Explore mobility, inversions & handstands! This class features an active & energizing blend of calisthenics*, yoga, and mobility practices. Join us to play with gravity, ground deeply using our hands, and explore new dimensions of strength and balance in a supportive practice environment.
8-week series beginning Sept 7th
5-6pm on Thursdays*
- Are you interested in learning how to do a hand stand?
- Are you interested in yoga poses like headstand, crow, or bridge?
- Have you been practicing bodyweight exercises, mobility flows, or calisthenics at home?
- Do you want to join a fun class atmosphere?
Handstand Club may feel more like a playground than a yoga class . . . We use the floor, the walls, and each other for support as we learn new skills (which scale from beginner to advanced). Handstands train you to improve your alignment & balance, and they really strengthen your arms, shoulders, and core. This is great exercise and a lot of fun!
- We begin standing for an energizing warm-up that will engage the full body while strengthening the muscles that will be most needed for handstands.
- On the floor and moving across the room, we’ll explore mobility through various calisthenics exercises that are intended to increase strength and flexibility.
- Each week will feature different sets of headstand & handstand drills (free-standing, against the wall, or supported by a partner) that will improve alignment, technique, stamina, and more.
- Anchoring poses will be offered to unwind and reset at the end of each session.
- This class is beginner-friendly and will get you more comfortable with being upside-down. Practitioners with handstand and inversion experience are welcome to come as peers to explore and share new skills & drills.
This Fall’s 8-class series will run from 5-6pm on Thursdays (With two Tuesday make-up days), at Hatchet Athletics (171 Hutcheson Beach Rd, Huntsville, ON). Please arrive 5-10 minutes early to settle in and begin on-time.
Pricing: $200 registration for the 8-class series is payable by cash or e-transfer. The series will run with 4 or more people registered. I am committed to offering accessible rates – please contact me to discuss pricing flexibility.
Testimonials for Handstand Club:
“It doesn’t matter your experience, Tim is always able to show you options to find the best things that work for you on your handstand journey! It’s always fun and rewarding!” – Lauren Saunders
“Tim’s class was exactly what I was looking for.He is a very welcoming and personable teacher. Because of his targeted exercises I progressed quite quickly in being able to do a handstand in only a few sessions.I also enjoyed how each class varied a little bit with new exercises. Looking forward to more classes!” – Jori Morrison
“Tim’s classes brought me from a place of feeling out of shape to a place where my core strength was much improved. This gave me confidence to progress in my handstand and headstand skills and I had fun through the whole process!” – Frank Berg
More about the instructor:
Tim’s love of movement began with dance, and has since grown to encompass yoga, cycling, swimming, cross-country skiing, calisthenics, stand-up paddleboarding, and cross fitness. As someone who pushes his body to it’s edge, Tim has a deep appreciation for safe movement, mobility, breath, and recovery to allow our bodies to keep doing what they do best.
Tim is a graduate of Allie Chisholm-Smith’s 600hr Yoga Teacher Training, a Qualified Aerial Yoga Instructor via Grounded U, a Certified Animal Flow Instructor, and he is currently continuing his education via Yogi Flight School. See Tim’s full bio here.
Tim has also spent 7 months training in Calisthenics and Handstands at Body Challenge Gym in Athens, Greece and has attended trainings with Yuvol on Hands and at Kazam Gymnastics in Ottawa. This amazing toolset has been vital to his wellbeing and was the inspiration behind this class series.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is calisthenics?
Calisthenics skills and exercises can be found in gymnastics, yoga, cross training, and tons of other practices – they are the building blocks of movement and mobility.
While this class is inspired by the Calisthenics classes Tim enjoyed in Greece, it is rooted in his background as a yoga instructor. Now at Hatchet Athletics, we’re excited to use boxes, mats, and pull-up bars to take our handstands to the next level! The primary focus of Handstand Club is floor work and balance, building our capacity for handstands.
I invite and encourage absolute beginners to join us as well as students and teachers of yoga and other fitness modalities.
What should I bring / How should I prepare?
I’ve designed this program as a full workout with a focus on handstands and inversions – expect to be moving your body and be prepared to sweat.
Bring:
- A towel (workout/yoga style or any towel will do)
- Water bottle
- Clothing you can move in
This energizing practice could be a bit uncomfortable when feeling over-full – something to consider when planning your dinnertime.
Handstand Club is planned to align with the 5:30pm Crossfit class at Hatchet – if you feel energized enough for back-to-back workouts!