Handstands & Backbends Workshop: A Gymnastics-Based Approach by Gregory Gan
Go beyond the shapes. Build strength, control and awareness.
12 & 13 December 2026 10am–12pm & 2pm–4pm each day PURE Yoga Asia Square
Four workshops · Two hours per session Beginner and intermediate options
Early bird from S$150 for PURE members or S$158.40 for non-members, per session.
Build a practice that goes beyond shapes
This two-day workshop series blends gymnastics principles with progressive drills and clear instruction to develop your handstands and backbends.
Explore how the shoulders, spine, core, ribs and breath work together for efficient movement. Gregory will address common limitations, improve body awareness and share practical tools you can continue using after the workshop.
Whether you are working towards your first handstand or refining advanced skills, choose the sessions that match your experience.
Choose the right level for you
Building your foundations? Explore Beginner Handstand or Beginner Backbends.
Intermediate Handstand: you must be able to kick up to the wall with control and perform a safe handstand bail-out.
Intermediate Backbends: you should be comfortable performing a full Wheel.
Find your next challenge
SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2026 10am–12pm · 2 hours
Beginner Handstand
Build a strong foundation through progressive and safe techniques to create an efficient handstand. This workshop focuses on developing the strength, alignment, and body awareness needed to balance with confidence.
What you’ll learn & focus skills
What You'll Learn
Shoulder mobility and mechanics for healthy overhead movement.
Shoulder strength, stability, and core engagement.
Proper handstand alignment from hands to toes.
Weight distribution and balance control.
Progressive drills to improve mobility, positioning, and confidence.
Common technical mistakes and how to correct them.
Focus Skills
Kick-ups
Straight handstand balance
Safe bail-outs
SATURDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2026 2pm–4pm · 2 hours
Intermediate Handstand
Prerequisite: Able to kick up to the wall with control and perform a safe handstand bail-out.
Take your handstand practice to the next level by refining your balance, body awareness, and movement quality. Learn how to transition seamlessly between different handstand shapes while developing greater control through efficient gymnastics techniques.
What you’ll learn & focus skills
What You'll Learn
Shoulder opening and active rib engagement.
Alignment principles for different handstand shapes.
Balance refinement through improved proprioception and vestibular awareness.
Shape changes and handstand transitions.
Entry techniques including kick-ups, straddle entries, and press handstands.
Advanced drills to improve consistency, efficiency, and confidence.
Focus Skills
Press handstand
Tuck handstand
Straddle handstand
Pike handstand
SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2026 10am–12pm · 2 hours
Beginner Backbends
Backbends are more than just flexibility. It is teaching your nervous system how to command your spine while adapting to that range. Learn how to move safely by combining breathwork, core engagement, and active mobility instead of relying on passive stretching.
What you’ll learn & focus skills
What You'll Learn
How each segment of the spine contributes to a healthy backbend.
Breathing techniques and core engagement to support and protect the spine.
The difference between muscular stretching and neural tension.
How to recognize common red flags and reduce injury risk.
Mobility and conditioning exercises for every section of the spine.
Focus Skills
Wall Cat
Wheel
Low Lunge Dropback
Cobra
Basic Dropback Progressions
SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2026 2pm–4pm · 2 hours
Intermediate Backbends
Prerequisite: Comfortable performing a full Wheel.
Develop the active strength, mobility, and body awareness needed for deeper backbends and introductory contortion skills. This workshop emphasizes efficient movement, spinal safety, and learning to create range through muscular control rather than passive flexibility.
What you’ll learn & focus skills
What You'll Learn
Breathwork for spinal control and stability.
Active mobility techniques for deeper backbends.
Strength and muscle engagement to support spinal extension.
Safe progressions into contortion-based skills.
Efficient movement patterns for sustainable flexibility and injury prevention.
Focus Skills
Full Cobra
Scorpion
Contortion Handstand
Chest Stand
Tuition & booking
Early-bird pricing ends 30 November 2026. All prices are in Singapore dollars.
PURE members
Option
Early bird
Regular
Individual session · 2 hours
S$150
S$180
Two sessions · 4 hours
S$280
S$336
Full programme
S$390
S$468
Non-members
Option
Early bird
Regular
Individual session · 2 hours
S$158.40
S$198
Two sessions · 4 hours
S$296
S$370
Full programme
S$412
S$515
Early-bird pricing will be reflected at checkout.
Before completing your purchase
Select your membership category and booking option on this page.
Check the prerequisites for your chosen sessions. No refunds or credits for cancellations from 1 December 2026.
Meet your teacher: Gregory
Movement has been at the heart of Gregory's life since he first stepped onto a gymnastics mat. After spending 15 years representing Singapore as a national gymnast and earning medals at the SEA Games, he transitioned his passion for movement into coaching.
With over 16 years of teaching experience and more than a decade specializing in hand balancing, contortion, and aerial arts, Gregory is dedicated to helping students move with strength, confidence, and control. His coaching emphasizes safe, progressive, and accessible techniques, empowering practitioners of all levels to build the mobility, body awareness, and resilience needed to master handstands, backbends, and beyond.
Before you book
No refund or credit will be given for cancellations from 1 December 2026. All refunds are subject to a 10% processing fee, deducted from your refund.
Read all terms and conditions
This event is open for registration to Public and PURE members.
No refund or credit will be given for cancellation starting from 1 December 2026.
All refunds are subject to a 10% processing fee that will be deducted from your refund.
PURE bears no responsibility for any missed sessions. No refunds or makeup sessions will be provided.
PURE reserves the right to modify the event schedule, content, or venue. Participants will be notified of any changes in a timely manner.
If there is any discrepancy between the printed and web versions, the web version shall prevail.
Photos and videos may be taken solely for PURE’s marketing purposes.
