Spin Nightmare

JoleneBell started this discussion · 3/22/2013

So, last week was my first class and the Betty spin she taught us wasn't terribly difficult to pull off. I was like "wheeeee I can sort of do this!" And was so excited. This week's class, however, introduced the chair spin. Talk about frustrating! The other girls were spinning like crazy but me, oh no, I was the wimp. Turns out I have horrid upper body strength (which I sort of already knew), and did a pitiful mimic of chair. I mean pitiful. As in, my feet left the floor for half second increments. Of course the instructor was like "You're doing great!" And I wanted to reply "you're a very enthusiastic liar!" Yikes! How discouraging! Plus the class is only an hour so there's not a ton of time to really thoroughly break down and perfect tricks. Gah! I can't wait to get my own pole! I'm so annoyed and want to work, work, work til I get it. Sigh. The instructor told me that usually by the fourth class, everyone is a rock star. I don't see how I could have the chair spin nailed in four classes' time, but hey, she's the instructor. Can anyone offer me hope in this? How long did it take you to get basic spins down? My arms are sore, in a good way, but kill. Yikes.

26 replies

JoleneBell · 3/22/2013
I will say, that the other girls complained of having raw skinned wrists afterward and my wrists never touched the pole, as I was desperate to have perfect form. Maybe that's where I'm going wrong?
luvlee · 3/22/2013
Hello! I always did well with spins but wanted to help you with moves that require arm strength, I started using wrist bands for support. It helps. It may not be magic, but the extra support is great. I wear them in all my practices.
Lana Lee · 3/23/2013
Hm, sometimes I don't think it's really "horrible upper body strength" like you've mentioned. Perhaps your instructor didn't quite corrected your form? Well, the very first question I'm going to have to ask you is, what kind of grip are you using with your outside arm? I know your first instincts is to go ahead and grab onto the pole with a "baseball grip" because you feel like you need to hang on that way or else you're going to fall or flail around and end up injuring yourself. This grip is fine, however, you must remember that your outside hand MUST push away from the pole. If you do not push away from the pole, you will end up collapsing your form and you will end up smushing yourself against the pole while falling straight down and not getting much of a spin. The hand grip I was taught with the outside hand, really isn't a grip. It's a 'open hand push up against the pole' kind of "grip". Secondly, where across your body is your outside arm reaching across to touch the pole? If you are not too busty, your arm should reach comfortably across your chest area. If you are well endowed, reaching across just below your chest area is a good bet. Reaching above chest height will cause you to collapse your form against the pole due to angulation of your arms and not being able to push yourself away from the pole. Please tell me how things go the next time you try this chair spin. I'm sure it's not a probelm with your upper body strength. I'll be cheering for you!
Runemist34 · 3/23/2013
Hey Jolene! I've been pretty much "grounded" most of the time I've been pole dancing- haven't gotten into much aerial stuff until recently, because of my unfortunate upper body strength (well, general lack of strength, I think), and because I'm a bit afraid of being upside down! The chair spin is a hard one, and I don't think it's strange that you're having issues with it. I STILL have troubles with some spins, and they're most of my trick-repertoir! What did you feel was the major issue with it? Did you not get enough momentum to go around, or did you really kick off, and then find yourself slowing down? Were you unable to keep your legs up in the "chair" position? Did you thump into the pole a bunch? I agree with Lana Lee, that it probably isn't to do with your strength (or lack thereof) but with technique! I've found the same issues throughout my pole journey, and every time I get down on myself about strength, I discover that it's definitely NOT strength that I'm lacking!
JeHanne · 3/23/2013
Chair spin can be a bit tricky. It has the opposing forces concept of push/pull and also requires core strength. This could be an issue of strength, technique or both. I would suggest you talk with your instructor so she can review your form and offer specific suggestions after observing you. Chair does require some momentum. Also work on building strength. If you don't have a pole at home you can still do body weight moves like plank and push ups etc. You are not a wimp and your chair is not pitiful. So what if you were off the floor for one half second. No shame in where you are starting out, just keep at it!
JoleneBell · 3/23/2013
