A heartbroken personal trainer claims he’s cured his depression by doing handstands for up to five hours a day.
Former German special forces paratrooper Steve Pilot, 40, was left devastated after he split from his partner of seven years in 2015.
He tried everything from yoga to martial arts to take his mind off the loss. Then, later that year, he saw a Victorian image of a circus performer balancing on his hands and was determined to learn more.
This inspired the German national, who now lives in Bangkok, Thailand, to give it a try. He found that it instantly ‘numbed’ the mental torment he had constantly felt because it required him to solely concentrate on balancing his body.
Personal trainer Steve Pilot, 40, claims he’s cured his depression by doing handstands for up to five hours a day
Steve found the handstands instantly ‘numbed’ the mental torment he had constantly felt after splitting from his partner because it required him to solely concentrate on balancing his body
He told FEMAIL: ‘I needed to numb the pain because I was really upside down. I couldn’t escape those thoughts.
‘If you miss or lose a person who you’ve been close to for years you find yourself in a negative place and handstands really helped.
‘Handstands create a numb feeling – all the blood is rushing from the feet into my head.
‘It has changed my life completely – these requirements of mobility changed my training. I practice handstands every morning for up to two hours.
Steve is currently working as a vegan personal trainer, author and fitness coach in Bangkok
‘I’m back at the gym from 6pm to 9pm for three hours of handstands. I don’t have any rest days and only had 10 days off this year.’
Steve is currently working as a vegan personal trainer, author and fitness coach in Bangkok.
He explained that before he began doing handstands, his whole body used to be ‘very stiff and tight’.
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‘I couldn’t even touch my toes. Now I can do the splits and the pancake movement,’ Steve said.
‘Handstands numb your thoughts so you can have a moment of silence and completely focus on breathing techniques. Anything else will pull you out of balance.
Steve told how handstands ‘numb your thoughts so you can have a moment of silence and completely focus on breathing techniques’
‘Your body is completely in line, your core is engaged and your knees are locked. The key component with handstands is mobility and flexibility.
‘I wasted one to two years of my life by not knowing that everything is easier with more range of motion.’
Steve has been active in the fitness domain for 27 years having started lifting weights at the age of 13.
Steve graduated with a degree in engineering in 2000 and joined the German army where he ended up in its special forces.
Steve explained that before he began doing handstands, his whole body used to be ‘very stiff and tight’
After two years of service, Steve left to study a masters in automotive engineering before he got the travelling bug.
Over the next decade he visited more 80 countries across seven continents before deciding to settle in Bangkok, Thailand where he has been since 2010.
Living in southeast Asia prompted Steve to pursue a career in fitness and nutrition.
He became a vegan around the time he moved to Bangkok and has since obtained certifications in fitness, nutrition and sports medicine.
Steve now shares his fitness tips and personal journey on Instagram and his website, stevepilotfitness.com
Source: Daily Mail
