The Handstand Press

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The Handstand Press A print magazine capturing the emerging culture and discipline of handbalancing. Get involved!

Embodying the tradition, digging into the science, showcasing the art and fostering exchange in the community.

It's the week-end! (At least for some of us🤫)If you are having two days off or not...We are wishing happy handstanding!....
16/08/2024

It's the week-end! (At least for some of us🤫)

If you are having two days off or not...We are wishing happy handstanding!
.. or happy resting.

Photography:
Artist: .mei

Introducing: Stelios ()Stelios is the artist behind the page  on Instagram, which he started back in 2020 to share two o...
07/07/2024

Introducing: Stelios ()

Stelios is the artist behind the page on Instagram, which he started back in 2020 to share two of his creative outlets, hand balance and digital art.

Most of his work has been motivated by various talented artists and performers that many people in the handstand community might know. Some of them are friends, some are coaches. Stelios also invents fictional characters with shapes inspired by hand balancers, giving them a twist of his-own.

Stay tuned as there will be more pieces coming...

Lets keep this community growing!

Stelios & The Handstand Press

03/07/2024
Mini HSP: Meet NicoleWords: Nicole Martres ()Pictures: Nicole Martres by Pau Miralles Fernandez ()Nicole Martres is a ci...
18/06/2024

Mini HSP: Meet Nicole

Words: Nicole Martres ()
Pictures: Nicole Martres by Pau Miralles Fernandez ()

Nicole Martres is a circus performer and teacher, specialised in handstands, contortion and hair hanging. Originally from Argentinia, she started her practice in Buenos Aires, and later moved to France to pursue a deeper specialization in handstands and contortion.

HSP: How did handstands become such an important part of your practice?

Nicole: It was a gradual process, from the initial discovery of handstands to practicing them as a hobby, until I realized that I wanted handstands to be a lifelong pursuit. Therefore, there was no better option for me than to make it my profession and fully dedicate myself to it.
Now, handstands are an integral part of my life. I train regularly, perform as an artist, and whenever time and travel permit, I share my knowledge by teaching others. Sharing this discipline inspires me a lot.

HSP: How have handstands shaped your life?
Nicole: if you want to see progress in handstands, you can't abandon them. They require commitment, perseverance and discipline. Sometimes you have to shape your life around it. But if you enjoy the practice, there's nothing better than having time to immerse yourself in it. Also, you need nothing more than your hands…

HSP: What’s the best handstand advice or tip you’ve been given?

Nicole: Summing up a single advice or tip in handstands sounds ironic. It's funny, when you start, you have to think about literally everything. However, once you teach your body the awareness it needs, it knows so much that it can dissociate all the knowledge incredibly well. The best tip in this process was "Don't overthink."
Handstands are also a mental discipline; small changes in your mind can change more than you think. The body is very intelligent. Overthinking sometimes doesn't let it function as it should, and leads to more confusion and frustration in your training.

The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share stories, photography, and other art forms related to Handstands.⁠
Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

Coming back from our first residency in Cnac, the teams of Yana, Dynamo and The Handstand Press are full of inspiration ...
22/05/2024

Coming back from our first residency in Cnac, the teams of Yana, Dynamo and The Handstand Press are full of inspiration for an upcoming collaboration!
Something is in the making...We are happy about those days of exchanging and reflecting on potentials & limits of indendent press in contemporary circus!

Discover the Hallucigenia Handstand Festival! 🇯🇵⁠⁠Words: Handstand Press Magazine and Hallucigenia festival () ⁠Photos: ...
23/01/2024

Discover the Hallucigenia Handstand Festival! 🇯🇵⁠

Words: Handstand Press Magazine and Hallucigenia festival () ⁠
Photos: ヒペレイト (), Bozzo Mori (), and Hallucigenia.⁠

Orchestrated by Hisashi Watanabe () and Sakurako Gibo (), the Hallucigenia Handstand Festival, was a celebration of physical artistry centered around Handbalancing, bringing together various genres of body manipulation for participants to interact, learn, and evolve together.⁠

