Cuwoody started this discussion ·
I have been working on the Allegra and cannot get my back flush with the pole. As a result, I can't reach behind to grab my foot. Any suggestions?
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Your positioning looks fine to me, so I think you're not reaching because you need more hip and/or lumbar spine flexibility. Pull the free leg actively towards you by using hamstrings and glutes if you aren't doing that already. And unfortunately this is one of the "bastards" that favours a certain body type - the one with long arms. Having that will simply make the reach easier. A slimmer pole could help a bit as well, as the back will feel less stuck, is that a 50 mm you're using?
Staci123 ·
The same thing was happening to me. Are you going in from inside leg hang or flatline. Starting from Flatline is how I finally got it.......
Staci123 ·
It brought my chest higher....
phedre ·
If your hand is holding the pole a little closer to your calf, your hips and back will drop a little for that back foot grab. It's nerve-wracking, though, the first time. I feel like I'm going to fall and always drop out kind of fast. But yeah that's how I got to my foot, because I know I'm not ultra flexible in my hips. :/
Some prefer a cupped grip. I feel safer in it.
maybe you could cheat a little for now and wear heels. that way you could reach for your heel and have something to pull your foot closer.
Cuwoody ·
Thanks guys for all your tips. I am on a 45mm. I wish I had a 40 to play on. I have small hands and can see how a 40 may help compensate for my lack of flexibility in moves like this. I got into it from a flatline Scorpio. As mentioned, I do have longer legs and shorter arms and torso. I can see how having longer upper body would be beneficial for this move. I have not thought about moving my hand up higher or using heels. I think I will try those. The heels may give me enough extra leverage to get into position and to train my body to wrap around the pole more. I have tried hanging out in the position hoping my muscles will relax allowing me to deepen the stretch around the poles, but that has not helped. Plus, I am tired of losing a layer of skin on my top leg from "hanging out" waiting on my back to bend more ;-), lol.
The fact that a slimmer pole clears up more space and makes many of the flexibility-demanding tricks easier is really something to add to their plus-side. It's not just that they give a better hand grip that makes them popular. This goes both for the backbendy moves as well as for example jade and chopstix. It's different jading on a 45 compared to a 50 mm, so I can only imagine the benefits of a 38! We'd all look like Cleo the Hurricane. No, not really perhaps, but for sure much closer ;) Good luck with your Allegra!
Have you tried really warming up your back and shoulders first? That may be obvious, or maybe not. I know its something i know i should do, but i dont usually. Lol.
Haloanne ·
Excellent tips here so far. I also recommend trying the cup grip, it was a major breakthrough for me!
leyrose ·
Totally agree with the suggestions of warning up shoulders... Also try warming up your back with back bends, stretching for the eagle/needle scale/scorpion or whatever you call it has helped me so much with my allegra... I can now grab my ankle not just my foot from stretching these parts of my body
