Which is Better? Handstand Pushups Or Shoulder Presses

What is the difference I hear you ask? For mostperspective, which greatly improves spatial
people the answer would be nothing.awareness, and with the increased blood flow,
Whether you sit on a shoulder press machine andimproves your well-being.
press your equivalent bodyweight above yourHandstand pushups also offer much more range
head or kick up into a handstand (against a wall )of movement. When performing shoulder presses,
and lower head to the floor and push back upthe weight bar is lowered as far as the tops of
again, there does not seem to be a difference.the shoulders, and then pressed back up.
You would think that if you could do one, thenWhen you become stronger and more confident
you could do the other.at performing handstand pushups, you can raise
Well in 99% of cases, that is not the case.your hands by placing them onto books and even
Surprisingly, for most people and especially thosechairs. A handstand pushup between two chairs
who lift weights, handstand pushups are faralmost doubles the distance you have to travel
harder to perform than shoulder presses.until your head touches the floor and is an
In a shoulder press movement, and especially onextremely impressive feat of strength.
a seated press machine, you do not use a singleOn top of all the health and strength benefits of
muscle to balance yourself. By using thehandstand pushups, you do not need to visit a
secondary muscles in the shoulders, you aregym or spend money on weights for a home
working them a lot more and from differentgym.
directions as you keep balance in a handstandHandstand pushups can be performed at home
pushup. More effort is needed and greaterand build tremendous shoulder and upper body
shoulder strength required to perform astrength that far outweigh the benefits of using
handstand pushup.weights.
Other benefits of handstand pushups are inIf you find, you do not have the strength to
increase in blood flow to your brain and vastperform a single pushup, start by kicking into a
improvements in spatial awareness. Most people,handstand (against a wall) and just hold this
who have never tried to do a handstand, orposition for time. The strength gains from just
rarely find themselves upside down for thatdoing this will be dramatic.
matter, become disorientated and lose theirIf you want superior upper body strength that will
bearings.blow you away, then turn your training upside
After only a few attempts, your brain becomesdown and include handstands into your daily
used to seeing things from a differentroutine.