I first learned Navajo plying on a spindle, it did take a bit of practice -- and alot of returning to "park and draft", or the rough equivalent, while plying. But eventually I "got" it.
One of my local friends had her "aha" with spindle Navajo plying when she realized the chains didn't need to be an arm's-reach long -- a foot or two is sufficient. This helped her manage to Navajo ply on a spindle, and now that's practically all she does (since, like me, she loves 3-ply yarn!)
