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What moves should I start with?
Heey everyone! I am literally a beginner beginner, I got my pole yesterday and yesterday was my very first day ever even touching a pole. I have started with learning to climb the pole, it seemed pretty basic, the fireman, fan kick, an upside down invert thing haha just easy stuff. I am really curious if there are specific moves that I should start with in order to get a good basis for poling. I would appreciate ANY advice that anyone can give me. I don’t have any classes where I am from as I am from a small city so I am learning on my own.
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29 Replies
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Wow! You’re inverting? Pretty amazing. Have you checked out Veenas lessons? They are pretty comprehensive. How are you doing with the pole climbing, I’m having a hell of a time with it.
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I highly recommend Venna’s lessons. I love them! You can’t beat it for $20 a month and her lessons are great!
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I agree with everyone else, Veena’s lessons are a great way to begin your pole journey. Start with just the basics so you’re not having to back track later. It’s also important to start with strength building and conditioning moves first so as not to injure yourself by trying to perform a move your body is not ready for yet. Everything in pole dancing takes time. Inverting can be very dangerous to attempt as your first moves. It’s fun to do but many studios will not teach inverting as a beginner move. It requires built up strength and awareness of your body to safely maneuver. Practicing this move before you’re ready can result in injury. I started with Veena’s lessons and am glad I had the opportunity to learn from her back when pole dancing was in it’s infantile state here in the U.S. over two years ago. There weren’t any studios in my area and since then there are currently 3 studios now close to my home. Pole fitness is an increasing popular trend. It’s important that you learn safely and properly to ensure you’ll be enjoying your new found hobby for many years to come. If you have an area studio close to you, you should check it out. There are also numerous dvds on the market that can teach you basics. It’s great to look at all avenues when learning. But for starters, I am still sticking by Veena’s lessons. They are affordable and instant access from your own home whenever you want them. Good luck and I’m sure I can speak for many of us here, looking forward to seeing your progress!
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hey guys, Well I am definitely very aware of how dangerous moves can be and that is why i posted this message. I have been very careful so far and i have found some videos on youtube about beginner moves from "missdirdybirdy" and I have been very successful so far with the moves that she has. I do not have the upper body strength to do certain moves however so I am wondering about more moves. I do not have the money right now to get the lessons that veena has to offer although I am hoping to be able to soon. Yes I had been inverting I have strong abdominal muscles but I think I am going to hold back a little bit just because of my arm strength isnt up to par quite yet. However I have been able to climb the pole and sit on the pole, front back hook spin, fireman, standing fireman, stag spin, sun wheel spin, beginner plank spin, and I think thats about it so far. Some others that i don’t remember the names for. But if anyone has any moves that they think I can do I would really appreciate it. By the way, My inner thighs are COVERED in bruises, could this be just what happens or am I low in iron or something? Thanks guys I appreciate it!
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I initially started my very basics with the expert village youtube video tutorials before I bought Veena’s lessons. You can also check into your local library for pole DVDs. I would recommend learning all those moves/spins you already know on the opposite side or your weaker side. Try doing everything on both sides to equal your strength. The bruises are normal. They’re even worse for self learners because as a self learner we don’t have someone there to instruct us properly in order to avoid those nasty bruises. You can also increase your upper body strength by sustaining a Boomerang hold in a stationary pose and holding it as long as you can. There’s a great online reference for any names of moves you aren’t quite sure of as everyone has a different name for one move- http://www.wikipole.org If you’re not sure what a Boomerang Hold is, I’ve attached the image below.
https://www.studioveena.comhttp:://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/images/0/08/Boomeranghold.jpg
One studio I went to as a warmup the instructor had her students pull their bodies up into this hold for 5 reps (up into pose and then feet back to floor) and then switch the hand placement and repeat for 5 more reps. Hope that helps. I found this move to be great for increasing my strength when I first started. -
You can also increase your upper body strength by sustaining a Boomerang hold in a stationary pose and holding it as long as you can.
