Firstly, and most importantly, it’s FUN. We all know that dancing of any type makes us happy. Maybe you’ve been looking at some of the dance-style classes on the Virtual Studio timetable, but haven’t quite found the one for you yet. 

I know that many people can feel like they’re not “enough” to attend dance classes (thin, tall, coordinated, young etc). Belly Dancing is fantastic for women of all ages and body types. 

Belly Dancing is one of the oldest forms of exercise. It was created by women for women and it’s believed that it began as a fertility and childbirth ritual in ancient times. It was taught to young girls to tone and strengthen their body in preparation for marriage and childbirth. 

Women also danced to celebrate or acknowledge life events such as the changing seasons, social gatherings, weddings, and births. 

Belly Dance is about finding and accepting the feminine beauty within ourselves. Through the music, dance and connection with an ancient culture, the mystery of the movement of our muscles and body is awakened.

Belly dance has a rich history, which is believed to go back around six thousand years to the times of matriarchal cultures and the worship of female deities. 

Today there are many different styles of the dance that have evolved from various Middle Eastern countries, North Africa, and the Romany cultures over many years. In fact, some say that it was brought to the Middle East by Roma from India who also developed flamenco from it in Spain and Morocco.

Belly Dance is fantastic for all aspects of our health – it improves fitness, strength, flexibility and, like Pilates has a definite mind-body element!

The fast movements of hip, shoulder and leg shimmies raise our heart rate to improve our fitness and work up a sweat. 

The slow movements such as slides, circles, figure of 8’s and snake arms build strength, flexibility and tone muscles. 

The undulating movements of the belly gently massage the internal organs and help us to improve the strength and flexibility of all the stomach muscles.

Like Pilates, Belly Dancing reduces stress and promotes relaxation as the movements require working with the breath and focus as we isolate different parts of the body. 

I often feel like it’s meditation in motion, especially when combined with the music that has different instruments, tones, and rhythms than those we might be otherwise used to.

Many women claim that belly dancing has awakened their “goddess within”. They start to accept and feel comfortable with their natural body type and shape and connect with their femininity on a deeper level. Also, it’s about appreciating the beauty within ourselves, which in turn radiates outwards. 

Belly Dancing is a mind/body/spirit practice rooted in ancient wisdom. For some it evokes the mysteries of ancient cultures that are mysterious yet somehow familiar. We learn to move our muscles and flow with a movement that, at first, seems foreign, yet natural. If we’re open to it, we can also start to tap into the mystery of the feminine divine connection. 

Of course, it can also be simply a means of exercise and learning a joyful new skill as you begin to learn to move your body and express yourself in new ways.

Once you’re hooked, belly dance becomes a way of life and you find yourself shimmying and swaying with a bit of sparkle and spice as you make your way through your day! Who doesn’t love that feeling?   

If you loved playing dress up as a girl or love doing arts and craft projects, you’re sure to make your inner magpie happy as you see every shiny bauble, trimming or piece of jewellery as costume potential! I absolutely love designing and creating my costumes! 

As a beginner belly dancer, you’ll learn the fundamental movements. Come and try a class with us on 15th November 2020 - you can book here. You’re going to be opening up a treasure chest of health and well-being benefits that will support and enhance your life for years to come!  

 

In my next post I’ll tell you what to expect….