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I love pole, but I am so frustrated as a beginner today!
I just began poling on December 29, 2012. I have been conditioning at least once a week at my studio, then doing planks and push-ups at home at least 2 additional times per week. I also take a cardio kick-boxing class once a week and we do some body weight exercises too. I am overweight and middle-age but this is extremely frustrating. It has been almost six weeks and I still can’t do a pole hold lift with a foot flex. Help! I feel so incapable today and any thoughts would help.
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15 Replies
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I forgot to add that I pole in a class an additional 3 times per week. I need some guidance.
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Patience! It took me 8 weeks to climb, and even being able to climb I wasn't able to do a deadlift pole hold for like another month. and I'm 21! I know we're all anxious to be super pro polers, but everything takes time 🙂 Don't overdo it or instead of advancing you'll set yourself backwards.
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Aw! Hugs to you. Frustration is normal…some days are better (worse) than others for sure. So what CAN you do right now? And just so I understand, you're working on doing a pole hold?
What was your workout regimine like before starting pole? Are you giving your body enough time to recover between workouts? There are so many factors…and giving yourself TIME is a big one!!!
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Sensual, pole holds are not easy. I have been at this for 5 years and started the 30 day plan that Veena has and the pole holds kicked my ass! I am not sure if you have her lessons but there may be something as simple as adjusting your grip that will get you there. I believe that the GET3FREE code still works. That will give you 3 free days of lessons here. Check it out and see if there is something that turns on a light switch.
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Thank you so much sassypants, sparrow and chemgoddess1. A little encouragement actually helps a lot. I think I might not be allowing myself enough recoverty time. And I know I don't have enough patience with myself. I can do a half climb, a good fireman, decent attitude spin, a good princess, goof backhook and awful forward hook. I also have decent floorwork, so I will try to focus on what I can do and not what I can't and keep working on it. The support just means so much. I love the community on here and Chemgoddess1, I will try that code and see if I can try the lessons. Thank you all so much for the help.
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Sassypants, your sharing helped a lot. I was feeling this pressure to get it within the six weeks and if I didn't I might not ever get it. I can be ok with the thought that it might come in time. I'm not ok with thinking that it might not ever happen. That simply means I will be so limited that I can't become good. So, I will certainly be a little more patient with myself.
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Time, practice, preserverance & patience are BIG factors in poling. Keep in mind that we all learn at different speeds, so don’t be so tough on yourself, just try to enjoy your pole journey & celebrate the little accomplishments you make in pole because they will lead to bigger accomplishments in the near future 🙂
I am an older dancer (over 40) with an average figure, NO flexibility & minimal coordination at this age of my life lol & I’ll admit that it has taken me a lil longer (3 years) to progress & get to the advanced level of poling…but I’ve gotten here with alot of sweat, blood & tears. You can do it too, just cut yourself some slack, let go & have fun!
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Hey Sensual, are you planning on coming to the Detroit show next month?? Do you know about the Detroit show next month?? LOTS of us are going to be there!
http://michiganpoledance.wix.com/mcpdc
https://www.studioveena.com/events/view/Michigan_Dance__Air_Festival_322324_1353811010
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Some of the others are correct, you want to be sure to give your muscles time to rest. If you're constantly using them, they cannot build properly and the constant fatigue will keep you from getting to your peak performance. As women, we have very strong lower bodies but struggle with upper body strength. It takes time to build up that muscle, especially since most of the movements in pole dancing are not "normal" daily movements (like lifting yourself up onto the pole from the floor). It just takes time and conditioning, so don't get frustrated, you can do it!
When I first started, I felt like I was totally incompetent and some of the other girls in the class were flying by me. I couldn't do a basic spin without a lot of effort. But I focused on the challenge of doing something new, something that brought me happiness. Now, I can do things I only dreamed of before. Being stubborn works wonders 😛
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Hi Sensual, we've all been here at one time or another. Pole hold was my nemesis for my first 3mths of pole. I started poling (and found StudioVeena) back in May of 2011 so its gonna be 2yrs and my pole strength is up and down. I learned the hard way about impatience…I wanted to to get my splits so bad I ended up overstretching and was aching for dayshttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_confused.gif. I worked on my pole hold for 9days straight which exhausted my muscles, so again I was off the pole. Eventually after much advice from the Veeners on here, I learned to write out and adjust a practice/conditioning schedule that worked for me. Now I've been rather lazy as of late, which is silly cuz I work at a club, but I do make sure to take my 'Intro to Contortion' classes once a week, stretch with my Alethea Austin 'Pure Splits' DVD, and my 'Pole Sweat & Tears' Class also once a week. I learned to stretch the classes out so there's always 1 0r 2 days of rest for my body…so while it may SEEM like you're not making progress as quickly as you'd like, it'll be safer for you body. Before you know it you'll be killing that pole hold and all your other pole goalshttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif I hope this helps in your pole journey.
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Thank you all. I took today as a rest day!! My arms and legs are extremely sore. I’m resetting my mind too! Chem I did not know about the expo but I am considering it now.
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Wow you're a trooper! Kickboxing. 🙂 Don't feel bad about a pole hold. I started…trying to do pole holds around march of last year. I just managed to be able to hold one for longer than a fraction of a second this month. I'm also overweight, so from the very beginning of learning to pole, it's been a struggle. And I don't come from a very active background. I was never atheletic, no real interest in dancing and EXTREMELY self conscious. You'll get it. 🙂
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Thank you VV! I just have to do something to try to get some of this weight off and then I think I will need less strength to move on to the next levels. I appreciate you sharing your triumps but I see you are killing it on the split grip. So, you do have lots of strength now. This is a journey and I know it. I will keep taking it one day at a time. I enjoy it so, so much even with the frustrations.
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I think frustration just comes with it. But once you're over that hurdle, its all the more worth it 🙂
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Sensual Rain, I think you have the right idea about focusing on what you can do and not worrying too much over the things that you are currently getting better and better at 😉 Sometimes a trick or move doesn't stick at first. So in the meantime I like to focus on the ones that do and be proud of my efforts to get better at the ones that don't. Then later as you learn more tricks and moves you can revisit anything that didn't work out so well at first and one day it'll click right into place.
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