I would strongly recommend NOT using this hold as a beginner strength training exercise. Most beginners do not have the upper body strength to safely hold it statically. To use myself as a case in point, I started pole dancing lessons with a lot more strength than most ladies because I’m an active duty soldier. Despite this fact, I was forced to stop pole dancing after 4 weeks because I ended up with a rotator cuff injury after our teacher had us practicing this exact pose as a "prep" exercise for the boomerang spin. It took several months to heal fully, which was a real drag when I wanted to be pole dancing! =/
I would suggest the hold I’ve linked below as a safer option for beginners trying to improve their upper body strength. The difference is that with this one, all you’re doing is holding your weight up. You’re not also trying to push it out and away from the pole.
http://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/index.php5?title=Image:Prayerslide.jpg
The basic pole climb is also a great option for improving upper body strength.
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When I first learned the Boomerang Hold- I was told the bottom arm placement was incorrect. Wrist up on your bottom arm can cause strain and result in injury when done repetitively. A lot of people will do this hold with wrist up because it helps them hold their body out from the pole. As an alternative you can use the thumb up position on the bottom arm- as in the video I’ve attached below…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=XzewLrYbtNU
OR as in the previous poster stated, the prayer slide hold of the bottom arm where you are using the pole against your body to hold yourself up:
https://www.studioveena.comhttp:://www.triagedesign.co.uk/wikipole/images/3/30/Prayerslide.jpg
Veena does not start teaching any of these moves until her Intermediate lessons. A lot of the spins you’ve already been doing aren’t considered as beginner but rather intermediate level. Levels are subjective though as there isn’t any set standards in pole dancing. You’ll find what works for you and what doesn’t as everyone progresses differently. I hope you do get the opportunity to take advantage of Veena’s lessons as it will help you from going through the trial and error phase on your own. -
Split grips (like the pic with the girl in a V leg position) are NOT beginner moves. I don’t like a lot of the expertvillage tutorials they can be really poorly executed and the info is not always the safest. Tho some are great.
Here are videos I have made that might help you understand more where to start…..
"How often should I pole"….. http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/3558Here is my "Getting started" lesson….http://ver3.studioveena.com/lessons/view/3557
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Great tips, probably should’ve read them before trying to do more than my body was ready for, three hours ago. Now I get to nurse a fractured rib, and won’t be able to pole for awhile. Also, been waiting two months for a one- month class to start, and now that I’m injured they start next Tuesday! Apparently, patience is not my strong suit. Gonna chill out, wrap it, take Advil, and hope for the best. Any suggestions to speed up healing would be appreciated. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif
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Ouch =S protein! Protein and calcium. When I broke my legs they practically made me live off milk in hospital lol, you definitely need the calcium. And vitamin D to help your body absorb calcium. You can get vitamin supplements that do both, maybe those would help a little. But if you get back on the pole too soon you’ll ruin it again ><
I’m quite liking this site for beginner moves http://www.poledancecommunity.co.uk/syllabus.html I can’t remember who but somebody posted it up here not long ago and it’s really good https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif I’m going to be combining it with Veena’s strength & beginner lessons. But I definitely agree that levels are subjective – if you go to that link, apart from the fact that some of the moves are on levels 1, 2 and 3 https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_question.gif, there are some that are supposedly intermediate that I’m pretty sure I could do now, and I’ve never really poled before. I guess we’ll find out if that’s true or not when my pole gets here lol but different people will have to start at different levels. I’m guessing those things about myself because I’ve already been doing DDR and contortion and my strength seems to be building up quickly from a few conditioning exercises, so I think maybe the beginner stuff might be aimed at someone who’s spent their life sitting at a computer desk and has only just decided to do something about it. Depends really https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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Be careful when trying to learn from just pictures or short clips with no instruction of any kind https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pale.gif I have designed my lessons to build pole specific strength!! There IS reasoning behind the Veena method I created for the order of the lessons and levels…… There are things new dancers even with strength should avoid!