Named after Hallucigenia, a paleontological organism with a unique history, the festival symbolizes the transformative experience of the participants who during four days saw the world from a different perspective - upside down!⁠

The festival was located in the peaceful surroundings of a Zen dojo in Kyoto, Japan, fostering a communal living experience. Ten master instructors from across the globe lead workshops in disciplines ranging from yoga to ancient martial arts, each session designed to challenge and inspire, from beginners to more advanced participants.⁠

As the sun set every day, games and showcases around handstands, parkour, dance, juggling, and other physical practices, took over the dojo, bringing joy, inspiration, and connection to the participants.⁠

The collective joy and fulfillment were palpable on the last day, particularly when participants from all over the world concluded the festival in a celebratory grand samba circle.⁠

And this is just the beginning! The seeds for next year’s festival are already sown, with Hisashi, Sakurako, and the rest of the Hallucigenia team working hard for an even better gathering next year.⁠

Take a look at Hallucigenia’s profile and consider joining them for their next edition! ⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine by interacting with our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

Extract from: “The Power of Periods”⁠⁠Words: Sarah Repond ().⁠Photo: Régine Lehmann (.leh).⁠⁠The menstrual cycle means c...
21/01/2024

Extract from: “The Power of Periods”⁠

Words: Sarah Repond ().⁠
Photo: Régine Lehmann (.leh).⁠

The menstrual cycle means challenges to training and performing - but also opportunities.⁠

Learning about the menstrual cycle can help artist-athletes use it to their advantage.⁠

First… some basics.⁠

It might be useful to give a short introduction to the functioning of the menstrual cycle. In general, its length is approximately 28 days. Fluctuations of different hormones regulate it and determine its phases, of which there are four. The first is the menstrual phase, in which specific hormones trigger expulsion of the uterine lining. The result is bleeding, commonly known as “the period”. After the bleeding comes the follicular phase, where oestrogen levels rise and the pituitary gland releases Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, leading to the maturation of one or more eggs. After the follicular phase, ovulation follows, which means an egg is released and the oestrogen level gradually decreases, while the metabolism accelerates.⁠

At last there is the luteal phase, in which progesterone initially increases. Except in cycles where pregnancy occurs, the progesterone level reaches its peak in the middle of the phase before dropping; several days later, the period begins again.⁠

All of these phases are characterised either by a peak or a low of a given hormone. These changes can have positive and negative impacts on the body and mind. Before discussing these common effects, it’s important to mention that not every individual reacts in the same way to those hormonal changes.⁠

The article “The Power of Periods”⁠ Belongs to the chapter Nerd Corner of Issue 06 - Growing Pains.⁠
This chapter is the place to satisfy your inner nerd. Whether you like nerding out over the physics, anatomy, biomechanics, artistic process, or mental health benefits of handbalancing — you’re sure to find something here to scratch that itch. ⁠

Order your copy of Issue 06 through the link in our Bio!🔗⁠
Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content ♥️

Extract from: From Hangovers to Handstands: “Handstands were my ‘Why’ to change my life”⁠⁠Words: Paul Berry (),⁠Photo: P...
13/01/2024

Extract from: From Hangovers to Handstands: “Handstands were my ‘Why’ to change my life”⁠

Words: Paul Berry (),⁠
Photo: Paul’s Personal Collection.⁠

HSP: Are you drawing a clear parallel between the beginning of your handstand practice and the end of your drinking?⁠

PB: I wouldn’t say a completely clear parallel between the two; I wouldn’t like to give the impression that my issues were overcome by starting to do handstands! In the period leading up to discovering handstands I was working very hard on myself, but I didn’t really have a passion. ⁠
As I said, I’ve always been sporty but I was never prepared to work hard, as many things came naturally to me. At some point, I started thinking about who I was and who I wasn’t. As I was working on changing the parts of myself I did not like, I discovered handstands.⁠

There is no quick path in this discipline, and I discovered that quickly. ⁠
The frustration was driving me mad. But I had been learning enough about myself [to understand that this was exactly what I needed.] You have to show up, even knowing that you will suck at it most of the time. So while I wouldn’t say that handstands resolved my issues around alcohol, I found it the perfect way to put into practice all the traits I was working hard on developing within myself.⁠

