Build the mobility, compression strength, and control needed for a stronger, smoother press handstand.
This 35–40 minute intermediate workout combines active flexibility, compression strength, and press-specific skill work. You’ll progressively prepare the range and strength needed to lift your hips, transfer your weight, and control your body through a press to handstand.
Add this workout to your training 1–2 times per week as a dedicated press handstand session, or pair it with your existing handstand training. For best results, complete it when you’re fresh rather than after heavy upper-body training, and leave enough recovery between sessions for your shoulders and compression muscles.
Think “hips up” before “feet up.” Focus on shifting your weight forward and lifting your hips over your shoulders rather than trying to jump or force your legs into the handstand.
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A breakdown of all exercises in this workout.
rest
Step Up, Weight Plate
Mobility / Flexibility, Skill, Strength
Step Up, Weight Plate
Mobility / Flexibility, Skill, Strength
1. Sit on an elevated surface with your legs extended into a wide straddle position and your knees slightly bent.
2. Hold a weight plate behind your back with both hands while maintaining an upright seated posture.
3. Brace your core and sit tall with your spine long before starting the movement.
4. Hinge forward from your hips by reaching your chest toward the floor while keeping your back controlled.
5. Maintain tension through your inner thighs and hamstrings as you lower into the pancake position.
6. Pause briefly at your deepest comfortable range while keeping the weight stable behind your back.
7. Engage your hips and core to lift your torso back to the starting position with control.
8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions while maintaining active legs and proper alignment.
1. Sit on an elevated surface with your legs extended into a wide straddle position and your knees slightly bent.
2. Hold a weight plate behind your back with both hands while maintaining an upright seated posture.
3. Brace your core and sit tall with your spine long before starting the movement.
4. Hinge forward from your hips by reaching your chest toward the floor while keeping your back controlled.
5. Maintain tension through your inner thighs and hamstrings as you lower into the pancake position.
6. Pause briefly at your deepest comfortable range while keeping the weight stable behind your back.
7. Engage your hips and core to lift your torso back to the starting position with control.
8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions while maintaining active legs and proper alignment.
rest
Box, Weight Plate
Mobility / Flexibility, Strength
Box, Weight Plate
Mobility / Flexibility, Strength
1. Stand facing an elevated surface such as a box or bench and place one heel on top with your knee straight.
2. Hold a weight plate or dumbbell under your thigh with both hands.
3. Keep both hips facing forward.
4. Hinge forward from your hips while maintaining a flat back and allowing the weight to gently increase the stretch.
5. Lower only until you feel a comfortable stretch through the hamstring of the elevated leg.
6. Hold the position while breathing steadily and keeping your spine long.
7. Slowly return to an upright position with control and repeat before switching sides.
1. Stand facing an elevated surface such as a box or bench and place one heel on top with your knee straight.
2. Hold a weight plate or dumbbell under your thigh with both hands.
3. Keep both hips facing forward.
4. Hinge forward from your hips while maintaining a flat back and allowing the weight to gently increase the stretch.
5. Lower only until you feel a comfortable stretch through the hamstring of the elevated leg.
6. Hold the position while breathing steadily and keeping your spine long.
7. Slowly return to an upright position with control and repeat before switching sides.
rest
Dumbbell, Plyo Box
Mobility / Flexibility
Dumbbell, Plyo Box
Mobility / Flexibility
1. Stand on an elevated surface with your feet together while holding a light weight in both hands.
2. Stand tall with your knees straight but not locked and brace your core.
3. Tuck your chin and begin rounding your spine one vertebra at a time, starting from your neck.
4. Continue slowly curling down through your upper back, mid back, and lower back while allowing the weight to travel toward the floor.
5. Keep your legs straight as your pelvis rotates forward and your hamstrings lengthen.
6. Pause briefly at your deepest controlled range without forcing the stretch.
7. Reverse the movement by slowly stacking your spine one segment at a time until you return to standing.
8. Finish tall with your head stacking over your shoulders.
1. Stand on an elevated surface with your feet together while holding a light weight in both hands.
2. Stand tall with your knees straight but not locked and brace your core.
3. Tuck your chin and begin rounding your spine one vertebra at a time, starting from your neck.
4. Continue slowly curling down through your upper back, mid back, and lower back while allowing the weight to travel toward the floor.
5. Keep your legs straight as your pelvis rotates forward and your hamstrings lengthen.
6. Pause briefly at your deepest controlled range without forcing the stretch.
7. Reverse the movement by slowly stacking your spine one segment at a time until you return to standing.
8. Finish tall with your head stacking over your shoulders.
rest
Yoga Mat
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Yoga Mat
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Start standing with your feet in a wide straddle position and place your hands on the floor in front of you.
