Straddle, Pike and Stalder Press to Handstand
The Press program is designed to teach you the necessary strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve the straddle and pike press to handstand (basic), as well as the Stalder press to handstand (advanced). Because of the tremendous flexibility component of this skill, we have included a large pike and pancake flexibility section in this program. We teach the Press to handstand using a technique that allows you to develop all the necessary components for this skill at the same time, combining low pressing, high pressing and compression/flexibility work.

Press at a
Glance
€244.77Add to cart
40 EXPLANATION VIDEOS
Watch and rewatch the exercise explanations, demos and technical lectures at your own pace100 PAGE MANUAL
Available as a PDF, or can also be bought in printADDITIONAL COMPONENTS
Pancake and pike flexibility modules12-18 MONTHS OF PROGRAMMING
Step-by-step program templates are included, with guided advancementCOMMUNITY FORUM
LIFE-TIME ACCESS
€244.77Add to cart
What You Get
The Press program is essentially separated into two parts; standing pressing and low pressing. The standing press takes you from a standing position to a handstand through either a straddle or a pike, while the low press goes from an L-sit or a straddle L-sit to standing, and then further to handstand. Additionally, this program includes a full pancake and pike flexibility section. All three components come together in our extensive programming section, which will allow you to self-assess and plan your training according to your level.


What You Get
The Press program is essentially separated into two parts; standing pressing and low pressing. The standing press takes you from a standing position to a handstand through either a straddle or a pike, while the low press goes from an L-sit or a straddle L-sit to standing, and then further to handstand. Additionally, this program includes a full pancake and pike flexibility section. All three components come together in our extensive programming section, which will allow you to self-assess and plan your training according to your level.
Level | Intermediate |
Goals | Straddle, Pike, and Stalder Press | Pike and Pancake Flexibility |
Duration | 12-18 months |
Included | 40 Videos, 100 Page Manual, Life-Time Access, Forum Support |
Prerequisites | 30s freestanding handstand, good control over leg movement (shape changing), entering handstand via tuck or straddle |
Level | Intermediate |
Goals | Straddle, Pike, and Stalder Press | Pike and Pancake flexibility |
Duration | 12-18 months |
Included | 40 Videos, 100 Page Manual, Life-Time Access, Forum Support |
Prerequisites | 30s freestanding handstand, good control over leg movement (shape changing), entering handstand via tuck or straddle |
Don’t meet the prerequisites? Check out our beginner program, Push to gain a consistent, freestanding handstand!
“Like all complex movements, the talder press is created in parts. So to achieve our goal we aim to develop all the fundamental components separately and then assemble them into the full Stalder.”
“Like all complex movements, the talder press is created in parts. So to achieve our goal we aim to develop all the fundamental components separately and then assemble them into the full Stalder.”
FROM THE PRESS MANUAL
Flexibility Part in Press
One of the perks of the Handstand Factory programs is that they also cover the necessary flexibility components you need to develop in order to progress in your training.
If your goal is to do a press (or Stalder press) to handstand, then working on your pancake flexibility will likely be a big part of your training. The flexibility section in Press actually makes for about 50% of the material in Press, and a lot of the handbalancing work is also active flexibility work. The Press program includes a pike and a pancake section, with flexibility theory as well as program templates to take you to full pike and flat pancake that you can actively access in your press training.

Flexibility Programming in Press
One of the perks of the Handstand Factory programs is that they also cover the necessary flexibility components you need to develop in order to progress in your training.
If your goal is to do a press (or Stalder press) to handstand, then working on your pancake flexibility will likely be a big part of your training. The flexibility section in Press actually makes for about 50% of the material in Press, and a lot of the handbalancing work is also active flexibility work. The Press program includes a pike and a pancake section, with flexibility theory as well as program templates to take you to full pike and flat pancake that you can actively access in your press training.

OUR APPROACH TO HANDBALANCING
Our programs teach handbalancing using a technique that is expansive – it leads to a structure that is efficient and elegant and can be used to develop towards the higher level skills such as different two arm handstand shapes, and later even the one arm handstand. There are many different styles of handstands out there, and they are all valid in their respective contexts and usages. This program, however, teaches the press to handstand from a combination of traditional Russian handbalancing with alternative strategies of developing awareness and coordination upside down.
OUR APPROACH TO HANDBALANCING
Our programs teach handbalancing using a technique that is expansive – it leads to a structure that is efficient and elegant and can be used to develop towards the higher level skills such as different two arm handstand shapes, and later even the one arm handstand. There are many different styles of handstands out there, and they are all valid in their respective contexts and usages. This program, however, teaches the press to handstand from a combination of traditional Russian handbalancing with alternative strategies of developing awareness and coordination upside down.
More in depth about the Press program
PRESS
Who’s Teaching
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
How long will I be using the Press program?
The aim of the press program is to give you all forms of the press to handstand, working through the straddle press, pike press, Stalder and finally, L-sit press to Handstand. By the end of this, we’ll have gotten you a flat pancake, too. Once all of these have been achieved then the press program could be considered complete. We do not put timeframes on this type of goal as it is entirely individual and of course depends largely on your starting point as well.
Do I need to be flexible to start the Press program?
No way! The Press program has specific flexibility work for people at any level so that your flexibility will never be a limiting factor in your progress to the press to handstand. If you feel like the press to handstand is still a good bit away, you could begin working on the pike though, so by the time you begin this program your pancake will progress nicely.
I am strong but not flexible/I am flexible but not strong, can I do the Press program?
The Press program aims to work on both your strength and your flexibility at the same time, so that what-ever your limitations it can be effectively targeted and improved. The press handstand is a combined expression of both strength and flexibility and if you neglect either then you’re making your journey much harder for yourself. This program will, however, address flexibility, strength and the coordination needed, so each of these components will receive as much attention in your training as they need.
Do I need a training partner to do the Press program?
Nope, the way that the Press program is designed means there is no need for a partner and that everything can be done independently. A press to handstand is impressive though, so you want people around when you do one 😉
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.
Do I need equipment to train the Press program?
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, as you begin pressing from an elevated surface, boxes would be useful. Chairs, a low table or other also work well though! For the flexibility, a mat or pillows would be helpful, as well as some light weights (filled waterbottles also work).