cbr600girl started this discussion ·
I can only seem to do spins on my going clockwise. I have tried going the other way (counter clockwise) with my less dominant hand on top (left) and I so can't hold on. I am right handed so I know thats the problem. I know some of you ladies can spin both directions. Am I weird I can't spin both directions? It feels so akward and foreign to me! HELP!
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Starting to spin on the "wrong" side certainly feels like being at your very first pole lesson. It's practice that does it in the end. Keep trying and they will improve. Says me who avoids multidirectionalising like the swine flu 😂
I am totally guilty of favoring my dominant side, too! But I do force myself to keep at it on my non-dominant side no matter how sad my spins/moves are. I remember my very first pole class and the teacher very nonchalantly taught every single spin on the left side first. Looking back, I applaud her for her insight! When I do a fireman or ankle spin, it "feels" more natural to have my right hand on the pole, but in all actuality, my spin is more clean when I have my left hand on the pole. Why? because my right leg is dominant and when it's on the outside (with my left hand on the pole), it's my gas pedal so it looks stronger and faster. So keep in mind which leg is on the outside as well. Good luck!
Veena ·
I'm right handed, but I felt most comfortable leaning my spins left handed! I had an elbow injury that forced me to switch arms for a good long time. I have been working on doing the more advanced inversions on both sides. SCARY! Its totally normal to want to favor one side. If this is your only form of strength training I would highly recommend working with both sides, to avoid an imbalance. 🌸
Charley ·
I don't even pay attention to which side I spin on anymore but it took a long time to get there. When I began teaching I had trained for about 6 months or so before hand on opposite side movement because I figured not all my students will be right handed. It takes some time but if you spend a little bit of each practice session trying to go with the basics on the opposite side - you'll get it. As you build up more strength from things like the fireman or the attitude you'll be able to progress to split grips. I am also trying to get my elbow grip and split grip on the opposite side. It's soooo scary. I think it's a good idea to set out from the beginning learning each move on both sides - I wish I had because it's harder to go back later.
This is my only form of strength training for the most part. Sometimes I will use my Wii Fit for strength training. I will definately start practicing more going the other direction.
Foxy_Rei ·
I'm right-handed and made myself learn my spins with both hands right from the get-go. In the process I discovered that for some reason my left hand doesn't sweat as much as my right hand does, so my grip is much better with my left and I tend to do all my spins lefty. I have to remind myself to do them with the right, and there's times when I can't do the spin as well with my right anymore! However, I wasn't as strict with myself about doing inverts and any moves stemming from them. I do all my inverts righty. I can invert on my left and it looks ok to watch, but it's extremely awkward for me and I don't feel comfortable enough doing anything beyond an inverted crucifix on that side. I also keep trying to roll off my shoulder to dismount on the floor on the same shoulder I do for the right side, but since your legs are switched, I end up kinda falling off the pole... I keep forgetting I won't have that outside leg hooked when I'm rolling from the same shoulder! Also, I've had some past injuries on my right arm that had forced me to try new things lefty. My wrist and elbow were both hurt badly at some point, and it wasn't until I started poling that I noticed that they didn't bother me anymore! I was amazed when I noticed I was able to straighten my right arm out all the way. I have a "loose" right wrist, too. If you watch my daily habits you notice I carry most heavy things with my left arm/hand (purses, bags, the baby, etc.) and I cut my food with a knife lefty, also. So it's not too hard to learn things on your non-dominant side... I wash dishes at a nursing home for a living, and after a flood forced us to re-do our dishroom, we ended up moving the wash arm hose from the middle of the counter off to the left next to the dishwasher. I made myself learn to use the hose with my left hand because I would've had to reach across my body, grab the hose, and then have the hose running across the front of me (between me and what I was washing) in order to hold it with my right hand and use it. It was really annoying! But after a few weeks or so it felt natural. So if you make a conscious decision to make yourself learn to use that other hand, you can do it. 🥂
Trena ·
Says me who avoids multidirectionalising like the swine flu 😂 Lola, so funny!!!!!!!! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 cbr: I have only recently started learning both side and its hard but it gets easier the more you do it.
Most of my left handed spins are so awkward it seems dangerous LOL. Even my catch spin (Thats what they call it in my classes, not sure what it's known as outside of the studio) going left is deadly. I feel like my left hand is so weak. They make us do every thing on both sides there which I think is good practice so when I get my own pole next week and start practicing at home I'm going to make sure I do the same. As far as inverting on both sides...I'm a no-go there. I still can't get up on the left, only the right 🙁
Charley ·
inverting on the left feels like learning to invert all over again 😂 I think if you just make yourself train that it will get easier and you'll be able to do a lot more combos. I think there are some moves that are difficult because of the awkwardness - inverting being one of them and gemini and scorpio - I actually just got scorpio in my opposite side and it looks better but it feels like I am going to fall. 🙄 What is weird though is sometimes if you can't get a move and you do it opposite arm you can do it, lol!
inverting on the left feels like learning to invert all over again 😂 I think if you just make yourself train that it will get easier and you'll be able to do a lot more combos. I think there are some moves that are difficult because of the awkwardness - inverting being one of them and gemini and scorpio - I actually just got scorpio in my opposite side and it looks better but it feels like I am going to fall. 🙄 What is weird though is sometimes if you can't get a move and you do it opposite arm you can do it, lol! That was me with inverting! I was taught first on the left. I left the studio depressed because I couldn't do it. The next time I went back and tried on my right and bam, I was upside down. I thought I had just gotten stronger (in a week, yeah right) but it was because I was on my "bad side". LOL
