Jeannie from Jeannie's Beach CrossFit!

Alan,
We have similar backgrounds, my major was Exercise Science/Leadership & Athletic training. I honestly have never taken any gymnastics classes nor have I really been trained by anyone in it. It simply came from curiosity about what our body is actually capable of when strengthened the right way and taken through the correct progressions. Long story short when I was young I was told I would be pretty much deformed and not be able to play sports due to my scoliosis, I was put in a body brace for over 2 years, all I did was think of ways to strengthen the weak muscles that I had and stretch the tighter ones. I did squats,pull-ups,push-ups,

weighted sit-ups,knee-tucks..basically whatever I could do in my room since I was only 12 at the time. Anyways, as my mid-line progressively got stronger I realized I could put myself in positions, (that sounds weird..haha), that other people couldn't physically do. My spine also went from a 39 degree curve to a 12 degree. So basically, it comes from practice, and lots of it, strengthening all those little stabilizer muscles, and just pushing yourself mentally and physically..telling yourself that if you fail because its too hard or just can't seem to get it, you'll work at it until you get it... and that's turns into a cycle of constant progression. I had the honor of working with Gillian in my gym for a few days, and what she suggested was starting real basic and just practicing "hollow rocks" or "L-sits" (if you can't do an L-sit then try to hold your knees in with your feet off the floor and kick one foot out straight at a time), so you can feel how you have to keep your ribs tucked down and tight instead of how when you perform a handstand push-up lets say on the wall, majority of people have exaggerated arched backs, which pretty much is teaching them the wrong feeling of a true handstand. If that is what the body is consistently taught, that's what it will associate as the right feeling, and it will be hard to understand how a good handstand really feels.
A good drill, get 2 boxes, put a foot on each box which your hands on the ground like in an elevated push-up position.. then slowly walk your hands back towards your feet until your butt is directly over your head, do a push-up, and walk your hands back out. Honestly though, when I was done training all my classes and I got to lock the doors behind me at night, I would practice just doing handstands for a half hour each night... I fell and screwed up constantly but just noticing that every day they got better and better it pushed me to keep going. When I'm explaining the feeling to my clients, I have them hold a bar overhead, then put them in a very active shoulder position with there lats driven into there ears and hands at shoulder width and I push on the bar forward/backward/down whatever until they tighten up every muscle and reach high so they have full control of it.. then I say now remember this feeling and picture yourself upide down right now, that pressure your whole body is exerting to stay upright and in place is now pushing against the ground. Alot of the balance and control that you have as well relies on your fingers and gripping the ground, shifting your weight from the base of your wrists to the base of the fingers. I mean, even just kicking up to handstand and having someone barely keep your feet in balance until you feel where the control is helps. I don't know if I'm making any sense, or if I just sound like some crazy person..haha.. but just playing around constantly and trying new things and constant practice and passion really is what got me stronger. I feel like I have so far to go though, I really never thought what I was doing was anything special, and I still don't think like that, I just enjoy it so much and there is always something to learn and the next step to take.. keep practicing, and focus on functional movements that are going to keep your midline very strong. Thanks for your kind email, I hope what I said helped at least a little bit, if you ever have the chance to come or are ever near this area, please stop by and I would love to work with you on somet stuff. This is my passion and my life and if you can't tell already, I can talk about it forever and never get sick of it.. :) take care,
Jeannie Bassi

Jeannie's Beach CrossFit
Va Beach, Va