• Skip to main content
  • My Training Programs
  • Articles and Tutorials
    • The Fitness Index
    • Nutrition Index
    • Inspirational Index
    • Science Index
  • About Antranik
    • About Antranik
    • Online Coaching
  • Members Area
    • Login
    • Account
    • Quick and Effective Strength
    • Smart Core
    • Work From Home Fitness
    • Hypertrophy
    • Rings Routine
    • Easy Hamstrings
    • Hip Flexibility
    • Shoulders & Upper Back

Antranik.org

Strength & Flexibility Expert

Like! Follow! Subscribe!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Reflection of the Month: What is the story you tell yourself?

I recently realized that when it comes time to reflect on the year, I find it very enjoyable and the more I think about what to write, the more the ideas keep flowing. That opportunity gets me into a very healthy creative flow which is rare because the perfectionist in me usually overthinks about what to write about. Henceforth, I’m going to transmute the concept of reflecting on the year, and apply it on a monthly scale and see what I could come up with and try to make this a monthly must-do because whatever you focus on, expands. And expand I will!

One of my ambitious goals for 2020 is the Swing to Handstands on Parallel Bars.

This exercise is frightening and challenging. Practicing it makes me feel a bit of anxiety. And that’s a good thing. I remember I used to get this anxious feeling a lot more often before when many gymnastics-related exercises were new to me and I had to overcome them psychologically. It feels good to experience this emotion again. It makes me feel alive to do things at the edge of my comfort zone.

My coach that’s helping me to perform the swing to handstand says I don’t even need to have a long enduring freestanding handstand to perform this as you’re only in the position momentarily.

However, since I want to gain confidence, I do want to hold a freestanding handstand again too. I used to practice it a ton in the past but I haven’t for a long time. I realized a couple years into handstand training, that the reason the freestanding handstand was so difficult for me, despite having a very good bodyline with open shoulders and a strong core, was because my right elbow does not straighten like a normal elbow. I had a bicycle accident 12 years ago where I messed up my wrist and elbow and it never healed back to normal. So basically when I’m holding a handstand, the right elbow is slightly bent during lock-out, which tips my entire body to the right and breaks my bodyline in a deceiving enough way that I can’t correct it.

The story you just read above is the story I’ve been regurgitating for several years already. While it’s true in factual history, I’m quite bored of it. The stories that we tell ourselves and to others define us and frankly, this story creates a very limiting mindset. It is literally just an excuse for why I can’t do something. These narratives have the power to shape our future and we need to be mindful of it.

The reality is, it’s not that I can’t hold a handstand ever because of my asymmetry. I just need to work a little bit harder to compensate for my unique anatomical circumstance.  So I’m going to work on it. I’m going to figure out what I need to do to stay in a handstand indefinitely. (I already know I need to master the scissoring drill from my handstand tutorial among other things.) The puzzle may be more difficult for me to figure out but I’m just about done saying this story. I want to prove that I can overcome this.

Besides, I used to have wrist issues and tennis elbow and I overcame all of them. Why should this stop me?

For 2020, I hope to capture many more handstand photos of me such as this!

So for 2020, I want to tackle mastering the handstand head on and this desire got sparked-up because I want to perform the Swing-to-Handstand on the parallel bars. I am also well on my way to having a full front lever and mastering dislocates on the flying rings. But I’ll leave those for another time.

So now you need to ask yourself… What is the story you keep telling about yourself? Is it maybe time to change the story?

Want To Get Strong and Flexible? 💪 Check Out My Programs!

Antranik’s Rings Bodyweight Training Routine

This is for anybody who wants to get strong and have fun with a gymnastics-inspired routine. It is highly bodyweight-exercise oriented (no external weights) and … [Read More]

The Ultimate Flexibility Bundle

I have three premium flexibility programs that I offer and many of you have been clamoring for a bundle-package, so here it is! You could now buy the … [Read More]

Antranik’s Hypertrophy Routine

This training routine is focused largely on increasing strength and muscle mass (aka muscular hypertrophy). If I had to sum up the routine in one fell swoop I … [Read More]

Antranik’s Hip Flexibility Program

I've created this hip flexibility program for those that would like to improve their flexibility in an efficient manner, with a follow along video that only … [Read More]

The Quick and Effective Workout Program

Looking for a simple and straightforward bodyweight-oriented strength training routine that doesn't take too much time? You're not the only one! A survey I … [Read More]

Shoulder & Upper Back Flexibility Program

For anyone who wants better shoulder health, shoulder flexibility, a looser upper back and improved posture, this program takes all the guess work out of it to … [Read More]

Antranik’s Easy Hamstrings Program

For those who have poor flexibility, tight hamstrings and want a simple program that will help them to get looser in a gentle, non-painful manner. In this … [Read More]

Antranik’s Work From Home Fitness Program

In this day and age most people are working from home and struggling to find the balance between stagnation and moving to stay fit. This program was developed … [Read More]

Contact · Login

Get An Exclusive Email Special

when you sign up for our newsletter today

Invalid email address
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Thanks for subscribing! Please check your email for special offer.