If you are buying a sadhu board specifically for hand-standing practice — forearm stands, headstands, supported handstands on the points — the nail spacing matters more than almost any other variable. The two industry-standard options are 8mm and 10mm, sometimes specified with a tolerance of half a millimetre in either direction. Choosing wrong means a board that is either too gentle to progress on or too intense to safely train.
Eugene Oliynyk, who has practiced hand variations on sadhu boards since 2018 and has built boards in both spacings, set the framework below.
What Nail Spacing Actually Controls
Nail spacing is the distance from one nail centre to the next. On a 8mm board, more nails fit into the same surface area. Your weight is therefore distributed across more points, and each individual point bears less pressure. On a 10mm board, fewer nails support the same weight, and each point bears more pressure. The mathematics are simple. The experience is not.
| Spacing | Nails per cm2 (approx) | Relative point pressure | Sensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8mm | ~1.6 | Lower | Even, distributed, gentle |
| 10mm | ~1.0 | Higher | Sharper, more focused |
Why This Matters Specifically for Hand Practice
The hands carry less weight than the feet would in a comparable stand — usually 30-60% of bodyweight per hand, depending on the variation. But the hand is also much more sensitive to point pressure than the foot. The palm and finger pads are heavily innervated. A nail spacing that feels meditative under the foot can feel genuinely intense under the hand.
For most adult practitioners with a year or less of sadhu experience, 8mm is the right spacing for hand practice. The wider 10mm spacing becomes appropriate after the hands have adapted — usually six to twelve months of regular work.
The Two Standards Side by Side
8mm Spacing
- Practitioner level: Beginner to intermediate hand-stand work.
- Sensation: Even, distributed, allows holds of 30 seconds to several minutes.
- Best for: Learning the hand position, building tolerance, weight-bearing stillness.
- Drawback: May feel too gentle for advanced practitioners after a year of work.
10mm Spacing
- Practitioner level: Intermediate to advanced.
- Sensation: Sharper, more focused, demands attention.
- Best for: Deeper meditative quality, longer holds at advanced level, training mental composure under intensity.
- Drawback: Sharp enough to discourage practice if introduced too early.
The Honest Progression
The classic progression most workshop teachers recommend:
- Months 0-6: 8mm. Build tolerance, learn the hand placement, hold the position safely.
- Months 6-12: 8mm with longer holds. Find the meditative quietness inside the sensation.
- Year 2+: Introduce 10mm as a second board, used for shorter, sharper sessions.
- Year 3+: 10mm becomes a comfortable default. 8mm becomes the "easy day" board.
What About 12mm or Wider?
12mm spacing exists, sometimes called "ascetic" or "advanced" spacing. For hand practice it is rarely the right choice. The point pressure becomes high enough that the practice tips into pain rather than meditative sensation. A few senior practitioners use 12mm; most do not. Eugene's view: 10mm is where the meaningful range ends for hand work.
Choosing if You Are Buying Only One Board
If your budget allows for only one board for hand practice, the honest answer is 8mm. It is the safer choice for the first one to two years of practice, and it is genuinely sufficient for many practitioners for life. The 10mm board can be added later when and if the practice asks for it.
Choosing if You Are Buying a Pair
If you have the budget for two boards from the start — or if you are commissioning a workshop set — an 8mm and 10mm pair gives you the full progression on day one. Use the 8mm for daily work and the 10mm for once or twice a week for the first six months, gradually rebalancing as your tolerance develops.
Curved vs Flat at Each Spacing
For hand practice specifically, a gently curved board allows the practitioner to roll forward and back during the hold, varying the pressure across the nail field. This is more sophisticated than a flat board permits. The curve and the spacing are independent decisions:
| Combination | Best For |
|---|---|
| Flat 8mm | Beginner hand practice, learning the position |
| Flat 10mm | Intermediate static holds |
| Curved 8mm | Intermediate dynamic hand work |
| Curved 10mm | Advanced practitioners working the full range |
Wood Choice for Hand Practice
The hand exerts focused, repeated weight on a smaller area than the foot does in standing practice. The wood needs to hold the nails firmly through years of cycling under that weight. Oak and walnut are both appropriate. Ash is light and slightly less ideal for heavy hand work. Pine and plywood are not appropriate at any level.
Safety Notes
Hand practice on a sadhu board is not the same as floor handstand work. The points reduce slip and add sensory engagement, but they also concentrate pressure. Practice on points only after you have a stable hand-stand or forearm-stand off the board. Use a wall or spotter when learning the variation on points. Do not chase duration — three breaths in good form is worth more than thirty in poor form.
What the Workshop Recommends
For a practitioner buying their first hand-practice board, Eugene's recommendation is a flat 8mm board in oak with copper nails, around $150-$180. For a serious practitioner moving up, a curved 10mm walnut board around $260-$300 makes sense as a second piece.
Both options live in the balance and sadhu boards collection. The wider workshop catalogue is at all products, and the about page covers how Eugene and the team approach this work.
Final Note
The spacing choice is reversible — you can always buy a second board later — but the earlier you commit to the wrong spacing for your level, the higher the cost in motivation, not just money. Start with 8mm. Earn the 10mm.