If you want to balance a handstand, you must understand this fundamental law of physics: ''Center of mass over base of support.''

This is the golden rule of handstands. If your body’s center is stacked right above your hands (your base), you’ll be able to balance. If it’s not—you won’t.

Every great handstand, from beginners to pros, follows this simple rule. Master this, and you unlock real progress.

What to do now: 

Watch the quick 2-minute video and then go ahead and test your chest to wall handstand, and see if you can find balance. 

To master handstands, you need to know the difference between overbalance and underbalance—and how to respond to each.

Overbalance: You’re tipping forward, past your hands (toward your fingers).

Underbalance: You’re falling back, away from your hands (toward your heels).

Knowing which way you’re falling helps you use the right correction—pushing with your fingers to stop overbalance, or shifting your weight back to avoid underbalance.

When you’re ready, click below for Lesson 4.

Now it’s time for the final piece: the straight line.

A straight handstand isn’t just about looking good—it’s about stacking your joints (wrists, shoulders, hips, and ankles) right over each other. This makes balancing easier and your technique much more efficient.

When your body is stacked in a line, it takes less strength to balance—and you can hold longer with less effort.

Try to “stack” your shoulders over your wrists, hips over shoulders, and feet over hips.

Use a wall drill if needed to help feel the straight line.

Congrats! You’ve completed all 5 principles. Keep practicing these basics, and your handstand will keep getting better.