Am I just a wimp?

Bugged82 started this discussion · 3/31/2009

So I've only had my pole since yesterday and I've been trying to sit on it, was expecting it to hurt but I can only sit on it for a count of ten (so probably only 5 or 6 actual seconds lol) and that's holding on. But what's getting me is, I was trying a spin, hold on, hook leg, lean til go off balance.. yup fine.. take leg off floor to join leg on pole.. Ha! body says no. It's like someone has glued me to the floor, am I just wimpy or will it just take a bit of confidence with playing with the pole to get that foot off the floor?

11 replies

RoxyPink · 3/31/2009
Pole dancing is a mind over matter sport. You have to learn to trust your pole 😀 and yourself. It is dificult allowing yourself to just fall and spin...the same is true when you start to invert. That is why there is such a huge confidence boost that goes along with pole dancing. Once you allow yourself to do something and you do it...it's like hey "I can do anything". Now don't get me wrong...you also need strength.....lots of strength. I remember how frustrating it was when I couldn't even do a fireman spin because I had no strength to hold on...and now its a completely different story. Work on 2 things: strenth and mind-over-matter and before you know it you'll be part of the upside down club!!! 😀 😀 😀
Fleur · 3/31/2009
We call this "pole fear" at my studio, don't worry, the more you do it, the more confortable you will get with the pole and the sensation of falling around it. Just takes practice! Also, try doinga back spin, some people don't like to fall forward but if you have them going backward, the spin right away!
Bugged82 · 3/31/2009
Glad it's not just me being wimpy then lol I'll try a backspin instead thanks Fleur 😀 upside down club sounds a bit right now though I'll have to get very brave to try that one
azriel · 3/31/2009
don't be so hard on yourself- you've only had the pole 1 day! the other day i was giving a friend her first lesson, and the fireman spin was very difficult for her for the same reason.. she wouldn't even try the pole sit. like fleur said, pole fear is very common in the beginning. once you start getting a couple spins, then they all begin to get easier to accomplish, as you're getting more confident (mind over matter, as mrstrone said)and building more arm strength. just remember to try to keep your shoulders back and down and rely more on your arms (i still forget to do that sometimes). keep us posted!! xx
Bugged82 · 3/31/2009
The foot left the floor!! I was trying my sit again and was walking the sting off.. I say walking I was bopping along to my mp3 player and I did a pivot, put my leg up, closed my eyes then just kinda did it! it was incredibly pants but I still did it woo 😂 did a pants fireman too. So now Madcon - Beggin is my official pole song hehe
Veena · 3/31/2009
Good for you!! Learning to pole dance can be quit intimating, it's truly is a mental and physical challenge. I think that's what draws us to it and gets us hooked....that feeling of OMG I can't believe I DID IT!!! Like the others said just remember proper form to prevent injury, and your on your way......happy poling. 🥂 🥂
Bugged82 · 3/31/2009
Thanks Veena, I'm definitely drilling shoulders back and down into my mind, I will not hang from that pole 😁
glitterhips · 3/31/2009
Don't beat yourself up...although I should follow my own advice before I tell you that! But in all seriousness I still have moves that seem unachievable and I have been poling for over a year, however at the same time I could probably do some moves in my sleep that I never thought I'd be able to get. I definitely had trouble with a few spins at first...especially the chair because I did not want to pick that leg up off the ground! And the reverse grab is my nemesis. Remember everyone learns at their own pace but you will get better with practice just don't give up!
Trena · 4/1/2009
Well done for getting the foot off the floor. This spin can be quite intimidating! Its the whole 'falling' forward thing. Again, well done 🥂
Foxy_Rei · 4/4/2009
Pole fear confession time! : I have pole fear when it comes to being upside down. I love the spins and everything, and just got over the fear of doing them one-handed, but I get easily disoriented when I'm upside down and don't like not knowing exactly which way my body is going to go because I don't know which way is up! I do a handstand or elbow stand against the pole and if I feel myself tipping backwards and I panic. I may have clipped it out of my vids, but if I didn't, right after I release my legs from the pole and hold them away for a few seconds I pull them back in and cling to the pole for dear life. I can hang inverted just fine, but when I try to position my hands under me on the pole to support my weight with my hands instead of just my legs, I start shaking. I'm just going to have to do more handstands and elbowstands to get used to being upside down, I guess, before I panic and fall off the pole. I'm glad you were able to get your feet off the floor; after a while you'll get a lot more confident with it. Just don't rush yourself, either; if you force yourself into anything you may resent it even more. But good work! 🥂
Rouge_LAmour · 4/4/2009
I was trying a spin, hold on, hook leg, lean til go off balance.. yup fine.. take leg off floor to join leg on pole.. Ha! body says no. It's like someone has glued me to the floor, am I just wimpy or will it just take a bit of confidence with playing with the pole to get that foot off the floor? If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say this... so yeah, this is completely normal. As you get more experience, you'll feel far better about taking your foot off the floor. It's usually a fear of falling, therefore, take the spin slowly with control, then if you fall, its only onto your tushie and it's not far to fall. Concentrate on your grip and keep your toe pointed, the heel operates as a good strong spur that prevents the foot from slipping. Also, once you've had a minor fall, the fear goes. Once the laughter subsides.