every dance movement in this genre requires total body movement in undulations and isolations of the torso , so it ’ s great for your obliques .
Oriental dancers always move with elegantly controlled transitions of weight transfer that may include circular or diagonal movement requiring the use of all muscles in the core . Bellydance movement also involves moderate to a deep bend in the knees with glute activation , - the equivalent to a gym workout with squats . And , bellydancing with added hip shimmies that exercise the gluteus muscles adds a physical challenge and layer of beauty to dance flow .
Belly Dance Especially Good for Back and Shoulders
Belly dance movements can liven up and strengthen the back and shoulder muscles that often get neglected . Belly dance requires a total body movement and flow . A lot of the movement comes from moving your arms ... while performing shoulder and chest isolations . Consider veil dancing – even with the lightest of silk fabric – the requisite raised arm and torso bends to whirl and dance with a veil creates strategic exercise for the back and shoulders . Many dance students say they usually feel extremely sore muscles after classes and they feel stronger - like they have engaged in weight training .
Belly Dance for Endurance and Weight Loss
Marathon sessions on a treadmill can get a little boring -- not to mention lonely . When you dance to a piece of music to practice movement to match musical passages -time seems to fly by . Because belly dance has so many different levels of performance movement and movement possibilities ; and because Oriental dance / Raqs Sharqi requires the dancer to “ match ” the musicality and instrumentation - belly dance cannot be boring . For example , soft strains of a violin or flute can be danced with swirls of beautiful silk veils . Percussion creates excitement , and as you shimmy along you increase your heart rate , boost your endurance , and shed pounds .
“ The weight just comes off ,” is a phrase often heard from the dancers in training for dance competition as they focus on perfecting their movements , and performance ability and
quality . The ability to get into other cardio exercises outside of dancing is also easier , because your endurance improves . Many avid belly dancers notice a stamina carryover effect and find themselves at an advantage for other endurance sports like running , or programs like Pilates , and Cross fit .
While gym workouts may meet your fitness goals , they can often feel boring , solitary , and no fun . Belly dancing is fun and easier to stay with because participating in belly dance classes is social . Belly dance enhances overall endurance and you can feel euphoric from not only the generation of endorphins from the exercise movement , but also because belly dance movement requires matching music musicality to create “ tarab ” ( soulful expression ), it can give your heart and soul a lift .
Belly Dancing for a Full-Body Workout
Belly dance tends to be a female-dominant dance form , men can -- and do -- get down ( and there are some dances for men – the assaya / stick dance provides a workout much like martial arts ). Belly dance is easily an entire workout from day
46 The Belly Dance Chronicles � October 2016