LOW BALANCE

Handbalancing for Beginners

Safely learning handstands should be easier.

That’s why we created the Low Balance – Introduction to Handbalancing online program. Learn moves safe enough for a beginner and build on them through progressive programming.

Build Coordination and Confidence

This online program constitutes an accessible pathway into the world of handbalancing with the crow, crane, crocodile, side crocodile and headstand.  Each position teaches you about various aspects of handbalancing, and develops a degree of strength and understanding which will help you significantly if you should choose to go further with your practice or learn the freestanding handstand.

  • 7 EXPLANATION VIDEOS
    Watch and rewatch the exercise explanations, demos and technical lectures at your own pace

  • 30 PAGE MANUAL
    Available as a PDF, or can also be bought in print

  • 6 MONTHS OF STRUCTURED TRAINING
    Step-by-step program templates are included, with guided advancement

  • NO PREREQUISITES
    Written for all ability levels with easily accessible progressions

  • BEGINNER TO ADVANCED PROGRAMMING
    Foundational shapes evolve into one-arm variations and handstand transitions

  • LIFE-TIME ACCESS

  • 7 EXPLANATION VIDEOS
    Watch and rewatch the exercise explanations, demos and technical lectures at your own pace

  • 30 PAGE MANUAL
    Available as a PDF, or can also be bought in print

  • 6 MONTHS OF STRUCTURED TRAINING
    Step-by-step program templates are included, with guided advancement

  • NO PREREQUISITES
    Written for all ability levels with easily accessible progressions

  • BEGINNER TO ADVANCED PROGRAMMING
    Foundational shapes evolve into one-arm variations and handstand transitions

  • LIFE-TIME ACCESS

What it’s like to use the Handstand Factory programs:

It’s like being in school and having lecture, lab and study – between the podcast, training, and text. I’m learning so much… really feels more personalized, “connected” and HUMAN.

Joyce – @cirquepath, San Fransisco, USA

Lay a solid foundation for handbalancing.

What are Low Balances? And Why Should I Learn Them?

Low Balances are a category of handbalancing skills that are not rooted in the straight handstand shape.  Your body is literally lower to the ground, making these skills less intimidating, less complex, and easier to control. We’ve chosen 5 shapes that have strong athletic carryover and bring breadth to anyone’s handbalancing practice.

Crow, Crane, & Headstand

The crow and crane develop weight-bearing in your capacity arms and wrists, as several of the progressions are reasonably accessible from an early starting point.  And the headstand teaches you control the balance point of your core and legs through removing the complexity of coordinating your upper body.  Together these three low balances can identify weak-points and lay a strong foundation for learning the freestanding handstand.

Crocodile & Side Crocodile

For those with some handstand experience, the crocodile and side crocodile will challenge your balance in new and interesting ways. You can learn how to incorporate them as transitional poses into or out of a handstand – and are also impressive skills in their own right.

Your Handbalancing Instructors

Mikael Kristiansen and Emmet Louis are both international teachers of handbalancing and flexibility and have spent big chunks of their lives studying and understanding all aspects of these skills professionally both as performers and teachers. With Handstand Factory, they now want to demystify and simplify the process of learning handstands, and make it accessible to anyone wanting to learn to stand on their hands. To learn more about Handstand Factory, head over to our about page.

FAQ

Is this program for absolute beginners only?

While the group of low balances taught in this program can be an easily accessible starting point into the world of handbalance, it is by no means for beginners only. The movements taught can be used as key transition points for more advanced handbalance sequences, and many more experienced handstand trainees may have skipped these up to this point. The Low Balances can nicely complement any handstand practice, no matter at which level.

Can I combine the Low Balance training with the other Handstand Factory Programs?

Yes, absolutely. You can train it even without being able to do a handstand (yet), but can also run it alongside Keep Pushing, Press, or even Push Harder, depending on what your handbalance interests are. Be sure to monitor the volume of training, especially regarding your wrists, but other than that it’s a good complement to any handstand training.

How much time a week will I have to commit to the Low Balance training?

The sessions are designed to be very short, so they can slot in with your other training. Following the Low Balance training templates, you would train twice a week, for a maximum of half an hour including warm-up.

Do I need a training partner to do Low Balance?

Nope, the way that the Low Balance program is designed means there is no need for a partner and that everything can be done independently. Saying that, training with others is fun, so by no means do it alone!

Do I need equipment to train the Low Balance program?

Usually, the Handstand Factory programs are designed to be trained with little to no equipment. The most important things are a flat floor and a free wall. However, for the apparatus component of this program, you will need access to blocks and canes. In the program itself we advise on what to look out for when buying or making equipment, and the program can be started without the tools to begin with.

Are the Handstand Factory programs follow along videos?

No, all of our online programs are educational in nature, they don’t contain videos in which you follow the training in real time like a class. The video library for each program contains explanation and demos for each exercise, with valuable cues and insights. These exercises are also explained in the manual, and lastly, programmed into comprehensive training templates that you can follow in your own time.

Want to know more? These frequently asked questions cover most queries in regards to this program. For questions relating to purchasing the programs, technical support or general training questions, please contact us here. For our Terms and Conditions, go here.

LOW BALANCE

What You Get with Low Balance

  • 7 EXPLANATION VIDEOS
    Watch and rewatch the exercise explanations, demos and technical lectures at your own pace

  • 30 PAGE MANUAL
    Available as a PDF, or can also be bought in print

  • 6 MONTHS OF STRUCTURED TRAINING
    Step-by-step program templates are included, with guided advancement

  • NO PREREQUISITES
    Written for all ability levels with easily accessible progressions

  • BEGINNER TO ADVANCED PROGRAMMING
    Foundational shapes evolve into one-arm variations and handstand transitions

  • LIFE-TIME ACCESS