I dont want to learn spins! Help!

mherr150 started this discussion · 2/26/2013

Hello ladies, I'm a very new poler. I just purchased my pole about a week ago and have started practicing. I can do the basic pirouette and transitions. I can barely do the basic spin however. Buuuut I can climb and sit on the pole which I'm proud of. Now question: I've come to realize that I don't want to learn spins or transitions or floorwork :/ All I want to learn are inverts and strength/core moves. The sexy stuff doesn't appeal to me, to be honest. I just want to get in shape! Don't kill me ladies lol. So how can I achieve my goal? Where should I start? What exercises can I do? How often? Thanks in advance :)

3 replies

hookedonpole · 2/26/2013
Hi, welcome to pole and studioveena. Please don't feel like you are not a poler because of what your goal is. You described me EXACTLY!! I pole for workout/strength/fitness as well. I rarely work on spins, I would like to but am limited with space to be comfortable with them. I do not work on transitions/floorwork either. I have here and there, but it's just not me. Spins, however, also help with strength and using core. When I started, I had to work on building strength for each specific move/trick. Before I found studioveena, I found youtube videos/tutorials that demonstrated how to begin. Then here on sv as I began to learn something new, it took baby steps to work up to it. When I went to a workshop or class at a studio and something new was taught, if I didn't have strength, I began working on it at home till I did. THEN, about a year ago, began a bootcamp fitness program at a group location, as well as private training. This really helped me develop strength for things I was working on and to improve. It's workout things that could be done at home, but I'm just not diligent to put the challenging effort at home. Plus the fitness training has equipment like climbing rope, bars, gym rings, etc to use that I don't have at home. If you can get veena's online lessons, she has workouts to begin and how to progress in order. Hopefully others can give you advice.
Runemist34 · 2/26/2013
Hey Mherr! I understand your lack of interest- I find myself interested in "dancing" only while on the ground, and my aerial moves (what few of them there are) I just do for exercise and challenge. I do a lot of spins, though. If I'm honest, I know a lot of moves for pole that I never use. Most of those are... particulalry blatant in the sexy department! I'm not super big on them, and they don't do a lot for my fitness, so I only break them out when I'm feeling silly. That said, there are a lot of moves that we have in pole that are very difficult, but do include that sexual aspect. The Teddy hold comes to mind- I'm working on that one currently, and I'm finding that the strength and technique is a great challenge, and I don't really focus on the fact that the move is very much based on "LOOK! Look between my legs!" I know that, once I get better at the hold, I can adjust it to fit my own needs a bit more, and make it less... showy. For spins, I find that they really helped me increase my strength, and helped me learn to trust my pole a lot more than any invert or aerial move I know. They really work a lot of your upper body and core muscles. As you progress, they get harder and harder- I'm still trying to get my reverse grab spin going properly! Spins can also help with the "dancing" aspect of pole, but I'm guessing you're not totally into that. Someone to look up would be Poledancefan, as he went into this with the intention of fitness as well. I really think he did some amazing things, got out of his comfort zone, and eventually, he achieved his dream move, and beyond! I'm pretty sure he's got some videos on youtube and possibly here. Honestly, you don't NEED to work on spins, transitions, floorwork or any of that! You can work on the stuff you like. But, I would be careful getting into any kinds of inversions right now, because you could do a lot of damage! I think that, if you only want to do aerial work, you'll need to do a lot more other kinds of exercise, too. Like, weight lifting and other strength work, in order to get your muscfles ready.
mherr150 · 2/26/2013
Thanks for the reply. Ur definitely right. I'm way too weak to even attempt an invert. I probably wont for a while to be honest. Ill look up that other person u mentioned. Thanks a bunch.