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I find myself not wanting to pole
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The only thing you need to be watching is your progress. Video is a great way to do that. Yes, you may look at the video you just recorded and not like how it looks. But then try going back to your very first video. I bet you'll see the improvements you've made. I make videos all the time and don't like them, I can see tons of things I'd like to change.
Flexibility takes TIME. There are some who are naturally flexy and others who are naturally strong. Unless you are a professional level pole dancer you should not expect your flexibility to be at the same level as someone who poles for a living! Also have you created a plan of action for improving flexibilty?
Sometimes taking a break from poling is needed to find your passion for it again. It's ok to work on something else for a while. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_flower.gif
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@Veena right now I'm working on my leg flexibility. my hamstrings are really tight after that I'm going to work on my back flexibility. I don't really have a problem there because I have a fairly flexi back but I would like to have my butt touch my head one day in the future LOL. My legs are my biggest problem when I'm on the pole though and a bunch of things just don't look pretty with bent knees.
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A bent knee + a pointed toe can be a lovely variation to a lot of moves where the legs are usually straight, I think – but the pointed toe is the key, bent leg + flexed foot just ends up looking sloppy. Gemini, Scorpio, Butterfly – these are all moves you can do with the free leg completely straight or bent and they still look fine as long as the toe is pointed!
Maybe it would help to know which moves in particular you feel are being held back because of tight hammies?
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I've always had tight hamstrings, but there are a few tricks I've learned to get around/past that!
First, I gotta say… stretching the hamstrings is really a thing of delicacy. If you overstretch before they're ready, you'll set youself back and they'll get tighter. I learned that one the hard way.
You can always try stretching a bit in the shower. I like my showers nice and hot, so when I'm in there, I just carefully let my upper half come down and get the hamstrings to relax. Not too far at first (one of those things where it should NOT hurt at all), but after a minute or so, you'd be surprised how much difference it makes! Especially if you do it every day, or every other day. It really shows for me!And, for any moves you might be "held back" on because of tight hamstrings, I'm sure there are other moves to work on, too! I totally agree that those amazing, flexible moves are beautiful, and I'm trying to get to them as well… but being gentle with yourself and understanding your limits, and knowing that they won't be there forever as long as you carefully move toward greater flexibility really makes all the difference! Imagine how awesome it would be to have a bunch of other moves under your belt by the time you get those sweet flexy ones, so you can create new and interesting transitions and combos because of your limitations, and your strengths?
I find the best art comes out of limiting situations. Learning to work around certain things, even as you are working to overcome those limitations, is an exercise in creativity, and can give birth to the most amazing art 🙂
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Inverted v or chopper and the v carousel are the main two that come to mind at the vary moment.
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Oh yeah, those two are tough. I find with Chopper, if I really focus on pointing my toes, my legs automatically go a little straigher than they were.
V Carousel, straight legs may not be so much about hammies as quads, quads are what pull your legs upwards towards your body and if they're not strong enough, holding them parallel to the floor won't be easy. (I find all the Carousel variations tough, though.)
I know when I do yoga, the instructors often talk about extending through your limbs or the top of your head, imagining they go on forever and ever and really reeeeeaching for that point on the horizon. OR, imagine there's a string tied to you and someone is pulling it straight out/up. I think maybe pointing your toes really really hard, like someone has tied a string around your big toe and is pulling it away from you, could even out your lines a bit.
The rest will just come with practice, though! Every time you do it, you get a little better at it, even if you can't see it.
I also left a couple comments on your vid. You have some great stuff in there that you should be proud of. 🙂
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Thank you Pankake. My legs look better in the chopper then they do in the v carousel.
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The V Carousel is super hard for me! I can't seem to keep up the momentum for the spin in that pose, and I can only hold my legs up for a short time. I know you're supposed to round your back and use your core muscles to lift… but I still suck at it 😛
So, don't fret! You will have little challenges, and some will be tougher to take on than others!
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I can hold myself up there I just can't get my legs straight. The longest I've recorded myself holding that position is about 40seconds as long as I'm breathing I don't have an issue but my knees are bent. a bit.
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Hmm, are you rounding your back into a C shape, and pulling your belly in? You'd be surprised how much that makes a difference! It takes the load off your quads and transfers it to your core, which is much better able to handle the weight of your legs.
Also, keep in mind that you can have different levels of "straight," with this move. Trying to do Veena's version, where her feet are practically up by her ears (okay, not quite, but close!) is something I certainly cannot do! So, I just go for kind of straight forward, as high as I can, because I know my hamstrings are tight, and my muscles need strengthening.
I do this move usually as a static hold, and rarely try it as a spin. As I said, I have issues with momentum, and that's just with the general hold- Carousel, Carousel V, any of that. It's quite frustrating!
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I tried her version today and found it a little hard LOL I just asked her about it yesterday Curving my back helped some but I'm just being me and I'm not satisfied with it yet.
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