Article in Cape Town Weekend Argus - Fun Finder written by Bianca Coleman a journalist that attended a class and wrote about it
Read up on an article on Health 24 site about a journalist who attended the classes and her experience
Benefits of Belly Dancing
Belly dancing is not only great for fun and fitness, being surrounded by other woman gives you a sense of love and belonging, you learn to express your inner self, and it will help you restore your confidence. Some benefits are:
- Dancing is both a relaxing and enlivening dance that can help tone the body and improve body confidence, many women feel they have regained their 'feminine self' and become more comfortable with their bodies through belly dancing.
- Soothing belly dance movements such as rolling the hips, figure of eights and undulations can help to alleviate congestion in the pelvic area. Circulation to the pelvic area improves and at the same time, the feeling of relaxation alleviates stress.
- Gentle undulations provide a healthy squeeze and release of internal organs. This stimulates the glands to produce a fresh batch of hormones which get secreted into the blood stream (promoting hormone rebalancing - good news for women!)
- The suppleness and fluidity of movement necessary for belly dancing can help relax and lubricate joints and can be helpful in cases of arthritis, particularly in the wrists and shoulders.
- One might think that a dance that's so sensual and rooted in gentle and flowing moves might not work up as much of a sweat as, say, an aerobics class. Well not so, while the moves are great for improving joint articulation and posture, they also ensure a cardiovascular workout and improve stamina, among other things.
- The psychological benefits are also important and include an enhanced sense of self-worth and appreciation. These in turn lead to dancers taking ownership and responsibility for their bodies, promoting body-mind cohesion and awareness. There is also a bond among all the women
- Improved posture and muscle toning: Moves such as hip drops and circular motions of the torso engage the joints and ligaments in the back and hips through placid, repetitive motion which increases the flow of synovial fluid in the joints. This can help alleviate back pain and tension while toning the muscles, which allows for a better posture. Hip flexibility gained through the hip movements may also lead to better balance.
- Hello weight loss! It is estimated that one hour-long class can burn up to 1 250 kJ, depending on the intensity of the dance. This, combined with a healthy eating-plan is a safe and effective way to lose weight and keep it off and it reduces cellulite.
- Since the movements of the dance are generally soothing, repetitive and need a fair amount of concentration, this can reduce stress. When the body is stressed, the neck and back muscles tense up, and the neck and back can spasm in response. Belly dancing eases the pain by increasing blood flow to the affected areas while also gently exercising away the knots and pain.
- The faster forms of belly dance are stimulating and fun, and either slow or fast belly dancing can be useful in cases of anxiety or mild depression.
- The movements are artistic and feminine, creating a positive feeling of sensual expression and freedom. With sensuality being a desirable quality of belly dancing, the dancer feels safe to explore the soft, beautiful ways the body can move. In the act of dancing with sensuality, the dancer frees herself in physical and emotional ways.
- Aiding digestion: The movement of the torso and abdominal area can also assist the digestion process.