2. Shift your weight forward into your hands while pushing actively through your shoulders.
3. Engage your core and lift both feet off the ground, attempting to float your legs while keeping them as straight as your mobility allows.
4. Maintain a strong shoulder position by pushing the floor away and elevating your scapula.
5. From the lifted position, walk your hands forward in small controlled steps while maintaining the straddle shape.
6. Keep your hips lifted, legs extended, and avoid collapsing through your shoulders.
7. Slowly return by walking your hands back or lowering your feet with control.
8. Focus on creating compression through your core and hip flexors while maintaining active shoulder strength.
1. Start standing with your feet in a wide straddle position and place your hands on the floor in front of you.
2. Shift your weight forward into your hands while pushing actively through your shoulders.
3. Engage your core and lift both feet off the ground, attempting to float your legs while keeping them as straight as your mobility allows.
4. Maintain a strong shoulder position by pushing the floor away and elevating your scapula.
5. From the lifted position, walk your hands forward in small controlled steps while maintaining the straddle shape.
6. Keep your hips lifted, legs extended, and avoid collapsing through your shoulders.
7. Slowly return by walking your hands back or lowering your feet with control.
8. Focus on creating compression through your core and hip flexors while maintaining active shoulder strength.
rest
Yoga Mat
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Yoga Mat
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Start in a wide straddle position with your hands placed on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Shift your weight forward into your hands while actively pushing the floor away and elevating your shoulders.
3. Engage your core and lift your hips as high as possible while maintaining a straddle leg position.
4. Slowly return to the starting position.
5. Maintain a rounded upper back, active shoulders, and strong core throughout the movement.
6. Keep your legs as straight as your mobility allows and avoid dropping your hips or losing shoulder tension.
7. Repeat with slow, controlled repetitions.
1. Start in a wide straddle position with your hands placed on the floor slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Shift your weight forward into your hands while actively pushing the floor away and elevating your shoulders.
3. Engage your core and lift your hips as high as possible while maintaining a straddle leg position.
4. Slowly return to the starting position.
5. Maintain a rounded upper back, active shoulders, and strong core throughout the movement.
6. Keep your legs as straight as your mobility allows and avoid dropping your hips or losing shoulder tension.
7. Repeat with slow, controlled repetitions.
rest
Not needed
Stability, Strength, Warm-Up / Activation
Not needed
Stability, Strength, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Sit on the floor in a wide straddle position with both legs straight.
2. Place your hands on the floor.
3. Sit tall through your spine and engage your core while keeping your legs active and knees fully extended.
4. Actively contract your hip flexors and core to lift both legs off the ground without bending your knees.
6. Hold the lifted position briefly while keeping your chest lifted and legs as high as possible.
7. Slowly lower your legs back to the floor with control.
8. Reset your posture and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
1. Sit on the floor in a wide straddle position with both legs straight.
2. Place your hands on the floor.
3. Sit tall through your spine and engage your core while keeping your legs active and knees fully extended.
4. Actively contract your hip flexors and core to lift both legs off the ground without bending your knees.
6. Hold the lifted position briefly while keeping your chest lifted and legs as high as possible.
7. Slowly lower your legs back to the floor with control.
8. Reset your posture and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
rest
Pull-Up Bar
Mobility / Flexibility, Skill, Strength
Pull-Up Bar
Mobility / Flexibility, Skill, Strength
1. Secure a resistance band to a stable anchor above you and place the band around your hips.
2. Start in a straddle position with your hands on the floor, shoulders stacked over your wrists, and your legs extended.
3. Engage your core and push firmly through your hands while maintaining elevated shoulders.
4. Use the assistance from the band to help lift your hips upward as you press your body toward a handstand position.
5. Keep your legs straight and actively pull your toes upward as you transition through the press.
6. Continue pressing until your hips stack over your shoulders and hands, reaching a controlled handstand position.
7. Slowly lower back down with control, maintaining shoulder engagement and body tension.
8. Focus on using the band for assistance while developing the strength and compression needed for an unassisted press handstand.
1. Secure a resistance band to a stable anchor above you and place the band around your hips.
2. Start in a straddle position with your hands on the floor, shoulders stacked over your wrists, and your legs extended.
