Warm-up: Handstands, Explained

All of us are capable of some degree of balance, but for most of us, the handstand remains an elusive feat — made all the more frustrating after an inspiring display of gymnastic prowess in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The secret to a handstand is to keep your center of mass (generally right above the bellybutton) centered over your hands, and the American Physical Society has some tips for that: if you begin to fall forward, press hard into your fingertips and your body will veer back toward an upright position. If you start falling backward, push into the base of your hand at the palm. Practice makes perfect, and core, arm and shoulder strength don’t hurt either.