My name is Peter Wraae Marino, and I have been teaching gymnastics for more than 25 years. I am often asked what the most important skill a gymnast should master. I always answer "The handstand." Sooner or later, you will be doing a handstand in just about every event. Many other skills, such as handsprings and cartwheels, contain a hidden handstand. Mastering the handstand will certainly make learning other skills easier and will help to reduce the learning curve. This handbook contains basic handstand exercises, all of which can be done at home or the gym. The exercises are written in order so you will steadily progress toward a perfect freestanding handstand.

THE HANDSTAND BOOK is a complete guide to learning to do a basic handstand and then progressing on to intermediate and advanced skills. The mechanical principles for holding balance on your hands are detailed. A step-by-step method is given for learning to do a basic handstand. From there the book takes you on to intermediate and advanced skills, including press ups into handstands and doing handstands on one arm. Partner and group hand balancing is covered. There is a chapter on doing handstands on apparatus, including parallel bars, rings, balls, and chairs. Regardless of whether you just want to learn a handstand for fun and exercise or for use in gymnastics, cheerleading, acrobatics, or performing, this is the book you need. THIS BOOK is based on the author's experiences as a performer from the seventh to twelfth grades in the Fresno YMCA Gym Circus; as a competitive tumbler from the seventh grade to the end of college with a second place finish in tumbling in the National Collegiate (NCAA) Gymnastics Championships in 1959; as a teacher and coach of gymnastics in various YMCA programs and at the university level; and doing research in tumbling, acrobatics and balancing before, during, and after earning a PhD in exercise physiology at the University of Illinois in 1968. SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE: Learning to do Basic Handstands More Difficult Individual Handstand Skills Partner and Group Hand Balancing A Gallery of My Handstands"

Unlock your athletic potential and get into the best shape of your life with Krista Stryker’s HIIT and bodyweight workouts—all of which can be done in just minutes a day! If you’ve ever thought you couldn’t get results without spending hours in the gym, that you’d never be able to do a pull-up, or that it’s too late to get in your best shape ever, The 12-Minute Athlete will change your mind, your body, and your life. Get serious results with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that can be done in just minutes a day. Give up the excuses and learn to use your own bodyweight and a few basic pieces of portable equipment for short, incredibly effective workouts. Reset your mindset, bust through mental blocks, and set meaningful goals you’ll actually accomplish. You can finally ditch the dieting and enjoy food as fuel with simple eating guidelines to the 80/20 rule. In The 12-Minute Athlete you’ll also find: –A guide to basic calisthenics and bodyweight exercises for any fitness level –Progressive exercises to achieve seemingly “impossible” feats like pistol squats, one-arm push-ups, pull-ups, and handstands –More than a dozen simple and healthy recipes that will fuel your workouts –Two 8-week workout plans for getting fitter, faster, and stronger –Bonus Tabata workouts –And so much more! The 12-Minute Athlete is for men and women, ex-athletes and new athletes, experienced athletes and “non-athletes”—for anyone who has a body and wants to get stronger and start living their healthiest life.

A full-color illustrated exploration of the body in motion during yoga practice • Examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, to inspire confidence in students, deepen practice, and prevent injury • Provides detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed • Explores how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy In this full-color illustrated guide, David Keil brings the anatomy of the body in yoga asanas to life. Writing in an accessible, conversational tone, he outlines how practitioners and yoga teachers alike can utilize a deeper understanding of their anatomy and its movement and function to deepen their yoga practice, increase confidence, prevent injury, and better understand their students and their challenges. Providing detailed images and photos overlaid with anatomical diagrams, allowing you to see clearly what is happening within each asana discussed, Keil shows how the muscles, joints, tendons, and structure of the body work together to support integrated movement. He discusses the basics of functional anatomy, exploring the workings of the foot and ankle, the knee, the hip joint, the pelvis and SI joint, the spine, the shoulder, and the hand, wrist, and elbow. He examines anatomical patterns and body mechanics in specific asanas, such as forward bends, twists, external hip rotations, arm balances, and back bends, such as, for example, how a wide-legged forward bend shifts the position of the femur and the pelvis, allowing students with tight hamstrings to accomplish a deep forward bend--something they struggle with when the legs are together. Keil also shows how various yoga postures interrelate from the perspective of functional anatomy. Revealing in detail how everything in the body is connected and how your anatomy functions holistically during yoga practice, this book helps you to understand the body better and connect and integrate yoga postures in a completely new way.

The ultimate guide to bodyweight exercises for anyone interested in taking their workouts to the next level without the use of weights, machines, or expensive gym memberships Complete Calisthenics is an essential guide for anyone interested in losing weight, building core strength, and taking their workouts to the next level. Author and trainer Ashley Kalym has designed a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide to calisthenics using only one's own bodyweight for resistance. Readers will learn how to execute a wide range of exercises such as push-ups, pull-ups, core development movements, and lower-body routines. Also included are easy-to-follow instructions for the planche, the front and back lever, handstands, handstand push-ups, muscle-ups, leg training, and other key exercises. Complete Calisthenics includes essential information on workout preparation, simple props, nutrition, and an assortment of diverse training routines. New to this second edition are enhanced muscle-building exercises, instructions for optimal rest and recovery, and an assortment of original recipes. Kalym also includes samples from his personal food diary. With over 500 instructional photos, Complete Calisthenics takes readers on a path to creating physical endurance, agility, and power. The book is suitable for every level of athlete, from beginner to experienced.

