How Long Did It Take You to Invert?
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Time, time, time & patience my friend. You'll get it but wait until your body is strong enough & ready. Safety first. Just keep up the pull ups, tuck holds & follow veenas strength & conditioning & youll be ready soon. Happy poling!
I think doing side climbs and side climb related moves (like side V, hobbit, shooting star, etc.) helped me build strength to invert. Also doing reverse handstands, inverted crucifix, and inverted thigh hold for leg strength to prepare you for once you are IN an invert.
Glitterqueen if it makes you feel better I've been poling for almost 2 years and my inverts still suck.....lol I'll keep at it until I can finally get it right :)
It took me a year to invert. Yes a year! I was on and off poling and during that time I built a strong foundation before I flipped upside down. Don't feel discouraged about those who can invert. You don't know their background or how long they have been dancing. Try working on perfecting your spins and climbs, this will build your strength. Also try crunches on the pole to work towards your goal of inverting. Never kick or jump into an invert because this could cause you to injure yourself. Ideally you want to lift up from a standing position only using your core and leg muscles as you tilt your upper body back. Part of the fun in the process is watching growth and development. Try tracking your progress. You will see how much stronger you get every week if you keep at it. Good luck!
http://aerialamy.com/blog/2012/01/03/tuesday-tips-upper-body-pole-conditioning/ Use Amy's tuck n tips!!! It helped me tons. Don't get discouraged if it takes a while to tip. I did these for a few weeks and, ta-da, inverts with no momentum needed. I was able to aerial invert too!
Trixie kicks, that is so true! I did the same a d was inverting with no momentum within 2 months!
Hazelnut ·
I inverted on my fourth class and thought I was The Shizz!!!! Until I changed instructors a few weeks later and realised it was totally wrong ie kicking like mad. I also smashed my feet and legs a few times and fell on my arse because i had no control. Not cool. Wait until you're strong enough!!!
I inverted pretty immediately without kicking ( as in inverted in the first class we were asked to try it...about 4 months into our levels 1-12 training system) but that came from innverting on silks. When I first tried inverting on silks it was a hot kicking, foot-hooking mess and it took me maybe about two-three months of working on it to get it right, which still didn't mean it looked pretty. Working on your core strength and building up to it with pole crunches and pull-ups as well as other ab/core work will really help your strength and form. Good luck...you'll get it!
FOUR. YEARS. Yes, you read that correctly. It has taken me four years of on-and-off dancing for me to do a basic invert. It still feels totally impossible, even though every time I try I can do it, now. Seriously, there is so much more to work on than inverting. I've gotten really good at spins. I feel that spins are often neglected when people get into inversions, so you can work on those! Honestly though, don't feel bad. You'll get there, I promise. If I can do it, you can do it, too! Be patient with yourself. Everyone has their own struggle-moves, their own hangups. I'm terrified to do the inverted crucifix... but I'm almost there! :)
LuvPole ·
I have been poling since April 2012... I did my first invert in June or July .... But I still cannot do It from standing to kicking up into it... I just recently learned To do a hangback... Into handstand/split .... And back upright... U definitely need to have very strong legs & abs... So u can pull urself back up... It helps if u use itack or some type of very good grip aid...Everything comes in time and with practice ... Practice and more practice. I have also been recording most of my practices so I can c where I need to improve and how I look... Don't rush the hard stuff just to say u did it.... There r tricks i have been working on for a month or two before being successful ... Learning correctly will prevent injury and encourage u to continue safely ... It's a good idea to have a spotter ( if avail) or crash mats. ( I use the thicker yoga type mat for the most part) ... But knowing ur limitations is important also ... Keep doing strength exercises so u can progress... I have jamilla's art of pole series... Go to pole classes as much as I can... And do my own research from veenas lessons and other online sources ... Don't get discouraged if u don't nail something right away... Some things just take longer ... Stay positive and keep practicing. U will get it when u r ready ;)
LuvPole ·