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i will totally agree with veena here. and add that i have had countless students who THOUGHT they were doing a spin correctly at another studio but were not engaged properly and had chronic injury as a result. when you are doing a split grip hold or a prayer slide hold, you MUST engage your shoulders. you should ALWAYS be pulling your shoulders down and away from your ears and pulling your shoulder blades together in your back. when you are doing a spin, one handed or two, you MUST engage your shoulders. i dont agree with everything on this site (we never will all agree on everthing https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif ), but a good website for at-home learners to understand what i mean is here:
http://www.poledancingexpression.com/pole-tips-pole-hold.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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i will totally agree with veena here. and add that i have had countless students who THOUGHT they were doing a spin correctly but were not engaged properly and had chronic injury as a result. when you are doing a split grip hold or a prayer slide hold, you MUST engage your shoulders. you should ALWAYS be pulling your shoulders down and away from your ears and pulling your shoulder blades together in your back. when you are doing a spin, one handed or two, you MUST engage your shoulders. i dont agree with everything on this site, but a good website for at-home learners to understand what i mean is here:
http://www.poledancingexpression.com/pole-tips-pole-hold.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I absolutely LOVE this page. I think this is an excellent view of the shoulders down and back. Sometimes it’s hard for people who have never had to engage the shoulders consciously to actually visualize it. Thanks for posting this example, I am certain it will be helpful to others. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif
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Ouch, indeed! I’m dreading a sneeze, ‘cause man-o-man that’s a killer. Thanks for the tip on the protein and calcium, Mora. I’ve been taking calcium/D supplements to replace milk, that I gave up for lactose intolerance. Guess I’d better kick up the yogurt if I want to get back on the pole this winter! Argh, just one more reminder of my age. Good grief!!
Veena & Amyxshi, I planned to sign up for StudioVeena lessons at the referral of SissyBuns/House of Pole, where I purchased my xpole. I only received it on 12/17 and put it up in my basement. I’m in the process of construction down there, and didn’t have much room, so I spent yesterday rearranging. Still not exactly a great environment, but it has to do for now. I was so thrilled that I finally had some room that I stretched, and started doing some low level moves/spins. Finding the low level stuff kinda boring I figured, since I’d done it once before, I tried to do an inverted mount and I must have moved away from the pole when my leg came up, then slammed back and heard and felt it go pop. I can’t believe I’ve been waiting since 11/4 to start formal lessons, and now that I’m injured they’re starting in a week. It was actually the studio putting me off until January that caused me to buy a pole for home.
Amyxshi, thanks for the link to the “form” site. I’m sure I start in form, but I think my problem is that I don’t have the strength yet to hold my weight. I’m only 115 lbs, but my upper body has never been very strong. Plus I was waiting for samples of iTac2 to arrive to assist holding, and wouldn’t you know, they showed up today!! Geez…
I guess I’ll begin my StudioVeena lessons, when I’m feeling better, hopefully soon!!
Thanks for the support, everyone… -
Ouch, indeed! I’m dreading a sneeze, ‘cause man-o-man that’s a killer. Thanks for the tip on the protein and calcium, Mora. I’ve been taking calcium/D supplements to replace milk, that I gave up for lactose intolerance. Guess I’d better kick up the yogurt if I want to get back on the pole this winter! Argh, just one more reminder of my age. Good grief!!
Veena & Amyxshi, I planned to sign up for StudioVeena lessons at the referral of SissyBuns/House of Pole, where I purchased my xpole. I only received it on 12/17 and put it up in my basement. I’m in the process of construction down there, and didn’t have much room, so I spent yesterday rearranging. Still not exactly a great environment, but it has to do for now. I was so thrilled that I finally had some room that I stretched, and started doing some low level moves/spins. Finding the low level stuff kinda boring I figured, since I’d done it once before, I tried to do an inverted mount and I must have moved away from the pole when my leg came up, then slammed back and heard and felt it go pop. I can’t believe I’ve been waiting since 11/4 to start formal lessons, and now that I’m injured they’re starting in a week. It was actually the studio putting me off until January that caused me to buy a pole for home.
Amyxshi, thanks for the link to the “form” site. I’m sure I start in form, but I think my problem is that I don’t have the strength yet to hold my weight. I’m only 115 lbs, but my upper body has never been very strong. Plus I was waiting for samples of iTac2 to arrive to assist holding, and wouldn’t you know, they showed up today!! Geez…
I guess I’ll begin my StudioVeena lessons, when I’m feeling better, hopefully soon!!
Thanks for the support, everyone…Hey Hotness..I know how you feel. Believe it or not, when I started I was already quite strong. I was quickly schooled when I started poling lol! Poling required specific targeted strength that my body was not used do. I weight train several times a week and it helps a bunch, but with all new things, I found certain muscles being worked that I had not thought of. ( like forearms yikes!) What I have learned is that strength is a progression that must be built over time, it will all come back to you. I am so excited for you and your new space. Having someplace to call your own private space is heaven. I have my pole smack in front of the television…needless to say, I feel like I’m always being watched LOL! Best of luck with you healing my dear. xoxoxoxo
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