The article “From Hangovers to Handstands” Belongs to the chapter Weight Shift of Issue 06 - Growing Pains.⁠
This chapter showcases handbalancers and their career paths, following their transition from amateur to professional, from performer to coach.⁠

Order your copy of Issue 06 through the link in our Bio!🔗⁠
Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content ♥️

Mini HSP: Meet Hannah Goodman⁠Words and Photos: Hannah Goodman (/)⁠Artists: Hannah Goodman ( ), Nicole Comito (.comito )...
07/12/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Hannah Goodman

Words and Photos: Hannah Goodman (/)⁠
Artists: Hannah Goodman ( ), Nicole Comito (.comito ), Juliana Burkhart (), Zara Hannaford (), Lee Kraut () and Rachel Mira (.mira).

Hannah Goodman is a movement artist, photographer, and creator based in New York. Her passion for handstands has stemmed from explorations in intuitive movement, an obsession with learning the science of the physical body, and a fascination and curiosity with the habits of the mind. In seeing the body as an art form, she’s since expanded her creative practices into capturing abstract moments with movement artists and friends through digital photography.

HSP: What’s your favorite part about your handstand practice?
HG: My handstand practice is my time to create and explore all the strange shapes my body can make upside down! I enjoy the challenge and learning something new about myself in almost every moment. My practice is not always structured and is more like a dance and a conversation with myself.

HSP: How did you become a physical movement photographer?
HG: I’ve always had an obsession with the beauty of humans. It started with crafting portraits of celebrities and loved ones in colored pencil as a child. I’ve since spent most of my time trying to master the self-portrait. When I got my hands on a camera, though, I was in awe of the moments I could capture between humans and within humans.

HSP: How do you incorporate your own style in your art?
HG: I’ve studied myself so deeply through my various creative practices with the perception that I, too, am art. I’ve used these practices as a way to learn more about myself, which allows me to learn more about seeing and capturing others. I aim to memorialize my subjects’ highest expressions of self (hence, exaltedu). I think this comes through strongly in the photographs.
I’m grateful to be able to share that with the world and bring people together in the process.

The Mini Handstand Press shares stories and other art forms related to Handstands.⁠

Support us through the link in our bio! 🔗

Don’t let your age be the reason for not trying.⁠⁠Quote from the article titled “Mongolian Contortion” by Serchmaa Byamb...
06/12/2023

Don’t let your age be the reason for not trying.⁠

Quote from the article titled “Mongolian Contortion” by Serchmaa Byamba ()⁠.⁠
Issue 01 - Common Ground

ISSUE 06 IS HERE 🎉⁠⁠When we set off to produce Issue 06, we chose the working title of “Strategies”.⁠⁠We did this as we ...
03/12/2023

ISSUE 06 IS HERE 🎉⁠

When we set off to produce Issue 06, we chose the working title of “Strategies”.⁠

We did this as we envisioned a collection of stories, lessons, and methods coming from practitioners, coaches, and professionals in relation to the frictions, challenges, and pains that emerge through the practice of handstands.⁠

Introducing Issue 06: Growing Pains⁠

This Issue marks a defining shift for Handstand Press Magazine. ⁠

As we advanced through its creation process a pivotal challenge was presented to us at the Handstand Press Magazine. A challenge that risked the future of the magazine. A challenge that is forcing us to evolve and adapt.⁠

It is hard to be ready and accepting of letting go of certain things as we advance through life, training, relationships, and projects.⁠ Though it’s often needed to adapt and evolve.⁠

Issue 06 will be the last Issue printed in the format we have been using until now.⁠

As we evolve, so does our way of showcasing the stories, lessons, art, and experiences of the Handstand Community, promising a fresh, enriched experience moving forwards.⁠

Order Issue 06 now through the link in our Bio, and receive it in your hands as soon as it leaves our printing partners!⁠

⁠Support our project and vision by tagging your handstand friends here, and sharing this post!⁠
As always, we couldn’t exist without you and your support. Thank you! ♥️