I have been poling since April 2012... I did my first invert in June or July .... But I still cannot do It from standing to kicking up into it... I just recently learned To do a hangback... Into handstand/split .... And back upright... U definitely need to have very strong legs & abs... So u can pull urself back up... It helps if u use itack or some type of very good grip aid...Everything comes in time and with practice ... Practice and more practice. I have also been recording most of my practices so I can c where I need to improve and how I look... Don't rush the hard stuff just to say u did it.... There r tricks i have been working on for a month or two before being successful ... Learning correctly will prevent injury and encourage u to continue safely ... It's a good idea to have a spotter ( if avail) or crash mats. ( I use the thicker yoga type mat for the most part) ... But knowing ur limitations is important also ... Keep doing strength exercises so u can progress... I have jamilla's art of pole series... Go to pole classes as much as I can... And do my own research from veenas lessons and other online sources ... Don't get discouraged if u don't nail something right away... Some things just take longer ... Stay positive and keep practicing. U will get it when u r ready ;)
HI Glitter Gal, we are your neighbors over the bridge in St Pete :) As a studio owner I would ask, are you taking invert strength or pole strength classes at your studio? This will help tremendously. Although it does seem like the holy grail, inverting is actually the tip of the iceberg for so many other things, if you rush it and learn it not from a point of control and strength, you will inevitably be frustrated shortly after as these techniques, moves, tricks, etc. are progressive like building blocks. Off the soapbox, enjoy the ride! It's a journey to be taken at YOUR pace <3 Sarah Impulse Pole Dance
Thanks Sarah! I think we might have met at Pole for a Purpose :) I know that I need to take my time and get it right, it's just so frustrating when I want to go play with the big girls and I'm stuck working on Yoginis and Teddys all the time :/ One of my instructors gave me some strengthening excercises to do, and I go to pole tricks foundations class twice a week plus my other classes :)
Hazelnut ·
just checked out your blog (stalker much?!) which led me back here and i just laughed out loud and snorted coffee on my desk in my office, which in itself is awkward as i'm in a room full of boring scientists who don't pole dance, but you think yoginis and teddy's aren't playing with the big girls?!?! man it took me MONTHS to get either of them and i know amazing inverters who still can't handle it!!! :D
@Hazelnut - I love stalkers, makes me feel like I"m not just writing to myself :D And really? I mean, you can see by the pics that I'm not doing them WELL at all, but it's good to know that people who do the big girl stuff struggle with the stuff I can do :) P.S. be careful with coffee, it's a pain to get out of keyboards!!! ;)
Brumby ·
Ha, our studio doesn't incorporate inverts until after the first 24 weeks of classes. Talk about taking it slow!
Tali Kat ·
I JUST GOT MY INVERTED CRUCIFIX!! :D :D :D :D :D I can't put that on my facebook, so I gotta put it somewhere!!! WOOO!! I'm just so friggin happy right now :D I was the last in my class to get it and I was trying to not let it get to me, but I found it wasn't my leg strength, but the fact my legs were too slippery!! I thought they weren't cos I don't really get sweaty or moisturise before pole, but today I decided to wipe down the insides of my legs with an alcohol skin solution and suddenly I COULD DO IT :D *jumps on the couch*
It took me 6 months to invert, but I hadn't tried it before then so who knows if I could do it sooner or not. Either way, 6 months in and I could do it, but I wasn't doing it properly. I was kicking into it which is how I was taught for beginners (a no-no), and it took me another 6 months before I was doing a slow and controlled straddle, without kicking. On my pole at home (funny story) I ended up breaking a lamp and slamming my foot into my mother's antique desk leaving a nice big hole in the wood- from not being able to hold my body up because I was kicking up! I ended up pulling some muscles in my back on my left side (which is my "strong side" where I invert) because I was overworking myself. I absolutely regret kicking into my inverts all those months, hell all that YEAR- because I was not strengthening my muscles and preparing my upper body and core for more advanced tricks later on. I had felt like such a badass for so long just because I could go upside down- once I started to plain old deadlift it and straddle could I feel the difference and how hard it is and how I was doing it wrong all that time. Once I started doing it correctly did I advance faster in my pole journey- now I'm able to invert and straddle with straight legs but still practicing, as my hip flexors are weak.
