I am so very excited for this episode! I got to have a conversation with Emily Lesinski, a doctor of physical therapy, handstand and acro practitioner and movement teacher at Warrior Bridge in NYC.
In this interview we talk about the typical injuries she comes across in handbalancers, how to prevent them and keep your training sustainable. We also talk about how her knowledge of the human body has influenced her own teaching and her practice.
Not only was this conversation super informative and valuable for anybody teaching or practicing handstands, but to me, Emily has such a calm presence and beautiful human soul. Her work is so important and inspiring – being in good PT care as someone who is trying to perform at high levels, can make all the difference in the world.
My experience working with Emily
I’ve had a funky left shoulder for the last two years or so. Nothing super painful to the point where it would make me train less, but just a constantly nagging discomfort and lots of clicking in the shoulder that had to be “freed up” in my first handstand of the day. So after Ivo and I returned to Austria from our trip to NYC I decided to have a Zoom consultation with Emily about it. It’s been about a week since I started implementing the detail-oriented exercises that help my body understand my scapular movements better and improve the stability in my shoulders. And ever since I started implementing her exercises as part of my handstand warm up, I haven’t had any clicking or discomfort in my left shoulder! It feels a bit like magic, but thanks to Emily, it all makes sense. I only realize now how I had already forgotten how good training felt before I started having discomfort in my left shoulder.
I hope you gain lots of valuable insights from this conversation. We really just got to scratch the surface and I hope that we’ll be able to go deeper in future conversations. But the main thing I can tell you is that if you have any issues in your body, it is worth SO much to consult a professional about it. It can truly change your life.
Check out the links below to learn more about Emily Lesinski and her practice!
website: emilylesinskidpt.com
Let us know if you have any questions, or there’s something you would like us to talk more about!
It’s never too late to do what you love!