ISSUE 06 IS HERE 🎉⁠⁠Growing Pains⁠⁠Cover Art: Stefanie Millinger ()⁠⁠For this Issue, we envisioned a collection of stori...
03/12/2023

ISSUE 06 IS HERE 🎉⁠

Growing Pains⁠

Cover Art: Stefanie Millinger ()⁠

For this Issue, we envisioned a collection of stories, lessons, and methods coming from practitioners, coaches, and professionals in relation to the frictions, challenges, and pains that emerge through the practice of handstands.⁠

Issue 06: Growing Pains⁠

Stefanie Millinger, is a free solo artist and handbalancer from Austria, who has in recent years become a reference point for notions of the extreme.⁠
Even people who have no idea about handbalancing know Stefanie thanks to Social Media. Between 2020 and 2022, Guinness confirmed nine world records to her name.⁠

Such achievements don’t come free of struggles and obstacles. As such, we found in her story and in this picture the essence of Issue 06, adding a layer of hope, overcoming, and achievement to the “Growing Pains” of the handstand journey that we can all relate to.⁠

Issue 06 marks a defining shift for Handstand Press Magazine. ⁠

As we advanced through its creation process a pivotal challenge was presented to us at the Handstand Press Magazine. A challenge that risked the future of the magazine. A challenge that is forcing us to evolve and adapt.⁠

It is hard to be ready and accepting of letting go of certain things as we advance through life, training, relationships, and projects.⁠ Though it’s often needed to adapt and evolve.⁠

Issue 06 will be the last Issue printed in the format we have been using until now.⁠

As we evolve, so does our way of showcasing the stories, lessons, art, and experiences of the Handstand Community, promising a fresh, enriched experience moving forwards.⁠

Order Issue 06 now through the link in our Bio, and receive it in your hands as soon as it leaves our printing partners!⁠

⁠Support our project and vision by tagging your handstand friends here, and sharing this post!⁠
As always, we couldn’t exist without you and your support. Thank you! ♥️

Issue 06 is just around the corner!⁠⁠We can’t wait to share with you everything that the publication of this Issue will ...
01/12/2023

Issue 06 is just around the corner!⁠

We can’t wait to share with you everything that the publication of this Issue will mean to the trajectory of the Handstand Press Magazine.⁠

Be a part of our journey: support us by sharing our content and stay tuned for the big reveal of Issue 06: Growing Pains – a transformative edition in more ways than one.⁠
Follow the link in our bio 🔗

Mini HSP: Meet Sondre Berg⁠⁠Words: Sondre ()⁠Photos: Sondre’s personal collection⁠⁠32 years old, from Norway, Sondre is ...
03/11/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Sondre Berg⁠

Words: Sondre ()⁠
Photos: Sondre’s personal collection⁠

32 years old, from Norway, Sondre is no stranger to self-discipline. With a skateboarding background, at the age of 21, shortly after starting his studies in Environmental Engineering, a calisthenics YouTube video sparked a strong drive, that led him to a calisthenics and handstand-based practice.⁠
In time, his personal interests and style evolved towards a more exploratory path, which continues to grow to this day, channeling his focus in hand balancing, mobility, and the merging of strength with acrobatics.⁠

HSP: What fuels your creativity?⁠
SB: Having the ability to think of something, or see something amazing, and then knowing I have the physical capability to perform it if I put down some time and effort into the technical ex*****on of it.⁠

HSP: How do you balance discipline and enjoyment in your physical practice?⁠
SB: I regularly reward myself with playful and creative training sessions. I also know from experience that in order to progress and in the long run get more joy from my practice, I need to stay disciplined and do the boring stuff. ⁠

HSP: What do you think are the biggest challenges of learning how to handstand?⁠
SB: In general, being able to stay consistent seems the biggest challenge overall. Many people sow the seed, water it once, and watch it closely for 1 hour before deciding that it won’t grow. ⁠
Each stage of the handstand journey has also specific challenges: Complete beginners have a fear of being upside down and don't trust their minds and bodies. With more experience comes the frustration of not being able to balance. And later many struggle to see the value of attention to detail in the body position. All of this pales when approaching the one-arm handstand. The main challenge then is to accept the huge amount of time and effort that it requires.⁠

The Mini Handstand Press shares stories and art related to Handstands.⁠
Be sure to visit to thank him for sharing his story.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine through the link in our bio 🔗

Mini HSP: Meet Camila Paz⁠Words: Camila ()⁠Pictures: Virginia Taboada y Andrés Cendali ()⁠, and Nadia Díaz ()⁠27 years o...
26/10/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Camila Paz

Words: Camila ()⁠
Pictures: Virginia Taboada y Andrés Cendali ()⁠, and Nadia Díaz ()⁠

27 years old, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Camila is a handstand practitioner, yoga instructor trainer, and movement researcher. She trained independently taking classes in handstand, rhythmic gymnastics, flexibility, and dance at the UNA (Universidad Nacional de las Artes). Currently, she continues with his research in movement, teaches handstand classes, and is an interpreter of his handstand act “Spiritual Ritual”.

HSP: What have been your handstand practice's biggest challenges and lessons?
CP: My biggest challenge was struggling with my own beliefs about what I thought was possible for me and how far I think I'm capable of going.
For me, our own thoughts condition us a lot in any situation in life, and sometimes, without realizing it, we are already decreeing our future without giving opportunity to doubt or surprise.
So, trusting myself is a challenge and a beautiful gift that this practice gives me back.

HSP: How does your environment influence your practice and artistic approach?
CP: The practice and the moment of creation are things that I approach from the connection with myself, which leads me to a constant investigation and record of being very in touch with how I feel, I really enjoy the contemplative state that the practice brings me. It's not always easy for me haha
For example, I know that if I have many thoughts making noise in my head maybe that day will be a little more difficult but concentration is something that is also trained.

HSP: What inspires and motivates you?
CP: It inspires me a lot to observe and learn from other handstanders, seeing them shine makes me want to feel the same as they feel, to find my own imprint as I see it in each one of them.
They are my engine that inspires me and keeps me going.

The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share stories, photography, and other art forms related to Handstands.⁠
Be sure to visit to thank her for sharing her story!

Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

Mini HSP: Meet Jarrod Takle⁠Words: Jarrod ()⁠Pictures: Ray Arzaga ()⁠, Adam Munnings (), Cecilia Martin (), and Amie Pat...
28/09/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Jarrod Takle

Words: Jarrod ()⁠
Pictures: Ray Arzaga ()⁠, Adam Munnings (), Cecilia Martin (), and Amie Patching (.patching)

Jarrod is an Australian raised, Montreal-based, free-range circus artist. He cut his teeth at age six, joining Australia's national youth circus 'The Flying Fruit Fly Circus' and later honed his craft at l’École Nationale de Cirque de Montreal (2019) () completing four years of higher education in Circus Arts (sweating upside down in 'the handstand corner' under the benevolently meticulous supervision of his Russian coach).
He has since worked with Circa Contemporary Circus (), Cirque Eloize (), and has most recently co-founded with his best friends.

HSP: How did you first get involved in the circus arts, and what drew you to it?
JT: I must have been about five years of age, my parents enrolled me in a local recreational youth circus program (probably in an attempt to stop me from cartwheeling into furniture). I loved the lack of competition, physicality, and sense of community. Although maybe that came later… I probably just wanted to learn a flip first.

HSP: What do you think are important aspects of performing in front of an audience?
JT: Treating every show (particularly on a long tour) as if it were the first - for the audience, it is; Trusting in the work and never letting doubt and insecurity creep onto the stage with you; and Allowing yourself to take time and not cave to the instinct to rush through your piece (it took a long time to learn this one, adrenalin is a little monster).

HSP: Where do you find inspiration?
JT: A million places. Books! Music! The wonder and terror of digging and not knowing what you’ll unearth. The momentary suspension of disbelief. Witnessing the work of other artists. A strong cup of coffee.

