Upper body strength: to be or not to be?

MD5677 started this discussion · 4/16/2014

I am really finding this notion of upper body strength interesting..and I won't lie...sometimes discouraging. Sometimes I will stand in class and when the instructor says to invert or to do a power climb and I will watch these skinny women who don't look like they can fight off a fly knock off the moves without batting an eye. Or the girls who are a little on the fluffy side and they power right through the moves. And then there is me. Thick and muscular - but I can barely lift myself up the pole. I always feel embarrassed. Not because the other girls do so well but because I "look" like I should be stronger. I know it sounds silly but is it possible that my muscles are dragging me down? Thoughts and tips appreciated.

7 replies

Runemist34 · 4/16/2014
Hey MD! So very many of us have these thoughts- Am I just not able to have that kind of strength? Am I being dragged down by something? Am I not as good as everyone else? I would say that, probably, your muscles are helpful! Any muscle is helpful! It's possible that you may not have the correct technique (which is a HUGE part of pole dancing, and can really make you feel like you don't have the strength), which takes time and practice and, for many of us, proper tutelage! The other thing to remember is this: Do NOT compare yourself to anyone else! Those skinny girls may have totally other challenges that you don't know about, and even the fluffier girls will. Each of us has our own struggles and our own triumphs. We are incomparable as people and as pole dancers- one day you'll be something that none of us has ever seen before, just as everyone becomes something we've never seen before, because that is the true nature of people! And the whole idea of "Everyone is special, therefor no one is" is just silly. Of COURSE we are all special! That's why we gravitate towards some and not others, why we have preferences, and why we are amazing. Keep at it :)
MD5677 · 4/17/2014
Thank you R. I was really hoping not to sound whiny. I guess I was trying to see if there was something I should be doing differently based on my body type. It seems odd to look and feel strong but not to actually "be" strong. Maybe it is my perception that is off. I truly am amazed when I look at someone with little or no perceivable definition in their arms but they are able do to tremendous strength moves. Maybe it's not about bicep's and more about some other muscle. Or maybe if your built a certain way you should focus on a specific set of muscles. I guess I am trying to train in a way that will achieve the best results given my body type. I know, I know, I am probably waaaaay overthinking this. :)
Lina Spiralyne · 4/17/2014
I put my vote preliminary on "To be". Maybe you haven't found the optimal technique yet for these tricks or you have also a heavy lower body to work with. You say you Look strong, but Are you strong? Where did you gain your muscles (gym, pole, something else)? If you've been lifting heavy weights you may have the volume and explosiveness but not so much endurance. I think in pole both are needed. Sure, muscles are weight and weight drags us down, but maybe the problem is more complex than so. The power climb you find difficult, but which kind of tricks do you feel come the Easiest for you?
WebJunk · 4/17/2014
If you can post a video of you trying it, am sure there are people who can see if it is technique or strength. The specific muscle used at any given time or movement is based on joint movement. For arms it might be more triceps than biceps but w/o seeing the move its difficult. Many people forget about forearm strength which is very important. One way to determine forearm weakness is if you can not keep your wrist straight during a movement and maybe even have burning pain in the wrist area during or after.
M Darling · 4/17/2014
Hi MD, I know how you are feeling, but you have to tell yourself you CAN do the moves. I think for some people who do have strength, there can be mental blocks about certain pole moves. I used to think I would never be able to do certain moves, but my one friend kept saying "you can do it, I know you can"...and while it wasn't the prettiest at first, I still did a move that I never thought I would get. She was right, I could do it, and so can you. You might have to do more conditioning, or pull ups and strength training...different things work for different people. Are you having trouble with strength or endurance? Also, one thing that helped my energy levels and strength was my diet. I also found cutting out energy drinks helped (I still drink coffee though). I have found that weightlifting, specifically barbell exercises have helped (dead-lifts,squats,etc.), along with body weight exercises and doing pull ups/chin ups/push ups. Veena's conditioning moves are great. Also, maybe you have strong muscular arms, but are your abs and back strong? This was something that slowed my progress was I had focused so much on arms and shoulders, I was neglecting my abs/back. I don't know if any of this applies to you or not or if you already do some of this, but I hope it helps. Just because you can't do certain moves YET, doesn't mean that you will never be able to. It is a slow process for some of us, I would say to take your time and have fun with the process, you can do it! :)
leyrose · 4/18/2014
Don't get caught up on what you look like... I'm under 5 feet tall but a lot stronger than I look, it goes both ways! People always laugh when I say I can do 8 chin ups or hold a human flag. The strength will come in time, the best way to build it is to keep poling! Some people may suggest doing upper body weights but for me, the ways that seemed to work is to just keep trying to do the moves, working on pole climbs and also pole holds with tucked legs, straight legs, pike legs etc.
Youngs7 · 4/19/2014
MD, please do not feel like you're alone. I have the same problem for which I find it discouraging as well but don't give up. Climbing the pole has been (and still is) a big challenge for me but it comes easy to others so I have learned not to compare myself to others but try to learn from watching different techniques. Just keep on working on it and it will get better. Believe me, some days I am totally discouraged but poling satisfies my soul so much that I refuse to let it go. I just continue to battle the challenge. :) Eventually, you will be climbing and there will be another hurdle to jump over. LOL