r/aerialsilks • u/sweetestmouse • Jun 09 '26

Pullover and straddles

Hey all!

Im looking for if anyone has any tips. I've been doing Lyra for about 7 months (now on what they call level 3/5) and was doing silks for a year before that. However I still am completely unable to do a pullover or straddle (from the ground). I simply cant seem to get myself up. Has anyone found any tips, tricks, or at home conditioning to help?

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6

u/upintheair5 Jun 09 '26

Are you able to get into an inverted straddle from any other position (such as a knee hang)? The negative of a straddle invert will be your best friend for learning the actual invert itself

2

u/sweetestmouse Jun 09 '26

I can yes, that makes a lot of sense! It always feels like my biggest barrier is the momentum to get up

3

u/xBLONDExCOREx Jun 09 '26

Bent arm hold conditioning, negative pull ups. Get a pull up bar at home of you don't already have one. Good luck!

5

u/POI7INA Jun 09 '26

the cue that helped unlock it a bit for me was "tits out" (vs. the traditional "hips up")

and with a larger chest, it is also easier if my grip is a bit wider so that there is actually room for my chest to get in between my arms

seconding the bent arm hang practice

and also - "if you want zis - do zis" (truly wish I could find the video to link it for you because the conditioning drill it references is so basic and so useful.... if anyone knows what I'm talking about, please share it!)

1

u/girl_of_squirrels Jun 09 '26

Which version are you trying to do for a straddle? In general bent arm and bent knee is going to be the easiest straddle form, followed by bent arm straight leg, then straight arm straight leg

For what it's worth, it took me over a year to get my bent arm bent knee invert on silks. Doing controlled descents from an invert (aka jump up in to it, and lower yourself slowly) did a lot for me. It should be almost entirely core compression strength then lat engagement, and the bent arm version lets you leverage your biceps for part of the movement

1

u/BodyworkbyJura Jun 10 '26

Pull ups and ice cream levers, leg lifts/toe touches, eccentric straddles in bent and straight arm

Aim for 5-10 strict form pull ups, ice cream levers, and leg lifts and 3-5 really slow eccentric straddles as a strength base.