Thanks so much for the encouragement JeHanne!
JeHanne · 3/23/2013
You are welcome! :)
litlbit · 3/23/2013
The chair spin requires strength. My students go through exercises and contioning before they ever do a spin that takes both feet off the ground. It would be irresponsible of me as a studio owner/instructor to not only set someone up for failure, but to put a student at risk for injury. One of the most common injuries when doing spins to soon and not properly conditioning/stregthening is several types of tendontis, in particular in the shoulder area. The 1st weeks of my Level 1 series, students only learn a Flying Fireman because there is always one foot on the floor. This slowly introduces and helps prepare them for using the upper body more and helping to strengthen the core to beable to use the abdominal muscles to lift the legs and hold them. This is just my opinion as a retired nurse that has worked in OT/PT, rehab, and sports medicine for many years. Good luck to you!! :)
JoleneBell · 3/23/2013
Oh wow... you know, my husband said something along those lines. He thought it may be unrealistic to be pulling off spins right off. Would you recommend, then, that I just skip trying to spin when at class? I'll be getting my own pole in a month-ish or so, what pole-free moves can I do until then in order to condition myself? How will I know when I'm ready? Looking forward to your input! <3
chemgoddess1 · 3/25/2013
I cannot believe that a chair spin was taught at a second class. This is an advanced spin and is a half step away from being a one handed spin. Actually, you should be able to do a one handed fireman before even attempting this spin (but that is my opinion on progression of moves). BTW, I still cannot do what I would consider a "proper" chair spin, and I am 5+ years in.
CreativityBySteffie · 3/25/2013
I agree with chemgoddes1 ! Ofcourse you are feeling bad about it. You were set up to believe you should be able to do it, in your second class. I've been poling for 2 years now, and iI spendt most of my first year, learning and perfecting spins, the longest one for me to get, was the chair spin. That didnt happen until last summer 1½ year in my journey. Its a tough one! Please dont feel like you are pitiful or a whimp, because you are not. Your instructor just works in very mystirious ways, and I would actually adress the issue, because not only is this making you feel bad, but its not safe. You mentioned that some of the other girls, you did do the spin, had skin tears on their wrists, that strongly indicates, that thats because they were hanging from the pole, and NOT lifting, like you should. If you are abled to lift with one arm, push away with the other, then your wrist actually dont have contact with the pole.
Legs4Days · 3/25/2013
This was the FIRST spin taught to me and I too was discouraged. The classes tho are continuing and you can drop in whenever and everyone else was doing great. I decided rite then and there to get my own pole! The fireman was easier for me.
CreativityBySteffie · 3/25/2013
"other girls, WHO did do* sorry :)
Dwiizie · 3/25/2013
I do think it is better to get strength first. Otherwise you just drop on the main "hanging" arm and it can cause injury, and if you haven't strengthened your core at all, its hard to bring the knees up too. I definitely feel like this is very close to a one handed spin, and I trained with just pole ups and climbs and various things with my pole at home to get the strength for it. I'm sure my form isn't perfect, but this is one of my favorite spins to do, and it is NOT easy. I've seen this thrown in the beginner course, and unless someone had poled to the point where they were comfortable with spin momentum, they were slouching into it, jumping and hitting the pole, death gripping the pole. I did Fireman and variations, attitude, front and back hook, and several other spins regularly with pole conditioning before I even attempted this. The carousel is another I see that it seems you should know right away, but its really hard to understand the momentum and use the proper grip. Don't be discouraged, just keep getting stronger, and if you feel something is above your level in class, you can always ask for a variation. Good luck!
JoleneBell · 3/25/2013
Oh awesome! Thank you all so much, this is very encouraging. The instructor who introduced chair was filling in for the original instructor for just that class. Maybe she just had no clue what she was doing. This is all very good information. At least I wasn't hanging and hurting my arms! I was desperate to have good form. What exercizes would you recommend for conditioning until I get my pole in a few weeks? And which spins are the best to learn first?
Dwiizie · 3/25/2013
