power.

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