Belly Dancing

There are two forms of belly dancing popular worldwide. Raqs Baladi dancing is a social activity performed during festivals or other celebratory occasions. It is most popular in African and Asian nations. In contrast, the style more prevalent in the Western world is called Raqs Sharqi and offers a very dramatic and expressive belly dancing workout.

Belly dancing technique is defined by its focus on circular motions and flexibility in the shoulders and hips. It is infamous for belly dancers rolling their belly muscles, and even balancing props like swords and baskets in various unpredictable positions.

Fitness benefits of belly dancing
Toning up flabby muscles – Bad posture in everyday life can lead to certain muscles becoming disused over time, and turning into unwanted fat. Thankfully, belly dance can help your body rediscover these lost muscles by toning up your belly (abdominal muscles or obliques), the legs, lower back, as well as the arms.

Getting an exercise ‘high’ – Belly dancing offers a great form of aerobic exercise, with natural endorphins entering the body and boosting the mind, to give the dancer an exercise high. Belly dancing is great for blowing away mental cobwebs, whilst giving its dancers a happier outlook on life.

Building up bones and joints – Belly dance is a great exercise for building the body’s bones and joints. It can help prevent osteoporosis, as it requires body weight to be shifted from leg to leg – working out a range of different bones and joints in the process. Belly dancing is also a low impact form of exercise as the muscles used such as the pelvis, spine and abdomen, work with the body- rather than against it.