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Muscle imbalances from practicing only one side
So I was a bad poler up to this point. I only trained moves on my right (dominant) side. At first I didn't really care, but as I get more advanced I realize how important it is to be balanced and skilled on both sides. It also helps my freestyles flow a lot better if I'm not constantly ending up going in one direction!
I struggle to invert properly on my left side, even though I can do it on the right side with no problems. I'm not sure if it's from a muscle weakness or imbalance or just awkwardness from inexperience. But I do occasionally get a shooting pain in my mid back when I attempt a left side chopper invert. It goes away as soon as I stop and doesn't linger, but it doesn't happen on my right side. So I know something is not right there. Since I never invert on my left side, I almost never practice inside and outside leg hands, hip holds, tricks, etc. on the opposite side. I know I need to change that if I'm ever going to be able to do aerial combos.
Would it be a good idea to go back to basics and bring my left side up to speed before learning anything new? Is targeted left side conditioning a good idea, or could that lead to overuse problems down the road?
I do practice yoga, which works both sides of my body equally. This question is specific to pole training and fixing an existing imbalance.
Thanks!
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5 Replies
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If you're feeling pain, that means your body isn't ready for what you're asking it to do. Scale it back before you hurt yourself! (Trust me on this. *sigh*)
I would build up to the left side chopper invert the same way you built up to it on your right side in the first place. Work on left handed spins and climbs. Work on invert conditioning, such as pole tucks, but on the left side. Then move on to left side basic inverts and leg hangs. After that, I would move on to left side chopper inverts. It's a hard move, don't rush into it! Besides, you need to learn how to do all that other stuff left-handed anyway. 😉
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I am guilty of this at times. You don't have to stop progressing, just dedicate some time each week or a couple of moves each practice to working the other side. For me it doesn't take as much work because you have at least figured out the techniques involved. I agree with kasanya that chopper is tough and you may need to build up to it!
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I’m guilty of this too! I have one side that is way more muscular that the other O_o
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I am doing the exact same that you are doing and slowly working my opposite sides. I made a comment on Twitter a few months ago about the importance of practicing both sides and an instructor replied and said that she never worked the other side and that nothing was wrong with her body. AN INSTRUCTOR! You know why the molars on my left side are worn down more than my right? Cuz I favor that side when I eat. You know why my left hip is stiffer than my right? Because I sit that way in a chair at work all day & if I don't make an conscious effort to stretch, I get flak from my chiropractor. You wouldn't work one side in yoga or crossfit. You may find, as I have, that you'll actually execute a move better on your non-dominant side. In the end you'll want to work on both for good alignment and to balance out those muscles.
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Thank you so much for the tips everyone! I appreciate it. I like the idea of working my way up to inversions on my left side the same way I did on my right – by progressing through spins, holds, and climbs first. I didn’t invert on day one of pole and shouldn’t expect that on my left side either. I first realized how important it was when I watched the lesson for falling star and the prerequisite was a strong Gemini on both sides. I clearly don’t have that yet.
Stiletto, I know what you mean about left side actually having better form. When I do spins on my left side I am thinking much harder and focusing on using proper form, and I haven’t had time to develop bad habits like on my right side. Doing things on my bad side has actually improved them on my good side.
I stupidly injured my foot last night (PSA: always rack your free weights, even at home, especially at night!) So I might be doing a lot of off pole conditioning for the next couple of weeks. Then I will keep working on my left side skills. Thanks!
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