When it comes to inversions, most people either love them or hate them. But if those who hated them knew the many benefits of getting inverted, maybe they’d give going upside down another chance. Aside from building shoulder and core strength, getting inverted can also increase your body awareness and improve blood circulation—inversions are a win-win!

Increase body awareness and balance

There may be no better way to become more aware of yourself in space than flipping upside down. Though it can be disorienting at first, making a habit of inverting yourself can increase your body awareness to a level only rivaled by gymnasts.

When you practice being inverted, you’ll start to learn what your body needs to do in order to keep you in a solid handstand position. Squeeze your thighs together, squeeze your glutes and look forward!  

You’ll learn that hand positioning matters and that having your fingers splayed makes for a more solid base.

You’ll learn to balance better. All of being in a handstand is keeping your center of mass in one straight line. As soon as you start to move too far forward or backward, your body calls on your balance skills to recover or risk falling.

Increase core strength

Holding a handstand requires a lot of work from your abdominal muscles.

Squeeze your abs when you’re inverted in order to hold that straight line from head to toe—or toe to head in this case. You’ll be surprised at how sore your abs will get after practicing inversions.

Increase shoulder strength and stamina

Ever done a max handstand hold? It hurts. Bad. Your shoulders take the brunt of the work, as they hold your body weight overhead. It’s no easy task but it pays off in dividends when you find yourself setting a new shoulder press PR after a few weeks of handstand practice.

Increase circulation

Getting upside down increases blood flow and circulation.

According to bewellbuzz.com, “Inversions increase the blood flow to the brain, giving it more oxygen and nutrients and making the brain function faster and better. This improves concentration, memory, observation and boosts clear thinking.” Who doesn’t need that?!

Next time a workout pops up with handstands or headstands, don’t skip it. Reread this article and take advantage of the many benefits of getting inverted!  

Top photo courtesy of Pixabay