Mastering Calisthenics & Handstands
Your body is the only gym you need. Whether you want to nail your first handstand or master the human flag, we build the core strength and stability to get you there safely.
Just getting my steps in, but upside down. Handstand walks are a great way to build shoulder strength and stability while challenging your coordination.
Finding my balance on the beach in Goa. The unstable surface of the sand adds an extra challenge to holding a handstand.
A handstand with a view. The Himalayas in the background make for a pretty epic place to practice balance and strength.
Want to learn a handstand? Start with the chest-to-wall hold. This video breaks down the do's and don'ts to help you build the strength and confidence to go upside down.
Sometimes you just need to change your perspective. An inverted hang is a great way to decompress the spine after a tough workout.
Balancing at 3,930 feet after climbing Madhugiri Hill. A handstand was the only way to celebrate reaching the top of Asia's second-largest monolith.
A handstand on a rickety bridge over the River Rangeet between West Bengal and Sikkim. It's all about trusting your strength and balance.
Flipping my perspective in Sri Lanka. A handstand next to the ocean is my favorite way to take in a new place.
Another handstand from my cycling trip across Sri Lanka. This one was in front of some beautiful old architecture.
Another shot of a handstand on the beach in Goa. The reflection on the wet sand creates a cool visual effect.
About Calisthenics & Handstands
We start with the boring basics—wrist mobility, shoulder stability, and chest-to-wall holds. Many people jump straight into free-standing attempts, but that is just a shortcut to wrist pain. I focus on the drills that actually build the strength to hold you up, so you do not just collapse the moment you kick up.
Calisthenics is not just about showing off on social media. It is about total bodyweight control and functional strength. When you train with me, we strip away the weights and look at how your joints and muscles work together.
My approach to handstands and calisthenics is heavy on progression. We do not practice until failure; we practice for quality. We work on alignment, scapular movement, and core engagement so that when you eventually balance, it feels stable rather than shaky.
We utilize a lot of barefoot training at Troop HQ. It sounds simple, but training without shoes changes how you balance and strengthens the small stabilizing muscles in your feet and ankles. Whether you are learning a basic pull-up, an L-sit, or working toward a handstand walk, every movement is treated as a skill to be mastered.
We also incorporate plenty of injury prevention. If your shoulders are not ready for overhead loads, or your wrists are not conditioned for weight-bearing, we fix that first. My goal is to get you strong enough to move well, whether you are in the studio in Domlur or practicing on a beach in Goa.
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