After today's earlier posy on GYMNASTS , it seems appropriate to follow up with acrobatics - specially hand balancing. The art of this - at least as told by us - is what you do with the rest of your body. Nothing can be limp or loose - every muscle needs to be tense and to hold your body completely still once balance is reached - and then you can stay there! Two hands, or even just one. Ideally, you move slowly into the balance position because any sudden lunge or jerky movement can throw you off balance and result in the need to take a 'step' to regain it - or end up with you rolling out of it or, (better) turning your shoulder so that you can see the floor and then landing on your feet. We'll begin in the company of a young gymnast from the south-west of England who has made handstanding his life's work! One hand or two? In particular, look at what his fingers are doing, and how straight and tense he holds his body. Although you can't see it in these pictures,

    A longer one: