I'm also a perpetual white belt, not only with handstands but with BJJ, (pre) muscle-ups, and olympic weight lifting.
My main game is not these sports, so I use them to bring myself back to the beginner's mindset (which you can't think yourself back to... you need to experience the humiliations of an actual beginner!) plus injuries are highest at elite levels.
i first started practicing ~7 years ago. back then i wasn’t in good shape and my shoulders and back were very weak. nowadays i can “float” but can’t stay up in a handstand (hopefully this year though 🤞🏽)
i resonate with everything you said here. in one of my fav books (“long quiet highway”) the author is a zen buddhist and also a writer, and she often compares the craft of writing with sitting zen. and that’s how i feel about handstands too. the repetitiveness feels grounded and kind of…spiritual?
ahh. hellou fellow handstand practitioner. it's been a while since i wrote this, so thank you for bringing it up to me:))
soo yes yes yes *and* to what you said. when i float, there is nothing but float -- my *whole* body is in isometric contraction and my mind is not there (well..this is a desired state). i am struggling with is this latter part, with letting go of the mind: because i tend to be a heavy thinker, my mind intercepts with all of its pre-set fears about the fall and overthinking during the float. my body is *already* strong to hold many seconds, but my fearful mind is intercepting the way here. i am learning to allow my body lead the way - its hella hard for me.
writing, creative practices, martial arts, meditation, deep love, flow-- they all seems to be the practices that bring one to a state where Self is not
Also, Priya, I believe you are based in NYC? Teacher Ian in Warriors Bridge is very funny and philosophy-heavy + knows handstands technique really well. I always try to take his classes whenever I come there!
Nice!
I'm also a perpetual white belt, not only with handstands but with BJJ, (pre) muscle-ups, and olympic weight lifting.
My main game is not these sports, so I use them to bring myself back to the beginner's mindset (which you can't think yourself back to... you need to experience the humiliations of an actual beginner!) plus injuries are highest at elite levels.
Love the illustration!!
i first started practicing ~7 years ago. back then i wasn’t in good shape and my shoulders and back were very weak. nowadays i can “float” but can’t stay up in a handstand (hopefully this year though 🤞🏽)
i resonate with everything you said here. in one of my fav books (“long quiet highway”) the author is a zen buddhist and also a writer, and she often compares the craft of writing with sitting zen. and that’s how i feel about handstands too. the repetitiveness feels grounded and kind of…spiritual?
ahh. hellou fellow handstand practitioner. it's been a while since i wrote this, so thank you for bringing it up to me:))
soo yes yes yes *and* to what you said. when i float, there is nothing but float -- my *whole* body is in isometric contraction and my mind is not there (well..this is a desired state). i am struggling with is this latter part, with letting go of the mind: because i tend to be a heavy thinker, my mind intercepts with all of its pre-set fears about the fall and overthinking during the float. my body is *already* strong to hold many seconds, but my fearful mind is intercepting the way here. i am learning to allow my body lead the way - its hella hard for me.
writing, creative practices, martial arts, meditation, deep love, flow-- they all seems to be the practices that bring one to a state where Self is not
Also, Priya, I believe you are based in NYC? Teacher Ian in Warriors Bridge is very funny and philosophy-heavy + knows handstands technique really well. I always try to take his classes whenever I come there!
I also like Sam Starr as an instructor, I go to her classes at Vital but she also teaches at Warrior Bridge
Any classes you join with her next mon-wed? I am visiting for a few days, always wanna see a new perspective on my balancing 🌝
Good tip! I don’t make it out to Warrior Bridge too much cuz of the commute, but I do on occasion. I’ll check his class out ☺️
Yeah next Tuesday night i’ll DM ya
actually i don’t think substack let’s me dm ya, will twitter message when i’m at my laptop
Love this <3
Can’t wait to go to your hand stand studio 👑👀
“the only place where you can rest is the bathroom” lol
this was a fascinating read :)