Does anyone know of a Drill to help "Press" up to a handstand from a bridge position--we have a student

[Charlyn DiLorenzo]

We have a student (she is 11 yrs old & probably up there with being most flexible as it gets--she is naturally gifted & can contort with minimal effort--everyone else around who work like dogs on their flexibility stop & gauk at her in amazement & wonder how she can do "that" while everyone else has been working on for a year which she can do with no prior training--it reminds us of how life is not fair sometimes!! :)
This little girl can go into a backbend and we are working on rising up off the heels (releve), and slowly lift into and hold an arched over handstand. She can hold it sometimes for 8 seconds or so but it seems like she needs to build the strength to be able to hold it longer. Does anyone have advice on how to improve this or any drills for it? Thank you so much!

[Jenji Dea]

I asked someone on Facebook how they did that... and they said it was easy just bring your chest way over and there is a balancing point out there. I asked if it took much shoulder flexibility and strength, but they said it was a matter of pushing the chest forward. I still can't do it and feel it is a shoulder strength issue but I am not as flexible as that so it could be flexibility. Anyhow I look forward to the responses.

[Charlyn DiLorenzo]

Thanks so much for the reply! Ok--I will incorporate pushing the chest foward more--I see her arms shaking when she does it so it is absolutely a strength move for this girl as well--her flexibility outweighs her strength at this age (11 yrs old) & point in time. Thanks again!! _I love this move & want to help more students "get" it!!

[Jenji Dea]

I like it too. I would imagine that doing bridge to handstand just the first part of the lift would help.

[Cynthia Calhoun]

Charlyn,
Corrinne uses the wall to help build the arm strength. Just simple handstands that she holds and then does push ups from this inverted vertical position. Builds arm strength and shoulder strength. If she gets the arm strength it is then just a matter of relaxing into the fold.
cin

[Charlyn DiLorenzo]

Hi Cin
Thank you so much for the valuable info!!--We'll keep working it & keep you posted on the results!! :) Tell Corrine we said Hi!!

[Phil Lancaster]

HI Charlyn
It’s easy to misunderstand a written description, so I apologise if I am misunderstanding the problem.
With a very flexible back this move does not need much strength at all.
From bridge move the feet towards the hands (do not move the hands) look up between your legs by starting to close the shoulder angle. Go up onto tip toes. Do not lift your legs. Continue to raise your head up towards the back of your thighs, continuing to close the shoulder angle (to about 90 degrees depending on her flexibility). Once her back becomes stable (it won’t bend any more) the toes will come off the ground on their own without any lifting of the legs, and she has a stable handstand. She needs to turn into the handstand, not lift into it. She can continue and straighten her legs depending on what you want. The unstable handstand comes from lifting the legs thus opening the arch and she will be wobbling like jelly.
Breathing is a problem in this, you need to tell her to breath out as she feels her toes start to come off the ground.
As far as balance is concerned, handstand over to bridge with feet landing on a raised surface, go into the balance from there and breathe, most will hold their breath. When she can’t hold it any longer she needs to go back down to the bridge (raised feet) and rest there, then do it again.
Also get her to do it on her forearms, she will be pleased how long she can hold it and she will learn to breathe while balancing.
Regards,
Phil.

[Jenji Dea]

That was helpful. I always though if you were flexible enough you could just lift into it.

[Charlyn DiLorenzo]

Can't thank you enough for this information, Phil---but Thank you!!!Will continue working with your tips & we'll let you know how it goes! I mentioned the strength issue because her arms tremble a little when just about into the handstand. We are in fact, trying to work it to the straight legs position(while still in a very closed shoulder angle) and when she does finally get her legs straight, is when she seems to lose the balance. I did not realize NOT to lift her legs, but to turn into it--this is key for me to have learned this from you. This move is new to her also , (only working it a month or so), so practice is in order. Once again, we are very appreciative of your knowledge, -thank you!
BTW--I had attended the International Contortion Convention in Vegas in Sept., & AngeliqueE. from Cirque's "O' was there & stressed not to allow the chest to drop down during this move & to make sure your arms/elbows are on a straight angle (not hyper-extended)-otherwise, over time you are doing great undue stress to you r elbows.

[Jenji Dea]

As I was doing yoga yesterday. I relized that forearm balance would be great for her. Like Phil said below. She can use a box and elevate it later. Also elevate the bridge which will probably be easy for her but she will learn to press the chest out. and make that lift.