uvagirl76 started this discussion ·
does anyone else with thick thighs have problems with the cross knee/ ankle release? if i cross at the knee my legs are just too big to then squeeze the pole and i slide...if i cross at the ankle when i tip my legs to the ceiling the flesh that is in contact with the pole is twisted and wrung like wet laundry. can anyone commiserate and tell me how you got through this?????🙁
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CapFeb ·
I have a huge issue with CAR. I have thick thighs, and the space that you lean back against is so non secure...when I reach up to come out of it, there's no traction and I fall right down.
Yes exactly. And because my thighs are so big at the top they push each other away. So frustrating!
Ajrt2118 ·
I have big thighs and don't have a problem with CAR. I've not tried cross knee, but I have realized I need to get the pole right n my croch.
Rose1983 ·
From your pictures I think I have bigger thighs than you and have always felt these moves came naturally to me or at least easier to me than girls with skinny legs. You really have to contract your thight muscles and turn your legs in as if you're pulling your knees towards each other
To Ajrt2118 i will try make sure ive got the hooty hoo kung fu grip on it...rose..your legs look way smaller to me lol! I think i just heard a fat dose of suck it up!
I find that, as my thighs are one of the major parts my body prefers to keep fat, I have some of these issues. The CKR is my preferred way to invert, currently, and there's a bit of a trick to it- place your ankle on your knee. Like, your knees shouldn't be close to each other! This way, they aren't getting in your way (and, depending on the thickness and length of your legs, could be helping out) and you can properly lean back, allowing most of your weight to rest on your lower leg (of your bent leg, obviously). For the CAR... well, I managed to do it twice the other day while skyping with Krissikiki! This is quite a record for me! This was the ONLY move that I've ever fallen off the pole trying to do. It still scares me a lot, but I'm starting to understand it. You don't want to squeeze your legs super tight as you're leaning back... Cross your ankles and slowly allow your bum to drop, rounding out your back so that your feet start pointing toward the ceiling. Once you feel you've dropped as far back as you can while still holding on to the pole, then SQUEEZE! Turn your knees in toward the pole, clench your butt, and really try to get everything involved! Then, test it! Take things slowly- seriously! I like doing things from the ground, first, and for these moves, doing a sit UP from the floor, rather than laying back into them. If you can sit up in these moves without the use of your hands for grip, then go from a low pole sit and see if you can duplicate it. Us lades with lovely legs really CAN do these moves, you just have to adjust for your own body type. Not everyone is going to do everything exactly the same! And, as a disclaimer, these are my own methods! You might find that the total opposite works better, or that something I haven't thought of comes into play for you. But... play with it. Adjust the height, start from the floor, see how far apart or close together things need to be to make it all work. And yes... sometimes they hurt really bad ;)
Ajrt2118 ·
I also found that squeezing my but cheeks to tether and pushing my hips up helped to tighten grip by externally rotating my thighs. This is also how I get into a plank as well. Hope some of these tips help!
I have large thighs, and even loose skin on my thighs. I love the CAR. In my classes, I think I have an easier time than the ladies with skinny legs. Runemist34 has great tips. I'd emphasize to start low on the pole until you don't slip. Keep you thigh muscles tight. Keep those knees turned in. Since I have some loose skin from a major weighloss, I also have to sit into the move a little, like a pole sit. Once my sit is secure, I can extend my legs into a CAR. How is your plank/adv plank? Those are helpful to get before going into CAR/CKR.
CAR is easier for those with proportionately larger thighs and CKR is easier for those with proportionately smaller thighs. Those with proportionately larger thighs have the advantage of being able to lock on better - though you can have some issues with crushing the skins until you learn how to set your thighs so that you don't twist the tissue between them. This takes practice to find the sweet spot. First - sit. Then PIKE your legs upward as high as you can before you lay back. That may help. As mentioned, if you squeeze your thighs and glutes but you also need to make certain you are rolling your knees in toward each other on the far side of the pole. Do not overlap your knees one on top of the other - make sure they are side by side, then roll inward. If you are sliding when you try to sit up out of it, you are either releasing the squeeze in your thighs or glutes, or most commonly, opening/bending your knees a bit as you come up. This is a SCARY move. Recovery is not easy as you can seldom catch the pole behind you. Practice low and practice sitting back up out of it a lot so that your muscle memory is set to sit back up if you lose your grip.
Thank you ladies ...sometimes its nice just to know other people struggled and got thru it to :)
I have an issue where my thighs are so big, that the pole literally slides through my knees and to my shins. I cannot, no matter how tight I squeeze, keep the pole at my thigh.
I have big thighs and CAR/CKR have been pretty easy for me.. anything that requires the thighs to grab... where i find it to be difficlut is gemini/ things that need my knee pit..
prettypuff1 i have trouble getting the pole to my knee pit too...i think i just need to learn to suck up the pain of the tissue from the back area being pulled to the front...it's hard to take it like a woman when you look down and see your ass meat coming out the front lol 😲....it does take a little more finessing when there's more body to move around the pole...just gotta do it a little different i reckon.
I kinda cheat a little with my gemini.. i really press my side/arm pit in the pole to compensate for not fully having the pole where it should be.. scorpio is just fine.. nice and secure, gemini=nope.. I can get into other moves from it( star/side v) but thats from arm strenght... its apart of my thing's im fixing this month
I have the CAR down, but I'm not so good with the CKR. I never feel like I have enough grip and feel like I'm slipping . I usually use the CAR, but I think with more practice I could get better at the CKR. The more you practice it the easier it will be to find what works for you.
opielee ·
Hi, I have the same issue with car n ckr bc I fear letting go n breaking my neck,I've been told that flexing the feet helps,is that true?
I found the CKR easier to get than the first, I think because I trusted my bent knee. I always used to make sure the bent knee was resting up the pole, giving me another anchor point so i wasn't just using the grip between my thighs.
Dancing in the gray....would love to see a video of your attempt (low to the ground with crash matt or cushions under you) to see what you are doing when you attempt the CAR. First you do NOT have that large of thighs, not at all. But with larger thighs this move should be easier. Opielee flexing the feet, may help a bit, but there are so many little things that make a difference and eventually you want to point your feet in CAR. These are the most common tips I have to give for CAR: -Do not over lap your knees...they should be side by side with your ankles crossed, not theknees -Roll your knees in toward each other -Engage your glutes....actually engage from the abs all the way down to your toes, but most people forget to engage the glutes. -Keep your knees straight...especially when sitting back up out of the CAR. As soon as you start to flex the knees your knees separate and you lose your thigh grip.
Veena ·
I agree with Mary Ellyn she has great tips! One other thing to add...your LEGS and POLE must be warm. I've had people swear it was impossible for them because they were trying it without warming up first. Sweat can make you slip too, so keep that in mind. But if your not cold then you need to look at technique. 🌸
i think that the problem i have is that the extra flesh that is there gets twisted, and no matter how hard i squeeze there still will be relocating and twisting of the flesh just because it's a couple inches between the pole and the muscle...and so i must learn to embrace the pain! grrrr arrrrgh!❗
I too have twist skin issues with new bruises to boot, My major issue is knee pit holds, it's like my knee don't want to wrap that way, I'm glad you brought this issue up,
