I started practicing handstand in 2017. I'm still practicing it. Have I gotten better at it?
Well, I still can't press into handstand and if I stop practicing for a few weeks, it feels like I have to start over. Is it worth it then?
Absolutely. I have become so much stronger. My coordination has improved. My back is healthier and stronger. My mobility has improved. So many advanced bodyweight exercises have become easier for me.
Practice routine must be deliberate. You don’t want to do just anything… You want to focus on ONE skill that you choose to practice.
I think the mistake that many people make when they learn a skill is that they tell themselves: "I will go to the gym and do 50 deadlifts", or "I will do a handstand today", or "I will learn English grammar today", or "I will deliver a beautiful presentation in English today".
When they fail (and they do fail) to do 50 deadlifts or deliver a perfect speech, they get disappointed and discouraged to try again. Their own expectations hurt them. They want to "learn" it, as if "learning" has an end goal.
What I do differently is that I "practice" deadlifts when I get to work with a barbel. I practice pistol squats each time I decide to include them in my workout. I practice my English every time I do an exercise from our community of practice. I practice my handstand every time I find a wall that I can use.
I practice my moves. I don’t expect to learn them during a workout.
Try it. "Practice" English or any foreign language that you want to master. Forget about learning it.
A deliberate practice routine leads to magical self-transformation, but only if you commit to sticking to it for as long as it takes.
Be deliberate. Choose your exercises wisely. Choose the people you want feedback from. Don’t take it from those who are not in the arena with you.
Make your practice routine sustainable and creative. It must bring JOY, and never — discouragement.
