Will I never be able to go upside down?

Kate O started this discussion · 3/2/2013

I was practicing on my pole last night with some friends, and we started talking about headstands. I could never do them in class unless someone lifted my legs for me, I just can't get my head round the movement! So my friend lifted my legs and got me into the right position, but I immediately had to ask him to put me down as my body just freaked out. We tried again, he let go of me and I stayed there for longer, but my head felt really weird and I just didn't like it at all so I practically had to beg him to help me down again because I couldn't move, it just felt so horrible! Surely if I can't do a headstand without freaking out I'll never be able to invert? 🙁 Any thoughts?

25 replies

monica kay · 3/2/2013
you will be alble to invert. the firsts when upside down are always a bit confusing for everybody, whether on the pole or just doing handstands. having a professional help you is probably the best way to learn. either a pole instructor or a yoga instructor can help you invert by gradually teaching you poses that build your strength while getting you used to having your hips of feet higher than your heart. if you cant find an instructor, try to find a person with lots of experience and who will keep your safety in mind.
Kate O · 3/2/2013
Thank you for the replies guys Amiloo, it was like a weird sensation in my head. Not from the pressure of my head against the floor (don't worry I was on a cushion so I was safe), but like a strange rushing sensation like my head was filling up with something and it ended up feeling really heavy. I guess it's the blood rushing to my head that I don't like the feeling of 🙁 Katana I attend pole classes once a week, we only did headstands once or twice and I gave up because I couldn't get my legs all the way up...every time my legs (or even just one leg) got close to the pole it was as if my body just went "NOPE" and made me put them back down again. I've had my instructor lift my legs into a headstand before and I had no problem balancing there or anything, it just felt so bizarre and I couldn't work out which way to move my legs to get down as I was so disorientated! The feeling in my head just makes me feel a bit ill. I don't know if it's just because I never did them as a child so I'm not used to them or if my body just has a genuine hatred of being upside down, which is what it feels like at the moment!
calipolepixie · 3/2/2013
Dont be so hard on yourself...one day you will do them & if you dont ever feel comfortable enough, there are other ways to get in & out moves on the pole. I have been poling 3 yrs & still can't do head/hand or elbow stands, they freak me out. I have tried them a few times but have put them on the back burner for now. I took a class w/a pole legend a cpl months ago & she was trying to get me to elbow stand & I told her I was scared & struggled doing them & she said it was ok & that she didn't/couldn't climb for the first 3 years she poled! We all learn at our own pace & something's will come easy to us & others will take more time, courage & practice to get & that's ok.
calipolepixie · 3/2/2013
Wanted to add that just because you are struggling with head/hand/elbow stands doesn't mean you won't be able to do inverts...I was nervous about inverts at first but around 3-4 months into poling, I braved my first invert. Sure, the first few tries were scary but then I never looked back :)
Krista Bocko · 3/2/2013
I inverted on the pole long, long before I did either an elbow or handstand. Honestly, they kinda freak me out and I still prefer to do inversions on the pole vs. either of those. I do try to work on them every so often to keep myself from getting freaked out by them all over again.
Kate O · 3/2/2013
This is all quite reassuring :) the thing is though, what I didn't like was the feeling in my head that came from being upside down, so won't that translate to inverts?
calipolepixie · 3/2/2013
@kate92 I don't think so...see, I've come to realize that my fear over the head/hand/elbow stands is me fearing that my arms, wrists and shoulders are not strong enough to hold my body weight and that they will give out/collapse trying to hold myself up like that. Now when you invert, its all about your leg lock/hold and various leg contact points once you get upside down. I've come to realize that I have more faith in my leg strength and leg POC's, than I do in my arms. This I believe is also another reason why I think that I also struggle with split grip and elbow grip moves...it all goes back to my lack of confidence in my arms, wrist and shoulder strength. This I am working toward over coming though by working more on building strength in those portions of my body that I don't have faith in. Again also, time and practice is also a factor...the more/longer you pole, the more comfortable and confident you will become...
Kate O · 3/2/2013
You might be right, my arms are a lot better than they were when I started but they're still not great by any means so I sometimes have trouble trusting them. I guess you're right about practice, I just don't want to practice them because I hate them so much! :P It's more the dizziness/ill feeling I got inside my head from being upside down like that affected me though, so I imagine that would be the same in a basic invert, inverted crucifix, CAR etc? I'm not sure if there's any way around it
acoretacri · 3/2/2013
it can take time to get used to being upside down with the head rush. Doing cxr used to make me pretty dizzy. I got over it with practice. To get used to it I didn't go upside down too long at first and not too often. Moving slowly helps when coming up and down. I found that adequate water intake is key. If you are upside down, your heart is working against gravity and has to adjust.
JenLFG · 3/2/2013
It took me like 6 months to finally do a CKR & a few months after that I did my 1st crucifix :) I have seen people invert quicker than I did, also heard of some taking longer. You will do it when you are ready, no need to rush, when you are comfortable that's when the time is right for you!
Glamourize · 3/2/2013
