ASK MH I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO TOUCH MY TOES. I’M STILL FIT THOUGH, RIGHT?

HARD-BITTEN SCIENCE MADE DIGESTIBLE ARE HANDSTANDS GOOD FOR MORE THAN SHOWING OFF?

It’s not uncommon, but neither is it inevitable. Few people have in-built inflexibility, so chances are your lack of mobility is due to too much time spent slumped over a keyboard. A chair-bound lifestyle shortens the muscles of your posterior chain; in particular, your hip flexors. Now, if you’re still wondering why touching your toes should be of any concern (it’s hardly a memorable party trick), consider that this reduction in your range of motion carries over to your squats and deadlifts, too, increasing your injury risk and inhibiting strength.

Now that we have your attention, bolt this corrective stretch onto the end of each workout: kneel on your right knee with your right arm raised high. Squeeze your right glute until you feel a stretch at the front of your hip, then bend your torso to the left to intensify it. Swap sides. Your toes will be within reach in weeks.

Q

The playground staple is no longer just for kids. In fact, the handstand appears to have upended the muscle-up as the ultimate showboating gym move. But it’s not all about the visuals: “Handstands are a great way to develop full-body strength, as well as assessing balance and control,” says Scott Hann, coach to Gold Medal gymnast Max Whitlock.

Get a headstart on your social media followers by using Hann’s form tips to master the movement. First, he says, you need to form a strong base by gripping your hands tight to the floor: “If you start to wobble you can cling on and adjust.” Keep your eyes on the floor, in front of your hands; looking back will cause you to tip. Ensure your legs stay together when you kick up by pointing your toes.

The gamechanger, though, says Hann, is to ensure you’re tensing your abs and glutes throughout and pulling your chest in. This creates the ‘hollow body’ shape needed to hold the position. Just long enough for an Instagram video, obvs.