Om Shanti: A Yoga Blog

Sometimes it’s fun to throw in a handstand here and there in the flow. Not only is it fun, but it’s also a great way to build/maintain heat. A particularly challenging way of jumping into handstand is with straight legs, pausing in “L”-pose, and then lifting the legs up to the sky.

In this video, I demonstrate what is sometimes called “piking into handstand” (borrowing a term from swimming and gymnastics). The steps are simple; the execution, not so simple. I do not recommend this transition to anyone who cannot comfortably hold handstand away from the wall for at least 30-seconds, or to anyone who has lower back and/or core strength issues. As always, this video is for demonstration purposes only, and if you have any interest in learning how to actually do it, seek out an experienced and qualified yoga teacher who can give you hands-on instruction.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified yoga instructor, and the ideas and opinions expressed here are not intended to be formal instruction on yoga poses. If you plan to start up a yoga practice, or if you have one and plan to do any of the yoga poses described in this blog, please seek out an experienced, living, breathing yoga teacher to guide you with hands-on instruction.