Everyone is different, there's probably things you can do quicker then someone else. I'm teaching my two friends and they both started the same time one of them starting inverting very early and is now doing Gemini's, Scorpio and hip holds and my other friend still hasn't been about to go upside down yet but there are things like pole sits, planks, layback etc that she can do heaps easier then my other friend. I just try to remind them that everyone learns at their own pace and you should be happy with what you are able to do now! There are moves on the pole that I think I should be able to do already but I know that maybe that move is just alittle more difficult for myself to learn then other people.. Hope that makes sense :) You will get there!! Just let yourself enjoy your pole journey!! :)
Hazelnut · 3/3/2013
I inverted on my fifth lesson (I was quite strong already and had been practising tucks since the first, to be clear!), and have no problem with most of the upside down moves.. and I can come down into a nice handstand easily from a layback.... but now, after 18 months, i STILL can't do a normal head or handstand against a wall!!! Everyone is different - for me, i can do it occasionally if i have someone watching, but it's a struggle - it freaks me out! So there's no connection between the two, I think.
Kate O · 3/3/2013
Thank you for all the replies! Really helpful 🙂 I'll take all your tips into account.
SpyralBound · 3/3/2013
From the way you describe it, you're doing actual headstands, like with your head on the floor? Those are *really* tough - Veena herself recently shared a video on her FB about headstands, elbowstands and handstands, and even she recommended against the headstand (with your head on the floor). Even with a cushion there for safety, there's a world of difference between resting your weight on your head vs. on your forearms, elbows or hands. The feeling you're getting might be related to the pressure of your weight on your skull, in addition to just the blood rushing to your head. Maybe try elbowstands or handstands and see if it still feels that bad?
Kate O · 3/4/2013
Ah okay, that's interesting! I don't know what an elbow stand is but I'll see if I can find this video.
SpyralBound · 3/4/2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmIciddJyPY&list=UUup79MtZnWP_SCAHeVlmzdQ Here it is!
Kate O · 3/4/2013
Yeah just had a watch...I do see the point about not having the pressure on your head but all of those look SO hard :(
SpyralBound · 3/4/2013
Well Veena makes them look easy :) Here's what the "beginner level" looks like (for elbow stands). https://www.studioveena.com/videos/view/4e4fc697-6474-4c65-8998-23870ac37250 It involves a lot of false starts, jumps, and awkward entries. Practicing against a wall, with a crash mat so you don't stub your toes if you fall down, is highly recommended.
Kate O · 3/4/2013
That's awesome, way better than my attempts :P I think so much of it is just fear, I need to convince myself that I am NOT going to fall and break my neck. Maybe I'll have to try again soon :)
Hazelnut · 3/4/2013
you guys have all convinced me to give it another shot too... going to pole class now and will get someone to spot me, wish me luck!!!!!!!! Together we can do it kate!!
Elektra Vallens · 3/4/2013
I don't think you will know whether you're going to have problems with inversions until you do them, although I'm not recommending that you go and do it just yet! From what you described in your posts, I can think of several things that could be happening 1) It could be normal disorientation from being upside down, perhaps magnified by anxiety about not knowing what the feeling is, 2) It could be discomfort from blood rushing to your head, again because you're not used to being upside down (circulation improves with practice, and that head-full-of-blood feeling goes away), or 3) It could be some kind of inner ear thing, where you get really disoriented from being upside down, or 4) Some combination of those things. I would try a little test to see if the following bothers you: lay on your bed, on your back, with your head and shoulders over the side.(i.e., head upside down) Do you have the same feeling? If not, my guess would be that the feeling of blood rushing to your head, combined with some normal anxiety and disorientation from being upside down is what's causing the problem in the headstand. You might want to practice laying over the side of the bed like that, or other poses where your head is inverted (like standing with wide legs and bending as far over as you can), in order to get used to it, before worrying about all the mechanics of doing a headstand.
Kate O · 3/4/2013
Go Hazelnut! You can do this!! Let me know how you got on :) Thanks for the tip Elektra, I've just tried that and it didn't really bother me. My head felt a little heavy and I imagine staying in that position for a long time could get uncomfortable, but I didn't feel panicky or freaked out and I didn't feel dizzy or ill from it like I did in the handstand.
Kate O · 4/10/2013
Just a brief update for you all - I managed my first ever invert! Didn't take my hands off, it was very basic and I didn't get my body quite as vertical as I'd like, but I managed it (without kicking) and I felt totally fine...I was just practicing tucks/leaning back and the next thing I know I'm staring up at my feet, no freaking out or feeling dizzy 😀 so happy! Will be working on it more when I get back to uni for classes. Inverted crucifix here I come!
SpyralBound · 4/10/2013
🥂
Serzi · 4/10/2013
Congrats on your invert!!! One thing I'm not sure anyone mentioned is to BREATHE PROPERLY. My biggest obstacle to feeling comfortable in a handstand is lack of oxygen. If I focus too much on everything else I don't breathe right and then I bail. Take long, relaxing, controlled breaths. It will prevent head-pressure, panic, and can improve balance as it helps alleviate overly-tense muscles. As always, if you feel you are not ready or are unsure about your strength to execute the move safely then please proceed w/ caution if you try it. Take your time working up to the move. Break down all the steps (Veena's lessons are great for this, btw), be aware of your points of contact, and take it slow. Inverting came easier for me than handstands. I still cannot do an elbowstand and can only do exits (no entry-moves) while facing the pole. Another issue for me w/ this is that my spine is not straight. I have scoliosis and the 30° curve in my back has a serious impact on my balance. It takes all kinds to pole. Work w/ what you got, not against it! :)