Inverts

Mikelirpa started this discussion · 12/29/2012

Here is my question. I have had 2 back surgerys and I have no lower back strengeth. My invert is bad. I just cant get my entire body up correctly. My doctor loves the fact I am poling. But I would like to know how to is there a way to invert by climbing to the top and somehow bending over? Sounds strange. I just need some advice. once I get into invert all the poses are easy, it is just getting there. I also have nerve damage in my left leg and cant point my toes, but wearing heals makes it look like my toes are pointed. Any advice would be helpful.

7 replies

DaniDuB · 12/29/2012
You could side climb into a Jasmine. (Veena's lesson calls it a Shooting Star) So instead of inverting into it, you could side climb into it. From there you can rotate into a Scorpio, and then you are inverted. :)
PlatinumAni · 12/29/2012
Did you pole prior to the surgeries? Do you go to a studio or are you a home poler only? Either way I suggest Veenas lessons 🥂. She has great stregthening and conditioning lessons to help you prepare for a proper invert. I don't mean to be a downer but while there are ways around it I feel you would be better served by building the muscles you need. A lot of inverted moves will need a strong core/lower back to execute safely. Plus if you slip (it happens) or need to emergency exit you may place real strain in your lower back. Just my 2 cents of course. DaniDub is right that will get you inverted or even just a reverse handstand will get you to crucifix. :) Good luck on your journey and keep us posted on your progress!
Mikelirpa · 12/29/2012
Thank you for your post. I do home poling and I do use studio veena's web lessons. My doctor who is also interested but hasn't tried poling tells me I may never be able to do a proper invert because of the nerve damage. The jasmine to shooting star worked. Just need more practice. 20 years ago I used to work at a dance club, but there wasn't that much dancing going on. I love to dance, I just didn't like the one shady club that was in our small town at the time. I have lost 70 pounds since I started back. In total I have lost 150 pounds. But what I like the most is the muscle I have gained.
chemgoddess1 · 12/29/2012
Reverse handstand into caterpillar climb will get you inverted and higher up on the pole. I would not try a holly drop (basically what Danidub suggested) until you know you can even hold an inverted leg hang.
RobynPoleDancer · 12/29/2012
Side climb into Jasmine is how I get my weaker students into their first inverted holds without requiring a full invert. You can practically do it from the floor. It's also how I was able to get myself inverted when only using one arm before and after my shoulder surgery.
PlatinumAni · 12/29/2012
Congrats on the weight loss! That is amazing =D I think if you keep working on stregthening you will surprise you and your Dr. I have far surpassed the level I hoped to be when I started poling, but thought my chronic shoulder injury would hold me back. Surprising to myself and ALL my medical practioners I have less pain and strain now than ever in the decade since the initial accident!
poledanceromance · 12/29/2012
I've used side climb a lot for this. I'd have students do the catch spin, where the knee is hooked and one hand is above the knee and one hand below with the back leg extended, until they could hold that knee swing grip at the end of the spin. When they had good hand/wrist/arm strength, we'd try apprentice from the knee swing position. And then side climb going into knee swing, knee hang, and apprentice. Some students who had really solid knee grips and a strong enough core to sit up from the hang, I would show them how to ease down into a gemini/outside leg hang from the knee swing, using the hands to place the pole in the proper grip spot for the leg hang and easing down, then grabbing around the knee to come back up to knee swing. Also as mentioned, going up into a caterpillar handstand position from a touching-toes position in front of the pole, sliding one foot up along the pole to guide the body up. The other advantage there is that once you are solid in getting into crucifix from the reverse handstand, and you're ready for invert drills, you can get into position to reverse tuck invert, building strength by tucking down into a controlled descent.