Now you're ready to try your first handstand — with support from the wall, of course. Start by "facing away from a wall, squatting, placing your hands down, and walking your feet up the wall," Gray says. The walking part is very important. Do not kick up to a handstand. Doing so when facing away from the wall (which is your starting position for this move) can lead you to build bad habits of arching your back and overshooting vertical, Gray says.
"Practice working your way up to holding a handstand for one minute to build strength," Gray says. You can also pause in an L-stand if you want to get comfortable with being upside down and build strength before extending your legs vertically.
- Stand in front of a wall on a soft surface, facing away from the wall.
- Squat down, and place your palms on the floor shoulder-width apart.
- Step your feet one at a time up onto the wall behind you. Slowly walk your feet up the wall until your legs are fully extended. Then walk your hands closer to the wall, until they're about a foot away from the wall.
- Work up to holding this position for one minute. To come down, walk your feet back down the wall.
