I'm Stuck

carriej started this discussion · 12/17/2009

I'm stuck! I have had the good fortune of getting new moves fairly easily but now I'm stuck and feeling slightly frustrated. I'm to the point where I'm trying to really nail down my caterpillar climb and want to work on aysha, shoulder mount, teddy, knee hold... I can't seem to get any of them. And for the past couple of weeks, my pole is so slick and it's so dry in here I can't even do the moves I typically can do. Plus, I don't feel sore but it's like my muscles just won't do what they normally do. Even a basic invert has been feeling strenuous! Maybe I just need a break for a week or two but I hate doing that. Uuuggghhhh. What do you all suggest I do? Should I try each of these advanced moves a few times in each session or focus on just one???? Any suggestions would be great at this point.

14 replies

Mary Ellyn · 12/17/2009
Carrie...I would suggest just choosing one move and working on that until you can get it. Basically I like to work on two moves at at time myself...the one that I am perfecting and the one that I can't yet get. So I'm never really working on more than one completely new move at a time. I may work on 2 or 3 that I'm perfecting but I never try to nail more than one move at a time. The trick is to see which move your body and mind is ready for. This is the key to not getting frustrated. Figure out that one that you are most comfortable with or feel like you're closest to getting and that's the next one to move on to.
carriej · 12/17/2009
Yeah, I think the shouldermount is the next one that I'll end up getting. The thing is that after a couple tries on each side, my shoulder hurts and my abs won't engage as much as in the first few tries. I guess there are moves that I should be perfecting. 😢 After pole class tonight, I just need to take some time off I think. My mind and soul are telling me to pole because I love it so much but I think my body is begging for some rest. 😢
Veena · 12/17/2009
If things that were easy for you like your invert, as you said... start becoming difficult as in physically hard, then you should listen to your body and take some time off. You don't have to stop all together. I'm not sure how often your dancing but even athlete take breaks and come back refreshed. Rest can sometimes be the best thing. Watch videos over and over of others doing the moves your working on and take time to visualize yourself doing these. Visualizing can be very beneficial. 🌸
Judy Jovanelly · 12/17/2009
also - you mention even things you have already accomplished feel different, and that you're getting tired.... have you changed anything in your diet? has anything else in your life changed -- more stress, less sleep? sometimes that stuff will impact how your workouts go... just a thought.... maybe just focus on having fun with your pole for a while, and then go back to the serious stuff after maybe a week ?
Veena · 12/18/2009
Thats a good point jayjay....it is the holiday season too, it can really wipe a person out. 😨
licia · 12/18/2009
im not sure how often you are practicing - but if its every day there is a strong possibility of over training, your muscle are simply not being given enough time to recover (heal). many people feel that after taking a whole week off (trust me, i know that's like impossibly hard) they come back quite a bit stronger. i also found things came very easy for me at first too also by taking a few days off in-between pole work my mind had time to sort out what my body was supposed to do (visualization). i personally do some type of exercise during those days off to keep my mind-muscle connection well connected (lol). Athough i usually tend to stick to the pole there are certain "dry days" (maybe the air and/or my hands) i slide. thats when i bust out the hand cream. i know a total no-no but i have found that nutrogena has a hand cream (its very thick and called just that- hand cream) - with my body chemistry it makes me a bit tacky on the pole - now that might not work for you but there might be another kind that does. (if you do decide to try it and it doesnt work you still have a really great moisturizing lotion)
chemgoddess1 · 12/18/2009
I have had MANY of these in the last 2 years. At the beginning of this year I was trying to caterpillar climb and when I finally got it (after several months) I ended up fatiguing and falling head first onto the ground. I could not even think about doing that for at least 3 months...I was scared to DEATH. After I went back to it I got the straight edge almost immediately but just got the aysha about 3 weeks ago. I have been trying that since the beginning of summer. When I get into ruts I just work on transitions and spins and such. There is so much more than "tricks". When my body decides that I can do the move it will happen. Usually after my ruts I nail a bunch of things all at once again. I have been finding that as the structure of my body changes some of the stuff that used to come easily is not so easy any more so I almost have to relearn. I am also finding that if I am not on a regular workout schedule then my down time after class is much longer. I cannot wait until the holidays are over so that I can get back to a somewhat regular schedule.
carriej · 12/18/2009
I'm glad to hear that everyone hits a rut every now and then (not that I'd wish it on anyone lol). jayjay-thanks for mentioning things that have been different. I think part of my problem was that we had an open house at the dance studio last Saturday and I poled for like 4 hours on and off (mostly on). I didn't think it was a big deal because I've had long sessions before and took off for a couple of days after but when I went to pole class tonight some of the other girls said that they were feeling that they hadn't fully recovered yet so I felt a little better about that. It is so hard to take a break but I've just got to! I do really need to work on transitions and floor work. I avoid them cause I love the tricks so much! It will look a lot better to mix it all together a bit better though! This is my first winter poleing. Do we just stick less in the winter or am I imagining things? 🎅 🦌 🦌 🦌 🦌 🦌
Veena · 12/18/2009
Yes, cold weather and dry air makes for poor grip. 🎅
TrophyWife · 12/21/2009
this happens to me all the time! we seem to be at about the same level pole wise and that can be leading to your frustration too, the beginning moves are easier, therefore take least time to get, so you may get 3-4 moves in a practice and then when you're working on trick that can take months to get and it gets frustrating!! just keep at it, listen to your body and it will come to ya =) good luck!!
RoxyPink · 12/21/2009
Remember it's not just about getting new moves but also about refining and polishing the ones you've got. Basic moves help build our strength for the next ones. It's a progression..so don't neglect those beginner spins. If a basic invert is giving you a hard time then don't even think about aysha or any other invert...take the time to get your basic invert back strong and solid.
carriej · 12/21/2009
Trophy- Good point about the level thing. I got most all spins on the first try. I got most inverts, climbing, crucifix, scorpio, gemini, butterfly, extended butterfly, superman, and tons of others all within a few practices. Now, I'm trying stuff that is taking longer and everything has slowed down significantly. Plus I had no idea how less grippy the pole would be when it is truly cold outside. I was hoping the poles at the studio would be better but no luck. Everyone in my class was sliding and there were only simple inverts. Maybe I'll get some good old tall vinyl boots to stick better for now. Anyone else have tips on sticking? I know the typical wipe the pole, wash hands, warm up yourself and pole, pole grip stuff... EDIT: After writing this, I discovered the magic of mighty grip. I had tried it back in summer and I felt more slippery. Just tried it again and I got all my moves back! Hurray! Thanks yall.
moonflower · 12/22/2009
Ditto to everything already said. But I want to add that if you are determined to keep trying at those 3 moves, here are some hints. The knee hold is one of my personal favorites! The knee hold is easier once you let your body go horizontal, and push those hips forward, The hips being forward and leaning away from the pole will give you the counter weight needed to pull against the top knee creating a lock. But be sure that the grip under your top knee is secure and the bottom leg is properly positioned. For me, I know when bottom leg is in a bad position because it hurts like a bitch when it's wrong...but that might be because I've desensitized the correct area. With the shoulder mount, try out difference grips. I find the princess grip much easier than the double cup. Try it from sitting on the floor first and remember the mats. This one is scary at first. MAKE SURE YOUR POLE IS WARM!!! And wear a tank top. Try learning this on a good grip day. On bad grip days just do the prep (prances?). The teddy, I can only do from standing but not from a climb, not sure how much I can help. Wear a bra or pull up your shirt. I find if you move your hips to the front of the pole as much as possible it's easier to stick and some of your weight is held up by her side instead of just your underarm. This is the reason I think I can't stick it from a climb, I can;t get my hips in front. I hope this helps.
carriej · 12/23/2009
Thanks all! Moonflower, isn't it funny that the knee hold is easier when you're horizontal and your hips are forward but I can't get horizontal and my hips forward until I do the move! Haha! It's like which came first: the chicken or the egg? BUT GUESS WHAT! I JUST GOT THE TEDDY TONIGHT AND THEN COULD DO IT 4 TIMES ON EACH SIDE! There have been several posts about doing it from tiptoes to sink into it. That was the trick! To everyone who posts tips on moves: YOU ROCK! 😬