It is often said that the world looks a whole lot better when turned upside down. At Barron, we tend to think that this is quite true. Actually, we LOVE to be upside down. In this blog, we are going to talk about the benefits of one of the most infamous gymnastics skills, the handstand. By the time you get to the end of this short article, you will also have a chance to WIN A MONTH OF FREE TUITION because of this fancy skill!

What is a Handstand?

The handstand is the root of many different elements in the sport of gymnastics. It can be seen on every event in a variety of ways. A handstand can be a skill of grace on the floor or balance beam, yet also produce power on vault, bars and rings. It is THE jack of all trades for our favorite pastime. Handstand is defined as “the act of supporting the body on the hands with the trunk and legs balanced in the air”. This skill is an isometric exercise that helps with the building of one’s core strength and proper blood and lymph circulation. In addition, the health of the bone, muscles, heart, brain, and lungs are boosted by performing this exercise.

Handstand Benefit #1: Therapeutic Results

Exercises are generally therapeutic to your body, especially the brain. As the brain releases hormones like endorphins, your brain is refreshed. Endorphins are feel-good hormones that enhance our mood, making us happier. A handstand ensures the increase of blood flow to the brain because of gravity. While performing a handstand, the heart increases its output due to the needs of the muscle. As a result, if you add handstands to your exercise regimen daily, you can be sure that you are protecting your mind against depression while increasing your immunity at the same time.

Every class at Barron has handstands in their curriculum, even our Parent & Tot program. Students utilize the proper equipment to fit their sizes and needs. We love filling our lessons with magical moments that make your children both happy and healthy.

Handstand Benefit #2: Releases Feel-Good Hormones

Handstand benefits are vital to the endocrine system, which secretes certain hormones that affect our body. The body produces the stress hormone called Cortisol. This hormone is released into your body as you go through the hectic hours of the day. By adding handstands to your weekly routine, the adrenal glands are cleansed. As a result, it decreases anxiety and lifts your mood. By combining handstands with breathing exercises, you can improve your mental health and alleviate feelings of fear, worry, and anxiety.

At Barron, our competitive gymnasts combine the act of breathing through mental toughness exercises, and of course, are always kicking up into handstands. Our hope is that they can utilize these strategies in any stressful situation, both in present time and in the future.

Handstand Benefit #3: Increased Strength and Confidence

Handstands boost your upper body and core strength. Once a gymnast becomes more experienced, they can start working on handstands on the bars, beam, rings, parallel bars, and even vault. Many skills are composed of handstands, but they are performed so quickly that you may not even notice. For instance, a back handspring is made up of many parts. If observed in slow motion, there is a handstand right in the middle of the skill. Hitting it properly produces strength and power within the back handspring. When a gymnast becomes stronger at handstands, they gain more confidence to perform more difficult skills.

Handstands Around the World Contest

Now, we get to the good part – a chance to WIN a MONTH of FREE TUITION! This summer, we encourage you to perform handstands all over the world! Whether you are traveling, visiting family, or going to a famous St. Louis attraction, we want to see you upside down. Why? Well, you are going to be happier, feel good, stronger, more confident, and let’s be honest… it is just so darn fun!!

Follow these simple steps to enter:

1. Take a picture of your “handstand around the world”.

2. Post the photo along with your name and location on our Facebook Page.

The winner will be announced on August 20th! Good luck!