Pole Hold - My Personal Holy Grail of the Moment

JoleneBell started this discussion · 2/12/2014

I've been at the Pole Strength routine every other day for two weeks now. While I've noticed that my grip is far stronger, thanks to tennis balls, and that I'm able to pull myself a bit more, but I still cannot completely clear the floor. I'm wondering how long it took the rest of you to be able to lift your own body weight? Is it ridiculous for me to expect to be able to complete a Pole Hold after two weeks? And are there any other exercises recommended to achieve it sooner?

8 replies

Shanella · 2/12/2014
the best remedy is not to give up and keep trying, I just got my pole yesterday and prior to that I had only two classes, I was able to hold myself up on my pole tonight but not for very long but that's an accomplishment for me... Stay motivated!!
AnnVann · 2/12/2014
Hi Jolene. It took me almost a month. I had NO upper body strength. I started timing how long - One second, two... I'm not kidding. The good news - once you start to be able to hold, it gets better fairly rapidly. I just started a split grip and I have that up to 8 seconds! Be sure you have a fighting chance by using a grip aid, if your body type needs it. (Mine did.) I also used weights and resistance bands daily to help off-pole. Now I don't use weights because it seems like working on the pole itself is really helping me build muscles. But I read a lot of posts here that many women cross-train with weights. Modified push-ups help too. Keep track of your progress, so yo can appreciate it. It's impossible NOT to get better, as long as you don't quit!
JoleneBell · 2/12/2014
Thanks Shanella and Ann! I may get some grip aid, maybe that would help! It's very encouraging, Ann, that it took you almost a month. I likely am in that boat, too. I have zilch upper body strength as well. I mean, I'm amazed at how I AM improving, but feel like I'm not truly able to pole unless I can do spins etc. I probably need to change that mindset!
Phoenix Hunter · 2/12/2014
it took a couple of months before I could do a pole hold and even then I couldn't hold for very long. I still can not lift myself into a pole hold- as in a pull up. I've been poling for 6 months. 2 weeks is a very short time, don't be discouraged. I am just now able to do a nice spin. spins were harder for me than climbs and tricks. and I have no idea how you are able to pole every other day! :) good for you , I could barely pole twice a week when I started. haha! I was soooooo sore. sounds like you are doing really well. just be patient with yourself, you are already making so much progress. Congratulations. Also, if you are working on just a regular pole hold and not the pull-up version, there is something that can help you. get into the pole hold with your arms but use your legs to hold yourself onto the pole. keep your knees bent just like a pole hold but hold the pole between your knees. if that makes sense. really focus on keeping your muscles contracted and maybe release your knees a little bit to see if you can hold the postion. this helped me, I think veena shows this in her pole hold lesson
Legs4Days · 2/13/2014
This is prob the only trick lol that I can do. Try sitting up really straight as if someone is pulling your head up. That worked for me and I also held on with my foot…sort of wrapped it/curved it around the pole with the top of my foot touching pole.
Heather005Poles · 2/13/2014
I took me almost 2 months to be able to do a pole hold, and 6 months to invert, 8 months to learn how to properly invert. (I teach myself using YouTube and the PDC free syllabus.) I didn't do any type of cross training though at the beginning. Although, i did stretch and do 10 push ups a day. Im starting the cross training now a whole year and a few months later. It really depends on your body, how active you are, and how much your body can handle. As someone else in this thread has said, i noticed a handful of women on here who use weights, maybe that will help you? Possibly, strengthening your grip some more might help as well? Hope that helped and happy polin :)
Veena · 2/13/2014
JoleneBell, you've only been at this for 2 weeks and as you said, you've seen improvements, this means it's working! Instead of trying to focus on how soon someone has or "should" be able to do something, try focusing on the improvements you do see. When you stop seeing improvement then you know it's time to change it up. I would not expect everyone to be able to do a few second pole hold even at the end of the 4 weeks of training. More important then lifting the feet, is understanding and using the right body placement in the pole hold. If you are doing the 30 day take off the next 2 weeks are more intense then the first and will give you an opportunity to continue building strength, by challenging your body in new ways. :) It's your own personal journey and it can become discouraging and frustrating if we spend our time wondering if we are progressing like everyone else.
JoleneBell · 2/13/2014
Thanks, Veena! You really are right. I tend to be huge on comparing and that does not cultivate the most positive of attitudes. I want to be able to do things NOW and have trouble accepting that I'm not a failure just because I haven't mastered pole in two weeks! I've been doing the pole strength routine every other day, but I think I'm going to start the last two weeks of the 30 day and look forward to that helping me. I'm also trying to majorly focus on shoulder strength and scapula exercises. When I see others able to lift themselves quickly, it's difficult to not come down on myself! But doing that won't make my own personal journey any better. Thanks for the encouragement, everyone!