Balance left and right

Runemist34 started this discussion · 10/15/2009

Hey guys! So, I've really started to notice that I've been dancing mainly on the right side (I'm right handed) and my left is...well, very much behind the right in the context of strength. On good days I can do a fireman one-handed on the right side, but the left I can't, at all! 🙄 So, I've started kind of getting back to basics and trying to balance things out...whatever I do on the right, I do on the left. At first it seemed limiting, but now I can see how it would really strengthen my dancing ability, in more ways than one! 🥂 So, I was wondering...anyone else got the unbalanced bad habit? Do you tend to favour one side to the other with inversions, spins, and generally going one or the other direction?

8 replies

FreeTheSun · 10/16/2009
Spins I'm good either way cause I'm a lefty and almost everyone I teach is righty so I had to get good at right because people who are visuals aren't very good at adjusting from left to right since normally only lefties have to do that. However I feel sooooo odd inverting on my right side. I need to practice more so I am balanced but boy does it feel super super weird.
p1nkpr1ncess · 10/16/2009
In our lessons we do practise all our spins both ways and I do find that sometimes my spins are better on my wrong side but I've always been a bit ambidextrous! So I don't really mind the spins on both sides but inverting on my left side - it aint happening! I just end up bruising my left side near my hip and can only get one leg hooked before I don't know what to do with my other leg! Our instructor says that we do need to practise this as one day we might need to invert on our wrong sides but we don't practise it much. I'm guessing I will practise it more when I have a pole at home! I do feel a lot more balanced from practising my spins on both sides though 🙂 I'm a leftie when I write but a righty in most other things - I am a strange one! Lol. -x-
Runemist34 · 10/16/2009
I'm a strange one with that, too, actually! I had a Psychovocational assessment (Big words! It means they were trying to find out my skills and stuff for jobs, and see if I've got any disabilities) and they tested handedness...I was better at the test with my left hand, but I'm right handed. Mostly, though, I find that my right hand is for strength, and the left is for the little, detailed work and support. I can only do some things some ways, because the left gets used to something, and the right gets used to something!
Tine007 · 10/18/2009
This is so interesting, and I was wondering if it's just me being weird, lol!!! At home I practice everything both sides. Which I am used to in yoga and belly dance (even if a choreography uses only one side, we drill both) I decided I will also practice pole on both sides after my first class. We went just one direction, and my teacher told us to keep the boobs level aka lift the ouside boob to be parallel with the inside one (that brings the shoulders back and down). After class I felt like my left boob was still sticking out and found myself a lamp post to go around the other way to balance myself 😂 Changing sides also means getting less dizzy 😉 I'm totally right-handed and right is stronger than left, but some spins work much better on the left (chair and carousel). But also with time, my preference shifted from right to left, somehow left has more control 🤔 🤔 🤔 Not sure why this is... In class, we are usually shown right side. My teacher doesn't insist on doing both sides, but she is OK with it. So for choreography/combos I can just add a direction change to get on the best hand 😀
azriel · 10/18/2009
I'm the same way- although my right arm is stronger than my left, i find some moves to be easier on my left. I think that flexibility might have something to do with this.. if you're more flexible on your left arm, then certain spins which require more arm flexibility (like reverse grab) may be easier on left. I also found that the right side of my waist is more flexible than the left, so spins/moves that require waist to bend a certain way are easier on that side. Also it seems like many beginners tend to grip too much with their strong hand, so using the sub hand for the main grip may give more spin around the pole. 😛 😛 😛 Either way, best to practice everything on both sides!! 👽
Tine007 · 10/19/2009
I think that flexibility might have something to do with this.. Makes sense... I definitely noticed quite a difference in my wrist flexibility, that's why split grip is easier right arm at the bottom... Also it seems like many beginners tend to grip too much with their strong hand, so using the sub hand for the main grip may give more spin around the pole. Yep, that sounds about right, too 😛 And probably too much power also, 'cause spinning on the right (=strong side) gives more bruises 🤔 🤔 🤔
Veena · 10/20/2009
Its totally normal to have more balance, flexibility and strength on one side. I have better balance and flexibility on my NON dominate side. When doing pole dance, ESPECIALLY if you doing it as your only form of strength work...you want to try and work on BOTH sides. I know its not easy, but a muscular imbalance can cause troubles like chronic aches and pains ect.. if your not strengthening both sides. Even if you can't do the moves perfect on both sides at least try. You could also try adding strength training to your routine so you even out your muscle use. 😉
Runemist34 · 10/20/2009
I've noticed quite the muscular imbalance in me, so I've been practicing my pole dancing on both sides recently. It's nice to get back to basics and relearn all my moves again, so I can nitpick and find the little things I need to do to make them better! It also improves my strength, getting me closer to the goal of inversions!