Vertical is a notion that has its etymological origin in verticalālis, a word in the Latin language. In the field of geometry, a plane or line perpendicular to another horizontal plane or line is classified as vertical.
Vertical is also the one that extends from the foot to the head or that presents the direction of a plumb line (weight that hangs from a rope and that, hanging, points to a vertical line). We can easily understand the notion if we think about the position of a human body. A person who is standing is upright; On the other hand, a person lying down is in a horizontal position.
You can also understand the concept by comparing different types of buildings. One-story houses are horizontal properties, which are spread over the surface. Buildings (towers, skyscrapers, etc.) are vertical properties developed from the surface upwards. The idea of vertical is also used symbolically. An organization is classified as vertical when all the actions of the lower strata depend on the decisions of the upper strata. These entities respect the hierarchical order as far as possible and imply the subordination of those located in the lower zone. In football we speak of a vertical team when the team has a marked offensive predisposition, trying to cross the field of play quickly to reach the rival zone in the shortest possible time. Non-vertical teams prefer to use the width of the field and move more smoothly. The handstand, handstand or vertical is an exercise that gymnasts perform easily, but that seems very difficult for the rest of the people: it consists of inverting the body in the vertical axis, so that the head is down and the legs point upwards, with your arms well extended, which must be held steady so that your hands support your entire body. Doing the vertical is not only a flashy trick, but it is an essential procedure in the arduous path of working the body, since it has many benefits in the practice of any sport, including yoga. While it may be daunting at first for those of modest physical ability, it is important to note that it can be practiced against a wall to avoid most potential falls.
Among the benefits that the vertical brings is the strengthening of the arms, from the shoulders to the wrists, as well as an important improvement in the sense of balance. On the other hand, it helps to strengthen and stretch the abdominal muscles, in addition to promoting a better functioning of the digestive system. As if all this were not enough, the fact of placing the heart above the head causes the blood flow to change direction and therefore improves circulation and lymphatic drainage. To perform the vertical against a wall, it is recommended to choose a room with enough free space and without dangerous or fragile objects near the practice area. In addition, the first few times it is advisable to stand on a padded surface, which can serve to cushion possible blows. Depending on the height of each one, the distance between the body and the wall varies slightly, although the average is around one and a half meters. Having prepared ourselves with our arms extended upwards, we take a step forward, place our hands on the ground and begin to rotate the body one leg at a time.
