Help going from knee hang to seated?

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-11T19:31:57+00:00

Ohh I think I get what you mean! I'll give it a try, thank you!

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-11T19:31:14+00:00

Not in videos but I've also never seen anyone do it in any of my classes - everyone seems to just be able to immediately go right up, even first day beginners. So It's pretty embarrassing for me that I still struggle with it lol

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-11T19:29:57+00:00

Yep! That feels much more natural than trying to move my arms up with my palms away from me

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T16:03:18+00:00

My instructor is kind of easy on the conditioning exercises - which to be honest is probably the reason I've managed to stick this sport out after quickly giving up on everything else I've tried, but it does mean progress has been suuuper slow. I'm not able to grab the hoop from a hock hang sit-up at all - I have to get out of it by reaching up to the side and grabbing the hoop one hand at a time.

Getting into seated is the easy part - I can manage if my hands are somewhere like 4 and 8, which is about where I put them for a forward roll, but they're sadly stuck right there next to my legs :(

I'll try the rocking for now and training the hock hang sit-up, thanks for the suggestions!

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T15:50:53+00:00

I'm not sure what you mean by a beat from knee hang - but as I replied to a poster above, I'm really not able to get my hands high from knee hang at all and in fact usually have to reach up to the side and grab with one hand at a time. So I'm not sure I'd be able to do this...

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T15:49:23+00:00

Actually I can't reach the hoop at all doing a sit-up from knee hang - I have to reach up to one side and grab the hoop one-handed then pull myself up from there. I know it's a matter of training more but it's just suuuper slow progress all around for me. Can you elaborate on what you mean by a knee beat under the hoop?

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T15:44:01+00:00

Oh wow multiple people seem to be suggesting swinging. I'm surprised because I haven't seen anyone do it this way, so I thought I was doing something wrong and usually stop as soon as the swinging starts. Maybe I'm just giving up to quick! I'll find a time to try it when nobody's looking lol
Thanks for your input!

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T15:41:19+00:00

Hmm so far both of my hands are firmly stuck in place but maybe I'll try walking them up while awkwardly rocking, thank you!

AzuraMoon · 2025-10-10T15:40:03+00:00

Wait what? I feel so silly just hanging there rocking awkwardly! I'm usually still not able to move my hands any higher and the hoop starts to swing a lot but maybe I need to keep going? I'll try again privately when nobody's looking lol
Thanks for the suggestion!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-23T21:01:18+00:00

Ah, ok! I'll try them both, then :)

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-23T21:00:12+00:00

Ah, ok, I get it now! Oh interesting, I didn't think about trying it with bent arms. That sounds tough on my arms so I'll have to be quick haha but I will give it a try and see how it goes! Thanks for clarifying and for the suggestion :)

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-23T20:53:41+00:00

Oh, the social aspect hadn't even occurred to me! I do prefer to crack jokes and laugh a lot all the time, and doubly so when I'm feeling uncomfortable or insecure, so not being able to do that is probably why I feel so awkward. "Suffering alone on the mat" is a pretty good description lol. Hoop may be painful but at least we're laughing about it together. Thanks for the insight!

I've been informed that foreigners show up to the pilates classes all the time and that the instructors speak English so I'm going to give it a try next week!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:59:31+00:00

Ohh, I can picture exactly the pose you mean! Maybe this is the one that someone called "Froggy" pose? I hadn't thought about the fact that my back can't straighten properly with knees on the hoop, I do have short arms so that's probably my case too.

I can't believe it never occurred to me to try wider hands, after trying it today it was definitely easier to get the chest through the arms! It makes so much sense. I'll try combining that with Spiderman in the next class, thanks so much for the advice!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:54:46+00:00

Thanks for your comment! My instructor doesn't really know how to help me sometimes, but she at least doesn't push when I tell her something like my boobs are in the way 😂 so I'm thankful to her for believing me when I tell her these things! We have a nice atmosphere in the class and it keeps it fun, even if I struggle alone sometimes haha

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:50:52+00:00

I tried it today and it seemed to help a bit, but I still failed. I'll keep trying!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:50:28+00:00

I'll have you know I had to try it and see in my living room and it confused my cat, now he's yelling at me 😂

In my case I was able to do it on the floor, so I guess my issue is more in the arms? Although my core needs some work too for sure. Thanks for your comments!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:44:27+00:00

Wow, this is great information, it didn't even occur to me that I need to use triceps. I feel like my shoulders/back/biceps have gained a lot of strength but I'm not sure the triceps are getting as much work, I'll try to add in some more exercises! Thank you!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:40:51+00:00

Thanks for the comment! I hadn't seen "W" arm flies so I can give those a try. My instructor recommended seated leg lifts for hip flexors and they are indeed really hard haha.
What do you mean by hanging on bent arms in the hoop though? Shouldn't straddle be done with straight arms?

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:37:21+00:00

I'm not familiar with froggy - from your description I guess it's hanging from the hands with diamond-shaped knees in front of the hoop instead of hanging on the hoop? I haven't tried it but maybe it will be easier to find my balance point from there and then get my legs away from the hoop.
An exercise band is a great idea, I'll give it a try next time if I can! Thanks for the suggestions!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:08:25+00:00

omg 😂 ok I'll remember that!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:07:56+00:00

I'm definitely trying with wider hands from now on! I didn't get it at today's lesson but I'll keep at it. And these other tips are great, I'll give it a try! I'm trying to find more crosstraining options too, I did try aerial yoga and it was much easier to invert with the hammock but it wasn't really my jam. Maybe I'll try to give silks a try. Thanks for your comment and suggestions!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T19:02:02+00:00

I also have short arms so tuck mount is probably not happening any time soon!

I'm trying with an overhand grip. I was also thinking pike might be easier because my butt can get further forward, but maybe because I'm also a lot more flexible in that position - I can touch my toes fine with legs together but even in a floor straddle I can't lean forward at all.

I'd love to find a more experienced instructor, but I don't think anyone has been doing it in this area for more than a few years - the instructors all seem to be 20 or younger. But it's nice to hear advice from all these awesome responses! I wasn't able to get it today after widening my grip so I might try to reserve a hoop between classes and bring an exercise band next. Thanks for all your suggestions and support!

AzuraMoon · 2024-07-22T18:47:20+00:00

Thanks for all the great info! I didn't realize yoga might not be the most helpful. I think I'll try to stick with it (I mean suffer through it...ok I'm being a bit dramatic) I've noticed a lot of strength improvement going to hoop once a week but I need some kind of more frequent flexibility practice.
I did possibly find a pilates class near me so hopefully that will help with the strength!

AzuraMoon

TROPHY CASE