Shoulder Mount and chopper

wickedwitchwest started this discussion · 9/22/2009

Im having real hassle with the shoulder mount. Ive got my head back, elbows in thums down. Nothing will lift no matter how hard I try. our instructor is really against kicking up and emphasises using the core and engaging your shoulders. Im getting really disheartened. My other nemesis is the chopper. Again we are told not to kick up and keep shoulders engaged, another instructor I know said your arms have to be straight to lean back. Im confused and getting put off. Can anyone help with tips tricks strength training exercises, magic potions! 😀

13 replies

SissyBuns · 9/23/2009
This is how I got the Chopper and the shoulder mount. My good friend Roxy-Pink made this ab video for me and it really really helped. I was struggling with the chopper and this helped me prepare my body and the muslced needed to do it safely. https://www.studioveena.com/video/gallery/abs-for-sissybuns Check it out! 👍
RoxyPink · 9/23/2009
And sissy did her first shoulder mount yesterday!!! Lifting into a sm and chopper both take time and training..each day you should be able to get a little bit higher and higher and before you know it you will have it down pat!!
wickedwitchwest · 9/23/2009
thanks guys! I tried some of them this morning and managed to get both feet of the air (momentarily!!!) for the first time ever
SissyBuns · 9/23/2009
And sissy did her first shoulder mount yesterday!!! Lifting into a sm and chopper both take time and training..each day you should be able to get a little bit higher and higher and before you know it you will have it down pat!! Wooohooo!!!! LOL, I managed another one last night too. It wasn't pretty though LOL 😂
LittleC · 9/24/2009
Go Sissy! That's awesome - shouldermount is a big, big deal. 🏛️
SissyBuns · 9/24/2009
Go Sissy! That's awesome - shouldermount is a big, big deal. 🏛️ I just posted a vid of sad little SM LOL. It's a work in progress....serious progress!
wickedwitchwest · 9/24/2009
Sissybuns, was checking out your video. Whats the respect grip please, I cant see your hands as they arent in shot.
verucablue · 9/24/2009
I always had a problem with the shoulder mount until my teacher pointed out that when I started to go up...I held my breath ...lol never noticed it before - she was right I did hole my breath...she said '\"breathe through it - don't hold your breath" BINGO...sounds silly but that was a HUGE help for me. With the chopper I always tried to look at what I was doing and my head wasn't back...also getting my pelvis as close to the pole as possible helped a lot 🙂
SissyBuns · 9/24/2009
Sissybuns, was checking out your video. Whats the respect grip please, I cant see your hands as they arent in shot. Yeah I realized my hands were out of the shot. Go to http://www.wikipole.org/ and search for "Shoulder Mount". Under that listing shows all of the different grips and you can see the Respect Grip there 😉
bebeduckie · 9/24/2009
these two moves are so hard for me too! i'm getting so frustrated with the chopper because i cannot seem to pull my pelvis high enough with my long torso and short arms!it looks like a saggy v and i have to adjust myself and pull myself higher to the pole before i can get into gemini/scorpio because my hands get in the way when i try to invert in the chopper position. i can pull my knees to my chest and do shoulder stands pretty easily, but it's the leaning back part that is hard and hurts my back (the middle section of my back that is closer to the pole). anyone else have that issue? shoulder mount i was able to do once on cue with my friends around, but haven't been able to since! just wanted to let you know you're not the only one struggling with these!
bebeduckie · 11/6/2009
ive been having the worst time with the chopper. i could get my legs up but not where my pelvis was close enough the the pole so i couldn't hold it for very long. i found that i was gripping way too tight. you need a strong grip as you're going up, but as soon as you start tilting back, release the grip slightly so that you allow your arms to fall straight. if you keep trying to clench, your bicep will always keep your arm bent and you cannot get the full V effect. i'm still working on it, but consciously thinking about straightening the arms helps so much! and sissy..i know you said you had back pain from inverting on another post. this should help with that too (at least it did a little for me)!
SissyBuns · 11/7/2009
know ive been having the worst time with the chopper. i could get my legs up but not where my pelvis was close enough the the pole so i couldn't hold it for very long. i found that i was gripping way too tight. you need a strong grip as you're going up, but as soon as you start tilting back, release the grip slightly so that you allow your arms to fall straight. if you keep trying to clench, your bicep will always keep your arm bent and you cannot get the full V effect. i'm still working on it, but consciously thinking about straightening the arms helps so much! and sissy..i know you said you had back pain from inverting on another post. this should help with that too (at least it did a little for me)! My inverting pain resolved on it's own. I don't think it had to do with my grip on the pole. Chopper wasn't really a problem for me though. I still don't know what caused that pain, but I'm so glad it's gone!
Runemist34 · 11/7/2009
This is great, ladies, thank you! I've been wanting to do the chopper for a long time, but I never had any way of practicing or getting my muscles into it...so this video helps a lot!