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Spin Nightmare
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I used the pole for conditioning… Pull ups don't strengthen quite the same muscles, but the workout is good anyway. Hand strength is important. The spins I learned are pretty much the order I learned them in from here on Veena, but missing the hip hold spins like the cradle because I am having a very hard time grasping thoose. The little half squat turn around the pole is the very first "not even" spin I learned, to understand the body and momentum. Then I think the fireman and variations, straight leg fireman, things like that are what people usually go for first. The ankle attitude and front and back hook were the next things I learned. I think its different for everyone, and some pole studios (or websites :)) have a very nice cirriculum to get you going. I know the 30 day start up here on Veena will get your muscles toned up for poling while giving you moves at the same times. I liked working through the beginner section and some of the intermediate section. Some people go for spinny mode first, but everyone has their own opinion on that. I kind of wish I had incorporated more static poses on spin mode pole during earlier strength building, I think it would've added a bit of grace to my dance. The most recent spin I've been working on is the side spin, very very fun, but the placements and momentum concepts have been hard for me. But what clicks for some will be hard for others and vice versa. When you look at a pole, if you could do ANYTHING, what does your natural inclination lead you toward? I always thought the inverted v spin was soooooo cool, and I'm not even inverting yet, but it kinduh speaks to my style, whereas, someone else might thing the floating pencil is the coolest thing they've ever seen. I think you will have a lot of fun experimenting when you get a pole at home if that is your plan 🙂
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And to clarify, climbing the pole, just doing a "pole up" and switching which hand is on top and doing it again. Squats, lunges, side crunches with my leg hooked on the pole. Putting myself at an angle and pushing or pulling the pole. Kind of standard exercises and strength training, just polified. I think a lot of times its similar to barre, just vertical and so much upper body strength needed. When I started, I couldn't lift my feet off the ground. At all. By my second week, I could hold my weight for about 2 seconds. I get stronger all the time, but I'm much slower to progress than some others I've seen come through. They're doing spins and inverts and handstands and things within 6 months. I've been poling for 2 years and I can't do inverts. I can do a reverse handstand, that helps with shoulder strength.
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If you have or can get the lessons here on Veena, I would totally go for it, they are worth it times a zillion and give you SO MANY conditioning, strength, and flexibility lessons and routines. These lessons with a supplement at the studio now and then if I can't get something have been the best thing ever, the only way to make poling truly affordable for me at this time.
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Yes, definetely make sure you have Veena's lessons. Then you dont even have to ask or think about what to learn first. She has the lessons in order from beginner to advanced. I did it in her order, listened to her advice, and I've never had an injury or unexplainable pains.
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Yes, really, Chair is heavy and I wouldn't teach it in the second class.
Maybe you could approach it by doing gallop spins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vf4HdHf8tE
It's similar but with an important difference – you're not "hanging" in the pole with your full weight on your arms, it's a kind of leap instead. In the video she's using very little momentum. You can start like that and then go for a longer spin when it starts to feel easier.
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I second Lina's suggestion. I actually learned chair spin before gallop spin. Chair took a lot of work and a lot of mistakes to get it right. By the time I got to gallop spin, it seemed easy by comparison. Not to say either one is easy, I just think gallop is a better stepping stone. Veena teaches gallop as a beginner spin (she calls it the "prance") and chair as an intermediate spin. I would agree with those classifications.
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Thanks for the link Lina! That looks definitely doable, and would increase my strength too I think! I'd have no problem working on that spin.
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This may be helpful. Here is a video in the lessons called, When to Spin. It also covers the difference between static spins and spinning pole holds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNCf9aUHmcc&list=UUup79MtZnWP_SCAHeVlmzdQ&index=7
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Omgosh thanks so much Veena! This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much!
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I just subscribed to your YouTube channel 🙂 Veena, are there any pole brands you'd recommend over others?
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I like xpole and lil mynx.
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