Nicolo Kehrwald, a professional circus artist, introduces you to the world of handbalancing. With insightful descriptions, beautiful color photographs, and unique drills, this book is the first of its kind. Whether you are hoping to learn to balance a handstand, or want to explore shapes in the one-arm handstand, this book will help you do it. Kehrwald has trained with the masters of handbalancing, including Yury Bozyan in Canada, Claude Victoria in France, and Bileg Batmonkh and Tumurbaatar Bud in Mongolia. Now, he shares the secrets of handbalancing with you. In The Little Handbalancing Book,you will learn The basics of handbalancing, including proper alignment and methods for training the straight handstand, techniques for successfully balancing inverted, instruction on foundational positions such as the tuck, the straddle, the crocodile, and the L-sit; Intermediate and advanced techniques, including pressing up to handstand, flag positions, planche, hollow-back, one-arm handstands, and more; Training programs to help develop your skill; Maintenance exercises, including stretching, warming up, conditioning, and cross-training; and Advice on how to train successfully over the long term, both in terms of physical achievement and emotional/mental health and enjoyment. Kehrwald explains each new move in simple terms and includes full color photographs to help you perfect your form. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn a new skill or an expert pushing to the next level, Kehrwald's book will help you train, learn, and grow.

In Parkour Strength Training, you will learn how to:- Accelerate your athletic development with three fundamental bodyweight exercises- Promote the flexibility and mobility necessary for safe obstacle-based fitness- Prepare and condition your joints to avoid injuries- Train safely outdoors- Remedy the common faults and errors that plague parkour newcomers- Incorporate ground-based exercises, such as quadrupedal movement, bounding, and jumping into your workouts- Use low obstacles such as benches, handrails, and walls for full-body strength training- Fly over barriers using three basic vaults- Mount, traverse, and overcome head-high walls and bar structures- Master proper climb-up technique using many supplemental exercises- Design an effective strength training program- Combine skill-based drills and games to become a more well-rounded practitioner- Dominate obstacle courses

Mike Ferralli has coached with the acclaimed Olympic Gymnastics Coach Bela Karolyi and has worked with many Olympic and World Champions.

The 15-Second Handstand: A Beginners Guide is the ANSWER to the questions we all really have about the handstand. It is the ONLY book on the market to address the big handstand problem: fear. When learning to handstand, you are normally dealing with a fear of falling over; and The 15-Second handstand lays out a progression that conquers fear, builds strength and ENABLES you to HIT YOUR GOAL in record time. Just look at what others are saying about it... "I basically couldn't put the book down. It really tremendous. I get the feeling that you REALLY know what you're talking about. It's really neat the way you present the 6 Challenges right away, then leave all the WHY for later. Plus, you really clarified for me what I need to pay attention to: locked elbows and active shoulders. And getting past my fear by learning to bail. The rest is gravy for going from 15s to one minute. I never had this feeling before of knowing what to do." - Dan R. "I found the book very clear and simple, never boring. It is perfect for people who want to know why and how something works, but the step-by-step progression is perfect for people who don't care about the details." - Giacomo B. "I finished your book in one day I like it, it's very helpful for me and the progression is very good I changed my training following your progression and trained much more face to the wall, every day the 'holy' five minutes. I trained 4 months before, but had fear to move to freestanding, without any wall." - Dr. Jurgen Fohlinger "As a kid I remember my father standing on his hands and walking up and then down a flight of stairs on his hands. At 67 years old I doubt I will ever be able to duplicate that feat, but thanks to Chris Salvato's systematic approach I'm now able to stand freestanding] on my hands for a few seconds (and get off my hands without destroying myself and nearby furniture) a feat that has eluded me for years. Using his program I'm looking forward to extending that time into minutes." - Marshall R. Peterson "Chris Salvato did a really good job with The 15-Second Handstand book. You can start your way into the progressions within 10 minutes of reading, and learn the why and how later through the book. The finer points of technique are spot on and prevent bad habits from developing (bent arms, sagging shoulders). Also, the pirouette progression makes you understand the act of bailing, and saves you from having to rollout, which may be troublesome depending on the kind of surface you are training in. This book is definitely going to help in building a handstand addiction." - Lucas Serur "This is the third or fourth handstand book I bought, and the first one I have liked. The other ones were complete garbage. This one stands out by having a straightforward progression towards a clearly defined final goal, and no detours. There are clear, realistic targets for every step. I love how everything is sliced into small, doable pieces, such as your advice on adding the four form cues one at a time. Best of all I liked that there's a step in the progression dedicated to bailing. I'm actually starting to lose my fear of falling now."- Barry L. "I have not read any other books about the handstand. This book is very easy to follow. It is also very detailed about what to do, and what not to do. It convinces me that it is possible for me to learn it." - Anders I.