The Mini Handstand Press shares stories, photography, and art related to Handstands.⁠
Visit to thank him for sharing his story.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

Words: Amy Goh ()⁠Illustrations: Amy Goh ()⁠⁠HSP: Is there a relationship between your artistic endeavours in contortion...
24/09/2023

Words: Amy Goh ()⁠
Illustrations: Amy Goh ()⁠

HSP: Is there a relationship between your artistic endeavours in contortion and illustration? If so, how do they inform and/or influence each other?⁠

AG: I guess they influence each other unconsciously.⁠
A common thread between all my endeavours is an obsession with form and line, and the flow of shape from one form to another. This flow can also be more on an abstract, ideological level. The personages and objects in my drawings often are in transition from one space to another, and my drawings tend to have microcosms within an overall macrocosm: kind of like a world within a world. I like to think of the personages within my drawing as fragments of an overall psyche: they’re always in transition between plant, human, animal, sprouting eyes, transforming, transiting to another plane, etc. Together, they represent how I feel like I’m always in the process of becoming something I don’t quite know.⁠

In contortion, I like how we are often playing with the possibilities of the body and what is possible on a physical plane. The body itself is always in transition between the realm of human or nonhuman and challenging the limits of what is “natural”. I don’t know if it’s a stretch to compare the fluidity and transitional shapes within my drawings to contortion, but that connection definitely exists, especially since I spend so much of my practice just exploring what is possible for my physical body.⁠

In both disciplines, I’m exploring the liminality of the body in space and stretching the possibilities of what constitutes as human. Ironically, my drawings are mostly two-dimensional without any kind of three-dimensional anchor: like medieval etchings, they play out a group of narratives on a linear plane.⁠

This extract of the article "Amy Goh", belongs to the chapter musings of issue 01 - Common Ground.⁠
⁠This chapter showcases beautiful art that has been inspired by handstands. Photography, poetry, sketches, drawings — and the other handstand-inspired art out there!⁠

Order your copy of our Issue 01 through the link in our Bio!🔗⁠
Support us by engaging with and sharing our content ♥️

Mini HSP: Meet Ed Liu⁠⁠Words: Ed (.balance)⁠Pictures: Annie Wong (), and Ed’s personal collection.⁠⁠Ed Liu is a hand bal...
14/09/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Ed Liu⁠

Words: Ed (.balance)⁠
Pictures: Annie Wong (), and Ed’s personal collection.⁠

Ed Liu is a hand balance coach originally from Hong Kong, has since migrated to Hawaii and currently lives in New York City. He trains under the guidance of the renowned hand balancer Andrey Moraru (), with whom he learned the importance of precision in technique and ex*****on. As a coach, Ed is committed to sharing the same insights that allowed him to achieve success, despite starting in his late 20s. Ed believes achieving true balance involves not only the body, but also the mind. ⁠

HSP: What drew you originally to the discipline of handbalancing?⁠
EL: Hand balance entered my life during a pivotal period when I was pushing my body and mind's boundaries. Witnessing a one arm handstand for the first time moved me. The blend of power and elegance through lines and symmetry was truly fascinating. It felt like the epitome of human artistic expression, and I was determined to experience it firsthand.⁠

HSP: Which aspect of handbalancing do you think is the most challenging, and which is the most rewarding?⁠
EL: The mental aspect is the most important yet challenging. Building our self-belief, staying focused in the crucial moments, and managing the roller coaster of progress and setbacks – it all demands mental resilience. It’s something that cannot be taught.⁠

HSP: How did you transition to becoming a handstand coach?⁠
EL: My journey into teaching handstands began during my time in Hong Kong. I felt there was a unique approach to technique that I could bring to the table that wasn’t available. I was eager to share the idea that there isn't just a single method for learning handstands, but many. Also, I was making a shift from teaching yoga, and I saw a chance to show fellow yoga practitioners the importance of alignment and technique.⁠

The Mini Handstand Press is our way to share stories, photography, and other art forms related to Handstands.⁠
Be sure to visit .balance to thank him for sharing his story.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine by sharing our content and through the link in our bio 🔗

Words: Desko ()⁠Pictures: Tarumante ()⁠⁠Desko's journey started with juggling at the age of 18. Dedicating about 9 hours...
08/09/2023

