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About Bellydancing - Health Benefits
The benefits
of
belly dance are both mental and physical. Dancing provides a good
cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and
strength,
focusing on the torso or "core muscles", although it also builds leg
strength. Many belly dance styles
emphasize muscular "isolations", teaching the ability to move various
muscles or muscle groups independently. Veil work can also build arm,
shoulder,
and general upper-body strength, and playing the zils can build
strength and
independence of the fingers.
Belly dance is a low-impact
exercise allowing you to burn calories without a lot of jumping or
bouncing. At
the same-time, it is a major weight-bearing exercise because the dancer
is on their
feet and moving throughout the dance, strengthening bones and helping
prevent
osteoporosis. Belly dance tones the back, hips, thighs, buttocks,
abdominals,
pelvic floor muscles and even the arms. During the dance, arms are
typically
held aloft and often ladies find it takes a few lessons to build up the
necessary
arm strength.
Belly dance is suitable for all ages and body types, and can be as
physical as the
participant chooses. As with starting any new exercise routine, people
would be
wise to consult their doctor before starting a belly dance regimen.
It's also
important to talk with the belly dance instructor to find out the level
of
difficulty in the classes. The practice offers mental health benefits
including
an improved sense of well-being, better body image and self-esteem, and
the
generally positive outlook that comes with regular, enjoyable exercise.
In addition, this ancient art form aids a woman's biology, particularly
during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Most
significantly, however, the powerful creative energies that all women
possess can find expression in an art that permits us to be natural and
feminine without fear of our bodies.
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