-
Training nondominant side and spins
Hello! I learned pole quite a bit in 2010, and quit for 5 years, and am now having to start over. I took a lot of short cuts in 2010, and am going to learn the right way this time! That means training non dominant side, and actually practicing strategically and not just swinging around. Im also learning it on spin pole instead of static since its so pretty.
Anyway, my quesion is about training the non dominant side and spins. When everyone says the do moves
“left handed” or “right handed” do they mean that they have that hand on top? Also, when you are doing things on the non dom side, do you literally switch everything? for instance, when I climb the pole, I have my left foot on the back on the pole, and wrap my right leg around the pole. so When im training my non dom side to climb, I put my weaker hand on top, and switch my legs around. Do you switch the legs too with everything when trying both sides?And do you practice every spin move both ways? So spinning to the clockwise (dom side) and counterclockwise (non dom side)?
Am I making this too complicated? lol. Thanks for any tips and help!!!!
-
11 Replies
-
Hello! Good decision 🙂 I train everything both sides. I get easily confused when people talk about left handed and right handed moves as some people seem to mean “moving clockwise” (i.e. starting on the left) for left handed and others mean “left hand on top” which would be anti-clockwise for some moves. I just do both sides and don’t worry what “handedness” it is! Yes, everything reverses. So if I climb with my right hand high and right leg at the back of the pole, I then switch to left hand high and left leg at the back of the pole.
If I’m learning a new move I feel cautious about, I try it first on my good side. Then the bad side next, when I’ve understood the points of contact, push-pull mechanism etc. (Literally once on the good side, then once on the bad side, and then keep alternating.) But when I know a move and I’m just practising, I try to start on my bad side 50% of the time so I don’t get into a habit of always doing things first on my good side. I figure if I ever get into difficulties in a routine I need to be able to instinctively ‘save myself’ on my bad side without stopping to think and reverse the actions in my head! -
Just to add, the only time I don’t do everything both sides is if we do a freestyle in class – but I still try to use both sides even if the moves are different 🙂
-
Anzia; Thank you so much for your tips and advice!!! I really appreciate it. I was going crazy trying to figure this out. haha! Also, is there a place on your profile where you can view your discussions? Right now the only way I can find this post is to follow the link in my email.
-
I don’t think there is a link anywhere in the profiles 🙁 I use the email links too…
-
Swirly, If you haven’t had a chance yet to look at the spin lessons here, you’ll see I don’t use right and left, it’s confusing I think! Always try and train on BOTH sides, it’s really important to work both sides if pole is your only exercise. Otherwise you’ll have one big arm and you can end up with pains that come from muscle imbalance.
-
For inversion tricks, I’ve worked my dominant side so heavily that it’s ridiculously imbalanced now… I can do hip holds, leg switches, and drops on that side, but on the other side I can basically just do a messy chopper invert and slide slowly to the floor. Because it’s been that way for so long, it feels like my body has developed muscle memory based on one side only, and working the other side feels bizarre and unnatural. It’s like my body just expects me to be on my dominant side for those tricks and throws a fit if I’m not.
So yeah, it’s definitely way easier to master a move on both sides if you really work both sides early and often. I’m trying to avoid this mistake with new tricks I learn, and I’m going to keep trying inversion tricks on my non-dominant side, but I know it’s going to be more difficult now.
-
Veena; thank you for the advice! I have been using your lessons and am trying to learn the spins somewhat in order so I can learn to properly use and strengthen the muscles in the shoulder so I don’t mess anything up. I will be sure to train both sides! Is it ok to move on to more tricks/spins if I’ve got it on my dominant side but haven’t “got it” on my non dom side as long as I keep practicing on non dom?
Baby Dragon; thank you for sharing your experience! I really appreciate the warning and I will be sure to train both sides! You can do it to! With time your brain will start to realize what you are doing 🙂
-
I try my best to train both sides. Someones when learning a new move I train dominant side first to get it before trying the other side. However, I also have found that my dominant side switches for certain moves. I need to work on training my other leg sides though. I will tend to pull myself up on both sides but will forget to switch which leg is on top. Need to work on that.
-
Hi. I jut wanted to add my two cents worth because I believe strongly in some of the advice here. I have been studying pole for 5 years and teaching the last year and a half. I have learned most of my good practices with Veena! It takes some discipline to train your non-dominate side but, it is so worth it!! In addition to the already mentioned examples play around with these: when in pole sit or inverted “T” (inverted crucifix) take your torso and corresponding arm around the pole on one side and then the other without switching leg positioning. This will also let you feel the balance of equally training both sides.
-
Yes yes yes so important! I have always tried to beast both sides fairly equally ever since I started, but I don’t know many of my pole pals who are quite as militant 😉 but I am proud of my hard earned ambidextrous pole skills, I think now you can’t tell which side is my stronger invert =] it’s funny you will naturally have a stronger side – when I first learnt shoulder mounts within a week I could already feel one side was better although I had worked both evenly !! that’s when you can focus a bit more on the weak side to bring it up to speed.
I hear so many polers complaining that they have trained only one side for so long it is really hard and weird training the other side — that’s why it’s good to get into the habit early on when ever thing feels weird both sides hahaha =] I honestly can’t imagine only doing stuff on your dominant side?!?! I need to give my shoulders and wrists a break if nothing else ! I think it would really limit you!And as becca said you will find that different sides are dominant for different moves, so when learning a new move always always try it both sides, you might be surprised which side feels better. -
What a great community y’all are!! Thank you so much for all your tips and support with this. I will continue to work both sides and will hopefully start seeing more of an imrovement in my non dom side. and yes!! I have noticed that some moves I’m more Dom on the opposite side! So odd! I’ll keep looking to y’all for support and can hopefully be that good where I don’t even notice which side is my Dom!
Log in to reply.