Inverting and poling on a short pole

tehCammy started this discussion · 5/23/2012

Does anybody have some short pole tips they could share? I think I want to get into inverting now, I can pull myself up into a tuck from in front of the pole by focusing on contracting my abs - sometimes at the studio I can even turn the tuck into a weird little chopper! 😀 At home though, my pole is 7'1. I feel like when I tuck up I don't know what to do with my legs because I can't straighten them! I know some of you ladies have short poles too - how do you work around it?

10 replies

HyperHorsegirl · 5/23/2012
You should watch some videos on here of people with short poles. The one that comes to mind is https://www.studioveena.com/users/view/4eb77542-e138-4437-935f-33630ac37250. She does amazing things even with her pole space being so short. I know there are others out there. I just got my home pole last weekend, but I'm lucky enough to have 9' ceilings. Wish I could offer more help.
Krissykiki · 5/23/2012
I have ceilings about the same height as you. You just have to be creative with some moves but i can invert fine in the space i have
Kyrsten · 5/24/2012
Thanks for the shout-out @Hyper :) My pole is under 7 foot... I'm 5'2 and I can invert from the floor with straight legs as long as I'm cautious. If you can't chopper, try inverting directly into gemini, it's a little easier to not hit the ceiling. Also, if I invert right into gemini, I can get really high up because I can tuck up and get my knee pit gripping right near the ceiling, so I have more room to do some combos before hitting the floor. For aerial inverts I have to do a tuck and then chopper it out. Same with shoulder mount -- I have to do a shoulder mount V, but it's totally doable. I can even air shoulder mount. But it is IS workable... Some tricks are pretty much impossible, like a full straight edge.. but I can probably do about 80-85% of moves on my pole. Many are quite tricky but where there's a will, there's a way :) The only real limitation is when doing combos.
tehCammy · 5/24/2012
Thanks for the responses guys! :) Kyrelle, I had been watching your videos because I saw you mention that you have a short pole, but I got discouraged because your pole which is in reality shorter than mine looks much taller than mine due to what I now realize is our difference in height! I'm 5'8! I can't fully extend my arm to reach the top of the pole because I run out of pole - LOL. It seems like I have ample space over my head but not when you throw limbs into the equation. Gemini seems to come pretty easily from the floor (like from a shoulder rest type of position) so I'm going to try your advice of inverting into the gemini from the get-go. I'm no where near doing a straight edge yet, though, so it's good to hear that most of the moves you're talking about aren't within my reach at this point anyways. Maybe by the time I get to those moves I'll be living in a place with higher ceilings! 😀
Felisha · 5/24/2012
My pole is set to 7'2 and I'm 5"3 I dnt have problems except when I do aerial inverts I sometimes hit the ceiling and I cannot fully extend on my straightedge during alot of my practices I hit the ceiling and take popcorn off.. I guess over time I've gotten use to it and adjusted Makes u more aware when u pole but it is doable
muroo · 5/24/2012
I agree that aerial inverts on a short pole will be rough. :-) I don't know which other tricks or moves you want to do, Cammy, but sometimes I do just do a invert from a squat, if that makes sense, to have more room up top. Haha it's not pretty, but it works for me!
blondebird · 5/25/2012
I have a short pole too, you just learn to adapt.
edappea3985 · 5/27/2012
My pole is 7' and I'm 5'9". When I first moved here I was used to inverting with a few extra inches at the top so I kept kicking the ceiling, but now I'm used to it and I do fine...it is definitely limiting and I'm sure that when I can move again to a place with higher ceilings I'll feel so much more free, but you will be able to get used to it. :) Don't let it be an excuse for limiting your progress (except for with combos, those are definitely limited :( ).
Pole Raven · 5/27/2012
Yeah, my pole is 7'3" and I definitely feel limited when it comes to combos and straight-edge ayesha. Otherwise, it is waaaay better than not having a pole and I've learned to adapt most things (though, I still hit the ceiling at times). I think one of the most annoying things for me right now is the CAR to TG. I just don't have enough room to even try it on my pole. It is nice to see how well others have flourished, even with limited ceiling heights. Oh, and another positive, if you ever try death lay, you're not too far from the floor if you fall -- haha.
calipolepixie · 5/27/2012
Great thread! My ceiling is low too and I have stalled on progress on some moves because of low ceilings and my climbing is well not too great either. It is frustrating. I try to adjust and adapt when I can. Most of the time when I invert I just don't do it from high up on the pole, I just do one pull up and then invert. Every day, all day, I dream of tall ceilings and a dedicated pole space all my own. Hopefully when we get a house