I used the pole for conditioning... Pull ups don't strengthen quite the same muscles, but the workout is good anyway. Hand strength is important. The spins I learned are pretty much the order I learned them in from here on Veena, but missing the hip hold spins like the cradle because I am having a very hard time grasping thoose. The little half squat turn around the pole is the very first "not even" spin I learned, to understand the body and momentum. Then I think the fireman and variations, straight leg fireman, things like that are what people usually go for first. The ankle attitude and front and back hook were the next things I learned. I think its different for everyone, and some pole studios (or websites :)) have a very nice cirriculum to get you going. I know the 30 day start up here on Veena will get your muscles toned up for poling while giving you moves at the same times. I liked working through the beginner section and some of the intermediate section. Some people go for spinny mode first, but everyone has their own opinion on that. I kind of wish I had incorporated more static poses on spin mode pole during earlier strength building, I think it would've added a bit of grace to my dance. The most recent spin I've been working on is the side spin, very very fun, but the placements and momentum concepts have been hard for me. But what clicks for some will be hard for others and vice versa. When you look at a pole, if you could do ANYTHING, what does your natural inclination lead you toward? I always thought the inverted v spin was soooooo cool, and I'm not even inverting yet, but it kinduh speaks to my style, whereas, someone else might thing the floating pencil is the coolest thing they've ever seen. I think you will have a lot of fun experimenting when you get a pole at home if that is your plan :)
Dwiizie · 3/25/2013
And to clarify, climbing the pole, just doing a "pole up" and switching which hand is on top and doing it again. Squats, lunges, side crunches with my leg hooked on the pole. Putting myself at an angle and pushing or pulling the pole. Kind of standard exercises and strength training, just polified. I think a lot of times its similar to barre, just vertical and so much upper body strength needed. When I started, I couldn't lift my feet off the ground. At all. By my second week, I could hold my weight for about 2 seconds. I get stronger all the time, but I'm much slower to progress than some others I've seen come through. They're doing spins and inverts and handstands and things within 6 months. I've been poling for 2 years and I can't do inverts. I can do a reverse handstand, that helps with shoulder strength.
Dwiizie · 3/25/2013
If you have or can get the lessons here on Veena, I would totally go for it, they are worth it times a zillion and give you SO MANY conditioning, strength, and flexibility lessons and routines. These lessons with a supplement at the studio now and then if I can't get something have been the best thing ever, the only way to make poling truly affordable for me at this time.
CreativityBySteffie · 3/25/2013
Yes, definetely make sure you have Veena's lessons. Then you dont even have to ask or think about what to learn first. She has the lessons in order from beginner to advanced. I did it in her order, listened to her advice, and I've never had an injury or unexplainable pains.
Lina Spiralyne · 3/26/2013
Yes, really, Chair is heavy and I wouldn't teach it in the second class. Maybe you could approach it by doing gallop spins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vf4HdHf8tE It's similar but with an important difference - you're not "hanging" in the pole with your full weight on your arms, it's a kind of leap instead. In the video she's using very little momentum. You can start like that and then go for a longer spin when it starts to feel easier.
portableninja · 3/26/2013
I second Lina's suggestion. I actually learned chair spin before gallop spin. Chair took a lot of work and a lot of mistakes to get it right. By the time I got to gallop spin, it seemed easy by comparison. Not to say either one is easy, I just think gallop is a better stepping stone. Veena teaches gallop as a beginner spin (she calls it the "prance") and chair as an intermediate spin. I would agree with those classifications.
JoleneBell · 3/26/2013
Thanks for the link Lina! That looks definitely doable, and would increase my strength too I think! I'd have no problem working on that spin.
Veena · 3/26/2013
This may be helpful. Here is a video in the lessons called, When to Spin. It also covers the difference between static spins and spinning pole holds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNCf9aUHmcc&list=UUup79MtZnWP_SCAHeVlmzdQ&index=7
JoleneBell · 3/26/2013
Omgosh thanks so much Veena! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!
JoleneBell · 3/26/2013
I just subscribed to your YouTube channel :) Veena, are there any pole brands you'd recommend over others?

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