I started pole in August 2011, took classes at least 1-3 times every week, and did not even try inverting before February 2012, so that's seven months. After I first started trying I took it slow (trying too many times in one class would completely mess up my back), and I finally got good inverts in the end of March/start of April. I honestly don't get why anyone would want to invert after only two months - what about all the other fun tricks and spins that you should learn first? Do people just skip those and go straight for the "cool upside down" tricks? And what studios would let anyone invert in their very first class ever? Scary stuff..:)
I literally just got it! Like yesterday, my video is up lol. I started pole dance in January of this year and learned the invert in April. I go to my studio 4 days a week and we condition as well as work on moves. It was extremely frustrating at first, but it took time, different instructors, and some really good grip. 7 months was my magic number, but like everyone said, everybody is different and learns at their own pace. My best advice is move on to other things like static holds in the air by climbing, or difficult spins. This might boost your confidence and make you feel a little better while you prepare for your invert. Good luck and don't give up! <33
Angie La ·
When I first started pole I was all alone with YouTube in my basement. I just wanted to get my buns in the air and never thought I would be able to do it. It was about 2 months before the magic happened but I didn't know that I was seriously not inverting properly. Sure, people who are strog can just flip right up there and " hahaha I can go upside down," but to do it over and over that way can really cause some problems. So, fun for the nonpoler, and dangerous/damaging for the regular poler. It was about a month and a half later that I started to have some pain under my scapula. I didn't know there was a proper way to train the muscles in order to not only prevent injury but make my inverts stronger and prettier. Found veenas old tutorials on YouTube and I felt like she was talking just to me. It's for this reason that I feel that it is important to have instruction (online or in person) in the early stages. Doing the research and the seemingly monotonous and useless exercises help in such a surprising way. I also feel like inverting too soon can take away the spice of really working on spins. I think I rushed into inverting and it has taken more self discipline than I naturally have to just go back to basics. Good luck with your inverting and try to savor the journey, not just the trick-addiction many of us get hooked on. (;
Huny it took me 7weeks! One day you will get it. Just remember when you do it focus on your arms more then your feet as u have to lift as well (and lots of people forget that while they r focusing on getting up) (: you'll get there!!
FitChix1 ·
First of all, do you have any type of gymnastics, dance, or other athletic background whatsoever? Did you do any type of poling before two months ago? Let me tell you the first thing to remember when learning all this mess... It ain't easy. I don't care who you are, what you do, unless you are or have done any of the above in the past it's going to be much harder for you than those that have. And let me also tell ya another thing, I had 12 years of gynastics and 6 years of dance under my belt (granted I hadn't done any of that in several years), and it still took me almost 6 months before I was able to invert properly. Not to say that it's going to take you that long, but still. Also, keep in mind that everyones body and learning curve is different. As a member-turned-instructor, here are a few tips to keep in mind when learning to invert: 1. Work on your muscle core and strengthening outside of your classes. I lift weights for an hour every day and then after work go to take and teach my classes. It makes all the difference. Even if you don't have a pole of your own at home to practice on, that doesn't mean you can't do other things in the mean time to improvise for building your strength. 2. Stretch well before and after every single workout you do, because believe me when I say flexability and mobility are essential for the progression of all of your pole moves especially inverting. If your muscles are very warm going into your harder tricks it will make things that much easier for your progression. 3. Never, never, never give up! Even when you're tired and worn down after a difficult practice, don't take that as your body's way of telling you to stop. You do need to listen to your body and what it's telling you, but you must know the difference in when it is just tired and giving up sooner than it's actually finished, and when it will actually break if you push any further. If you can't tell the difference, just remember this, it is when your muscles are simply fatigued that you must push them a little further, as this is the point when they actually grow. Stopping at the same point every time just because you're tired, they will stay the same and progressively deteriorate with time and age if not pushed. I'm not a physical therapist or medical expert on the human body, but, I do know my own body and have grown to understand how it works very well. And, believe me when I say the body tends to play tricks on you especially when you're exhausted. Think about that and good luck in the future!
First you need to ask yourself one thing? Can you lift the equivilant of your upper and lower body weight? The answer for most women is "No." Women who usually can do not have much junk in their truck to begin with. For us girls that have that little bit extra to carry around, it isn't every day that we actually lift our bodies up and down using whatever arm and stomach muscles we have. If you have a larger lower body, it makes things, unfortunately, that much harder to lift the body up and over. This little bit is just an add-on to the reply I just put out there under FitChix1 profile. Yep! Same girl!
I'm another one who inverted too soon and ended up injuring myself. Don't rush it. I still have to be careful some two years later and over a year of silks or the old injury flares up.
