April Fool’s!
Real progress can only be made with real coaches. So…
HSF Focus Groups Are Back!
With handbalancing requiring a wide breadth of specific strength, particular flexibility, and challenging coordination – it can feel overwhelming to juggle all these traits, while upside-down.
So back in 2022, we launched a popular series of focus groups. The concept was simple: 30 days focused on a single handbalancing element where you’d receive video feedback from our expert coaches. Joining a cohort to hone one part for a month made the practice feel more manageable and progress more apparent.
So in 2025 we are bringing back Handstand Factory Focus groups! On the 7th of every month we’ll roll out a new 4 week focus for you to supplement your training routine with.
April’s Focus: Flexibility For Handstands
With so much focus on what your arms and shoulders have to do in a handstand, legs can become an afterthought. Yet whether it’s for an effortless press or a controlled kick-up, flexible legs are what get you into a much more comfortable starting position.
So for our first Focus of 2025, we’ll zero in on your pike and pancake to make your handstand entries as smooth as possible.
Even if you’re leg flexibility is ‘good enough’ for getting up into a handstand, developing it further will make your straddle handstands wider, open up the possibility of advanced pike and Stalder presses, and seated positions will be more comfortable!
Sign up before April 7th to join this month’s Focus group!
$65 on the 7th of each monthSign up now
Our Focuses now work a bit differently. After you sign up, you will be billed on April 7th as part of a monthly auto-renewing subscription. So long as you are subscribed, you will be rolled into the next Focus group seamlessly. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and will continue to have access to the current Focus until the end of the month.
“[The Focus group] helped me realize that I need much more direct feedback as an ‘old’ beginner in handstands. My coach was excellent in being positive, encouraging, open-minded, receptive, and appropriately orienting to my particular needs.
“[The Focus group] helped me realize that I need much more direct feedback as an ‘old’ beginner in handstands. My coach was excellent in being positive, encouraging, open-minded, receptive, and appropriately orienting to my particular needs.
– Brian @psychobabblin –
Kick-Up Control – Nov. 2022
How does HSF Focus work?
Handstand Factory Focus is a subscription service focused on fine tuning a specific element of handbalancing every month – with an added layer of accountability through progress tracking and video review from our coaches.
Once enrolled, you’ll be provided programming through the TrueCoach app at the beginning of the month-long training period. Through the app you’ll be able to log your training sessions, ask questions and upload video progress to our online coaches.
Upcoming Focuses
This April we’ll be focusing on the flexibility for handstands. Throughout the rest of 2025 we’ll be shifting our focus to different elements the 7th of each month. Some of these upcoming focus topics will be:
- Different entries to handstands
- Wrist strength and finger control
- Backbending for bridges and Mexican handstands
- Shoulder flexibility to improve your line
- and more!
Your Focus group coaches
Emmet
Emmet Louis is a renowned flexibility and mobility coach. Over the last ten years he has been working on and developing his “Modern Methods of Mobility” syllabus, which he teaches in seminars worldwide. He’s equally at home teaching people who can’t touch their toes all the way to contortion levels of flexibility. His main focus with his adult students is to teach and develop skills that are normally considered things that can be acquired only as children, and to show that these can be achieved in a safe and efficient manner. This includes advanced acrobatics, flexibility and high levels of bodyweight strength.
Mikael
Mikael Kristiansen is a contemporary circus artist specializing in handbalancing. He has a background as a bboy and has a Bachelor in Circus Arts from DOCH, Stockholm. Mikael specialised in the discipline of handbalancing at the age of 23 after being a breakdancer for several years. Since completing his education at DOCH, he has toured around the world performing, as well as teaching workshops targeted towards a range of skill levels, from absolute beginners to those trying to learn the most advanced handbalancing skills.
Isaac
Isaac started training handstands as an adult during university, starting training with Emmet in 2016. After dipping his toes in several physical practices such as capoeira, olympic weightlifting and rock climbing, he found handbalancing the most rewarding practice and has been consistently training handbalancing for 3 years now. You will not only find Isaac as a model many of our programs, but is also a seasoned online coach and is part of the admin team behind Handstand Factory.
Ludwig
After studying with Emmet for about one and a half years he was asked if he wanted to join the M3 team for online flexibility coaching as well as modeling for programs and assisting at the M3 Seminars. He has a background in parkour/movement and strength training, which he has been teaching for almost 10 years and still practices regularly along with handbalancing and acrobatics. He’s now joined the HSF team, expanding his online coaching offerings to handstands too!
Nick
Nick started working with us during his time at the Circus University of Codarts, which he recently graduated. Whilst performing was always fun for him it quite naturally became clear that he wanted to use his time to become an experienced and knowledgable coach for strength, flexibility, and acrobatics. After having spent the last four years developing his personal skills as an acrobat in circus school he is very happy to be now shifting focus to helping others get the most out of their training.
Seve
Seve Feathers is a Dublin-based image-maker who uses circus, embodiment and visual art in poetic imagery exploring psychological and philosophical issues. Recently, Seve presented “Fleshed”, created during the Artistic Development Course in SKH (Stockholm) in 2022. Seve created and produced “Fleeting” nationally and abroad with Director and Co-choreographer Megan Kennedy (Junk Ensemble). Seve is a recipient of the Circus Project Award 2022 (Arts Council of Ireland). With a background in Literature, Theatre and Languages, Seve also is a regular model, photographer, assistant editor and writer for Handstand Factory, Modern Methods of Mobility, The Handstand Press Magazine. Seve is currently teaching Handstands, Flexibility, Creative Methodology and mentoring in Artistic Development as part of BOOST for Dublin Circus Project. She has been coaching Handstands and Flexibility in Dublin and online since 2018 – and is now a HSF Online Coach too!
FAQ
How is this different than your Online Programs?
Our Focus groups work on improving a specific element of handbalancing over a 30 day period with the ability to correspond with our coaches. Our Online Programs on the other hand are comprehensive in nature and written to be trained on your own for 8-12 months.
I already own your programs, why should I join the Focus?
For accountability, video review, and an opportunity to focus your training specifically.
The Focus weekly routines are designed to be trained alongside our Online Programs or be added on top of whatever your current training routine is.
Why is there a start and end date?
Since the Focus groups have online coaches who provide feedback, we have set a deadline for applicants limiting the number of members to ensure timely and quality responses to questions and video reviews.
Why is this now a subscription service?
We have shifted the Focus model to a subscription service because we are now prepared to offer new focuses every month!
This model also allows those subscribed to keep their spots for future months, rather than needing to rush to sign up before we run out of spots.
I'm a bit confused about when I'm paying each month.
You can sign up for the upcoming Focus anytime before the start date of that Focus. When you sign up you have to enter your credit card, but you are not billed until the start date of the Focus. Then you are billed on the 7th of every month after that until you cancel your subscription, which you can do any time.
What is TrueCoach?
TrueCoach is the coaching app we have chosen which allows us to assign your training, correspond with you, and review your video footage. While your subscription is managed on our website in the Members Area, your week-to-week training will all be in the TrueCoach app.
HSF FOCUS
What You Get With HSF Focus
Sign up before April 7th to join this month’s Focus group!
$65 on the 7th of each monthSign up now
Join today before this Focus sells out!