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The Best of 2018 Instagram: Handstands and Cats

Jan 03, 2019

I love Instagram but it is not always easy to find the content that you want. How often do you search back through someone's feed further than a few weeks? There is so much great information, tips and tutorials that is rarely seen.

One of my 2019 goals is to make it easier to find all my best posts. Today I am starting with the best posts of 2018. There's lots of handstand tips, press to handstand drills, flexibility drills, skill tutorials and most importantly cats and unitards.

Press to handstand tips

A big hit this year were posts related to the press to handstand. In fact 5 of my top nine were press to handstand tips or tutorials.

View this post on Instagram

Elevated Press to Handstand This is one of my go to press to handstand progressions. I suggest starting with your feet higher so that your butt and feet are the same height. . The key is to push straight down and float your feet by rolling your butt up over your shoulders. The key to the press is to push down hard enough to float your feet. . For those less flexible (or working on a pike press) you may be tempted to break your line and lean your shoulders forward. This is more of a planche technique and while not bad, will not lead to the press that I am doing. Train for the technique that you want to be able to do. . Now for the pike (and for the straddle if your middle splits sucks) your butt will need to be further over your hands in order to float. But keep pushing down and don't break your line:) . As always landing on a cat is not advised. . #presstohandstand #dontlean #pushdown #watchthecat

A post shared by Kirsty Grosart (@garagegymgirl) on

Other press to handstand tips: click to see Instagram

Press with limited flexibility

Negative press at the wall

Compression strength

Press to handstand sequence

If you want to learn more about the press to handstand I have an online program with coaching available for purchase here.

Handstand tips

There were also many handstand posts that made my top posts. The top 3 were on hands, butts and tucks.

View this post on Instagram

Tuck Handstand The tuck handstand is one of the most challenging shapes for my students. In a regular handstand if you lack overhead flexibility you can banana to balance. In a tight tuck, with knees to chest the banana option is removed. You can banana in an open tuck but not in a tight tuck. . If you are really strong in your shoulders (i.e can planche) you may be able to pull this off. otherwise you have to work on opening your shoulders. . One drill I like to use is to place your knees on a box and try and get into a tight tuck position. Once you get the feel for that shape you can pull your knees off. Be very careful of sharp box edges. They hurt! . Music credit to Uni and her Ukelele @heathermarieellison, amazing musician and handstand student:) . #tucklife #handstandtips #tuckhandstand #myfavoriteletterisu #uniandherukelele

A post shared by Kirsty Grosart (@garagegymgirl) on

Other handstand tips

Pike handstand

Hands for handstands

If you want to work with me on your handstand I have an online handstand coaching program. Check here for details and to see when the next course is starting.

Skill tutorials

My most popular posts included the Valdez and the pistol squat tutorials.

Valdez

Pistol squat

Cats & unitards

It's no surprise that this post (a personal favourite) made the top posts for the year. It might also have resulted in the most unfollows but I'm still proud of Chester and Poppy's performances regardless.