3. Engage your core and push firmly through your hands while maintaining elevated shoulders.
4. Use the assistance from the band to help lift your hips upward as you press your body toward a handstand position.
5. Keep your legs straight and actively pull your toes upward as you transition through the press.
6. Continue pressing until your hips stack over your shoulders and hands, reaching a controlled handstand position.
7. Slowly lower back down with control, maintaining shoulder engagement and body tension.
8. Focus on using the band for assistance while developing the strength and compression needed for an unassisted press handstand.
rest
Box
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Box
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Start in a straddle position with your feet elevated on a box or bench and your hands placed firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart.
2. Push strongly through your hands and elevate your shoulders away from your ears to create an active shoulder position.
3. Engage your core and lift your hips upward while maintaining a straight or slightly compressed body line.
4. Shift your shoulders forward over your hands as you begin transferring more weight into your arms.
5. Slowly lift one leg or both legs partially off the elevated surface while maintaining control and balance.
6. Use your hip flexors and core compression to bring your hips higher toward a handstand position.
7. Pause in the highest controlled position, then lower back down slowly with control.
8. Focus on maintaining straight arms, active shoulders, and avoiding jumping or kicking into the movement.
1. Start in a straddle position with your feet elevated on a box or bench and your hands placed firmly on the floor shoulder-width apart.
2. Push strongly through your hands and elevate your shoulders away from your ears to create an active shoulder position.
3. Engage your core and lift your hips upward while maintaining a straight or slightly compressed body line.
4. Shift your shoulders forward over your hands as you begin transferring more weight into your arms.
5. Slowly lift one leg or both legs partially off the elevated surface while maintaining control and balance.
6. Use your hip flexors and core compression to bring your hips higher toward a handstand position.
7. Pause in the highest controlled position, then lower back down slowly with control.
8. Focus on maintaining straight arms, active shoulders, and avoiding jumping or kicking into the movement.
rest
Not needed
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
Not needed
Mobility / Flexibility, Movement Control, Skill, Strength
1. Start in a controlled handstand position with your hands placed shoulder-width apart and your shoulders elevated.
2. Engage your core, squeeze your legs together, and maintain a strong body line.
3. Slowly begin lowering from the handstand by shifting your shoulders slightly forward over your hands.
4. Control the descent as your hips move downward and your legs begin to travel toward the floor.
5. Keep your arms straight as long as possible while maintaining shoulder strength and control.
6. Continue lowering through the press pathway until your feet gently reach the floor or you return to a pike position.
7. Reset with control and repeat, focusing on a slow and steady descent.
8. Avoid dropping quickly or losing tension through your shoulders and core.
1. Start in a controlled handstand position with your hands placed shoulder-width apart and your shoulders elevated.
2. Engage your core, squeeze your legs together, and maintain a strong body line.
3. Slowly begin lowering from the handstand by shifting your shoulders slightly forward over your hands.
4. Control the descent as your hips move downward and your legs begin to travel toward the floor.
5. Keep your arms straight as long as possible while maintaining shoulder strength and control.
6. Continue lowering through the press pathway until your feet gently reach the floor or you return to a pike position.
7. Reset with control and repeat, focusing on a slow and steady descent.
8. Avoid dropping quickly or losing tension through your shoulders and core.
rest
Plyo Box
Movement Control, Stability, Warm-Up / Activation
Plyo Box
Movement Control, Stability, Warm-Up / Activation
1. Start in a kneeling position with your bent knees resting on a plyo box and your hands placed on the floor shoulder-width apart.
2. Position your shoulders directly over your hands and maintain a strong, stable plank-like position.
3. Brace your core and keep your hips aligned with your shoulders while maintaining control through your torso.
4. Press firmly through your hands and allow your shoulders to elevate by pushing your upper body away from the floor.
5. Focus on closing the space between your shoulders and ears while actively engaging your serratus and shoulder stabilizers.
6. Slowly lower your shoulders back down by allowing your shoulder blades to move with control.
7. Repeat the elevation and lowering motion without bending your elbows or shifting your hips.
8. Maintain steady breathing and controlled repetitions throughout the exercise.
1. Start in a kneeling position with your bent knees resting on a plyo box and your hands placed on the floor shoulder-width apart.
2. Position your shoulders directly over your hands and maintain a strong, stable plank-like position.
3. Brace your core and keep your hips aligned with your shoulders while maintaining control through your torso.
4. Press firmly through your hands and allow your shoulders to elevate by pushing your upper body away from the floor.
5. Focus on closing the space between your shoulders and ears while actively engaging your serratus and shoulder stabilizers.
6. Slowly lower your shoulders back down by allowing your shoulder blades to move with control.
7. Repeat the elevation and lowering motion without bending your elbows or shifting your hips.
8. Maintain steady breathing and controlled repetitions throughout the exercise.
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