Words: Desko ()⁠
Pictures: Tarumante ()⁠

Desko's journey started with juggling at the age of 18. Dedicating about 9 hours daily to this demanding discipline, he achieved a 7-club performance on stage. ⁠
At 23, he fell in love with Handstands. Despite his initial fears and limited flexibility, he found the practice truly fulfilling. Within a year, he debuted his first solo act.⁠
This marked the beginning of his career as an international handbalancer, never neglecting training.⁠
Notable recent contracts includes Pink Rabbit in Zurich () and Pink Flamingo in Australia ().⁠

HSP: How do you stay consistent with your physical practice?⁠
DA: The struggle against ego and frustration is present in every training session. I believe it's important to appreciate all the small steps and enjoy the process.⁠
"Don't obsess over the goal, enjoy the journey."⁠

HSP: What is your approach to incorporating style and expression into your performances?⁠
DA: Being myself on and off the stage is key: "The WHAT isn't as important as the HOW"⁠
The importance of WHAT you do on stage, what tricks you choose, or how precisely you execute them, is clear, but if the HOW doesn't convey anything, there won't be any essence that distinguishes you from others.⁠

HSP: What does it mean for you to help others in their handstand journey?⁠
DA: My heart is divided between working on stage and teaching people my way of seeing handstands.⁠
For me, it's much more than just doing a "handstand," and I have a true passion for what I do.⁠
Saving time and preventing injuries, solving problems, helping to understand that frustration is part of the process and that we must learn from it.⁠
It means a lot to me, and I can't imagine a life without being able to share all that information.⁠
Through my training challenges, I crafted the FIND & FIX method, with personal growth at its core.⁠

The Mini Handstand Press shares stories and art related to Handstands.⁠
Be sure to visit to thank him for sharing his story.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine through the link in our bio 🔗

Mini HSP: Meet Rhyanna Watson⁠⁠Words: Rhyanna ()⁠Pictures: Ingo Michael Kremmel (), Gerhard Neuwirth ()⁠, and Olivia Nac...
31/08/2023

Mini HSP: Meet Rhyanna Watson⁠

Words: Rhyanna ()⁠
Pictures: Ingo Michael Kremmel (), Gerhard Neuwirth ()⁠, and Olivia Nachle ()⁠

39, from Tasmania, Rhyanna has lived in places like Austria, South Africa, and Thailand. An international runner and waterpolo player in her youth, she later became a personal trainer, working with golfers and on cruise ships. Discovering handstands, yoga, and contortion at 30, she trained with global circus talents, continually evolving as a teacher and student.⁠

HSP: Where do you find inspiration?⁠
RW: My little girl is my reason why. After she was born I had postnatal depression. I attempted on my life. My brother told me to look at my daughter and remember life is bigger than me. Handstands became a motto: fall down 7 times, stand up 8. They're not just a physical practice, but a mental one too. And a reminder of the ripple effect. When we take care of ourselves we can take care of others. ⁠

HSP: How has your physical practice evolved over the years?⁠
RW: It began with self-learning from yoga videos. In the last decade, I've shifted my focus from big achievements to refining small details, which I realized were key. In the last five years, I've trained under Olga Pikhienko, Cirque du Soleil performer, Rosie Burr, Gymnastics coach, and Contortionist Ulziibuyan Mergen, recognizing that traditional yoga wasn't detailed enough for long-term sustainability.⁠
Currently, I work with Acro Megan. She's been instrumental in a neck injury recovery and in re-learning techniques like the stalder press.⁠

HSP: Can handstands help other areas of life?⁠
RW: I see handstands as a metaphor for life, teaching balance and mental strength. They remind me that "Impossible" stands for "I'm possible" when broken into small steps. They reconnect us with our inner child's joy, teaching us to find peace among chaos. I'm grateful for the wisdom and self-insight they provide daily.⁠

The Mini Handstand Press shares stories and art related to Handstands.⁠
Visit to thank her for sharing her story.⁠

Support the Handstand Press Magazine by engaging with our content

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