[PolefitFanatic]

Sorry, late to the party on this one but I have been away! After taking almost 6 months to get an invert from the ground this one came surprisingly easily. I watched Jamilla Devilles instructional video for this one and had it nailed very quickly. Tips were;

Climb the pole, hold the pole with your arms at 90 degree angle, move yourself to the front of the pole, if you need to at first use your back leg to kick off the pole slightly to push yourself as well as lift yourself. It took me a couple of weeks to get it looking anything but ugly and graspy as I grabbed for the pole with my foot (!) but slowly but surely I am able to do an inverted v into the invert. It really helped be having the arms very bent and make sure you move your body to the front of the pole..Hope it;s getting easier for you…!

[PolefitFanatic]

@LittleC -thanks so much! Better that the car fixes itself! The worst one is the other way – when you have a dentist appt and your teeth start hurting! Thanks again – you're all so supportive and lovely. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_heart1.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

Just another little update here – finally got the superman – at last! I was busy hanging there telling the girls at the studio how I couldn't do it because all my weight was hanging on my top leg and I needed to transfer it so I could free up that top leg…and then I just did it as I was talking it through –  I was thrilled! They looked at me like I was mad! Literally I have been trying to do this all year. Now….onto that handspring….https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[PolefitFanatic]

I am in the gym at least twice a week for heavy pole related weights sessions – usually focussing on back, shoulders and chest probably more than arms. But of course when you are hanging onto heavy weights your forearms, wrists, biceps and triceps get a good going over too.  These sessions have improved my strength on the pole quite significantly. I think the gym is a very complementary addition to your pole exercise and would highly recommend it if you thing this weakness is a problem for youhttps://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif.

[PolefitFanatic]

Thanks so much for your support Gingercake. That's a great idea peforming in front of family and friends – I will do that. The comp isn't until July and  although I am really only at the top of intermediate level/beginning of advanced I am entering the advanced category because some of my strongest moves; ayesha, straight edge, jackknife – are all specified as only being able to be used in the advanced category. So, I am not expecting to place, but my fellow category competitors will be pretty amazing – so I am all about getting my routine as polished as possible! But, I will certainly keep everyone here posted!

[PolefitFanatic]

Thanks gingercake, that's good to know. The song is on high rotate in my car at the moment, I am a little concerned I'll hate it by comp. time! but, oh, well..

I hope to have my routine finished soon, so a month to practise would be good then? I think i need to practice and practice because I don;t want to be nervous about any of it and slip!

[PolefitFanatic]

Selene what problem are you having with your CKR and CAR? Are you slipping? Or have you just lost your nerve to lay back? There is no reason why you should really have problems with these moves that would be weight related. I do know that it does require a lot of nerve to let go and lay back on both of those and you can get nervous and sweat which doesn't help the ability to grip, The best way may be to have someone 'spot' you on these two – someone who can comfortably take your weight, obviously making sure you have a good solid grip before you let go.

[PolefitFanatic]

@poleskivvies thank you for those great links and thanks everyone for your choreographing ideas. I am putting together my first routine for a compeitiion at the moment. so far so good  – my greatest fear is being boring and predictable, I am trying for my own flavour and these tips have been a great help! My second fear is being under-rehearsed. How soon before a compeitiion do you suggest I have the routine completed so I can practise, practise, practise?

[PolefitFanatic]

@Empyrean

Yes the article is a satire – but read some of the earlier comments on the article, they are awful!

[PolefitFanatic]

@Shanghaililly I have had that before with cross ankle release. Quite painful and bruised, no scabs thankfully! I have to remember not to drop down into this too quickly, to do it with some control and also to flex my butt muscles and thighs very strongly which seems to give some protection to the tailbone area as your glutes tend to take the impact. I hope you know what I mean!

[PolefitFanatic]

I usually strength train at least twice a week, pole twice a week, need to fit more cardio in, but currently include that with my ST, stretching/core class once a week. Trying to fit a 3rd pole session in now….

[PolefitFanatic]

I agree with what @charley has said – using dance as a form of religious expression enables them to feel okay about what they are doing. The comments in that article link you posted @mrsbaybeegurl just about made me scream with frustration some of them were so bigoted – I couldn't read anymore. At least these women are feeling okay, no matter how strange the justification seems to us!

[PolefitFanatic]

@Cinara – I will have  a look at your pic, because I can't do anything else from the twisted grip – not that I ahve tried – my instructor left for Australia (permanently) on the weekend https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif so maybe I should wait till my new instructor comes…my forearms tend to 'harden' up quite a bit – although regular massage has made them better – but I don't want an injury so will be careful….Thanks for caring!

@shellectra – The jacknife from the elbow grip is the only way I know how to do it yet. I suppose from the split grip it's the same, but its just a matter of sending your hips in the opposite direction from where you send your legs just so you keep your balance…Fun!

[PolefitFanatic]

I have only ever used the elbow grip – forearm grip is probably easier but far less comfortable for me. The elbow grip is nice and solid   -straight edge, v and jackknife are fine. We are 50/50 in my class elbow and forearm – funny how everyone's anatomy is different and one is more confortable/easier. The split grip aysha eludes me – might check out Cinaras twisted grip…!

[PolefitFanatic]

I would just like to second those girls who have said that they are not naturals but have found their own strengths. It took me literally months to get an invert – it so didn;t come naturally to me, and there have been other moves that have driven me almost to tears. I have no dance background and almost without exception the girls in my recent classes have been tiny graceful dancy things. However, I have boxed on, and now there are a few moves – strength hold moves that are easier for me and not so for the other girls in my class. I am working more on these moves that I am good at and enjoy and although trying to slowly master some of the other moves I find more difficult I am now enjoying the fact that there are types of pole moves that I can do better than others. You will find your strength and your own flavour on the pole. I know it is hard when you have a friend that is better – luckily the other girls in my class are heaps younger than me, so in my mind I could use the fact that I was a bit older to stop me comparing   – not using that as an excuse – just a reason – but now I am feeling better and better about the pole. It's a really difficult sport – a great way to feel better is invite one of your non-pole friends to have a go with you – they'll be lousy and you'll look great!!