Use your head in Handstand Helper
Dock your crown onto a wall to provide stability as you keep the rest of your body vertical and away from the structure
Want to improve your handstand? Try using your head. This Handstand Helper docks the crown of the head onto a wall to provide extra stability and increase proprioceptive awareness as you learn to stand up on your own two hands.
Handstands build upper body and core strength and they increase bone density in the wrists.
If you’re brand new to handstanding, however, be sure to get clearance from your doctor and seek guidance from a qualified yoga instructor before diving in headfirst. 1. Begin in a narrow Downward Facing Dog Pose with your fingertips a full palm’s width away from a sturdy wall.
2. Keeping both arms straight and strong, look at the ground between your thumbs and kick up to Handstand by swinging one leg up to the wall and allowing the other one to go along for the ride.
3. Place the crown of the head onto the wall and press your heels towards the sky as you organize feet over hips and hips over shoulders.
Stabilize your lower back by engaging core muscles and reaching your tailbone away from the press of your hands.
4. Balance for as many as five breaths before stepping your feet down one-at-atime. Underpass Park Located under and around the Eastern Ave. and Richmond/Adelaide overpasses, between Cherry St. and Bayview Ave., Underpass Park is a reclaimed public space designed by PFS Studio and the Planning Partnership.
Toronto-born graffiti artist Derek Mehaffey (a.k.a. Troy Lovegates a.k.a. OTHER) and Labrona painted 16 portraits of east-end residents on 16 pillars in Underpass Park. They are now pillars of the community, holding up the structures that define the park. YuMee Chung is a recovering lawyer who teaches yoga in Toronto. She is on the faculty of a number of yoga teacher training programs and leads international yoga retreats. Learn more about her at padmani.com