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Reasons why bellydance makes you look and feel amazing!

Read on and learn about the evidence that shows that bellydance can dramatically improve your physical and mental fitness. Image result for donate

Why you should belly dance

Scientists are discovering more and more psychological and physical health benefits of dance. Bellydance has the positive effects inherent in practicing a dance form, but it also has specific wellbeing benefits. Belly dance has traditionally been known as a way for women to stay looking and feeling younger than their years.

Bellydance or 'oriental dance' is for women of all ages ,types, shapes and sizes. It is one of the few exercise forms that seems to encompasses all dimensions of health and wellbeing. The regular practise of this fragrant art, provides significant improvements in Cardio fitness and flexibility. Belly dance also provides artistic expression, cultural information, a social out let and for some even a spiritual connection.

Bellydance has its own unique repertoire of movements; The 'language' of bellydance is based on the sacred geometry of circles, spirals and figure eights. It is composed of a dynamic series of movements characterised by, shaking or trembling body movements, undulating torso, swaying hips, articulated isolations, snake like undulations, thrusts, lifts, locks, drops and fluid hand and arm movements .The dance uses this vocabulary to expresses a range of emotional expressions.

Recent research has shown movement such as bellydance is one of the best ways to relieve stress and depression. Anyone who has tried bellydance will tell you,- belly dance moves are very uplifting. Those who dance often say that they experience improvements in confidence and self-esteem. Dance is healing ,not just for the physical self but also for the personal dimensions of mind and soul.

Some people argue that humans have a need to dance. If this is so, many people repress this need. All forms of dance have experienced a rise in popularity, however unless under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, many western people generally do not dance, as an intergral part of life and personal expression. Moving to music certainly appeals to our most primal instincts. Dance has been a part of culture for as long as woman has walked the planet.Humans probably danced before they talked. Most babies start to move to music before they can even walk.

Historically

Belly dance was developed thousands of years ago. Anthropological and archaeological evidence show how bellydance was a birth dance and a physical medium of transcendental worship. Belly dance like other sacred dances was used as a moving prayer to the creator. Belly dance was practised in the Temples of the East. Today in Asia dance is still a feature of sacred expression and is performed in Temples. Archaeological evidence points to both Stone and Iron Age cultures in the West doing a dance that looks like Bellydance. For example the so called the 'Egtved Girl'.

It seems belly dance played an essential part in various rituals and celebrations, probably connected

with fertility. People internationally still use dance to mark festivals, harvests, births and weddings.

In the past dance was connected to astrology, prayer, fertility rites, divination and consciousness changing. Priests/priestesses used dance to express the movement of the planets and to honour their deities. The role of dance and music in the everyday lives of the ancients was portrayed by artists, on temples and cave walls, pottery, and papyrus. Images created by ancient peoples have left the modern world a historical record of the importance of dance to ancient societies. Humans throughout time and in all cultures have expressed themselves through dance. Even Jesus was said to dance at a wedding. It was probably belly dance !

As an art form.

Belly dance is a form of artistic expression, which has wellbeing benefits in itself.

Unlike other arts a dancer’s medium of expression is her own body. Yeats said ‘Who can tell the dancer form the dance.’ All dance is ethereal and nebulous. Unlike two-D or three-D art ,dance has no permanence. Even a digital or filmic record of the dance is (for a variety of reasons) not a pure reflection of the performance.

It is often said that bellydance is a dance- drama of life,- flirting, foreplay, copulation, orgasm, birth and death can be seen clearly within the dance vocabulary. Like with other arts ,it is the dancer’s job to study the objects in the Universe and to express or translate them in a way other people can understand.

The bellydancer acts out and becomes elements of life. She interprets the feelings we all have and our desires to emulate the natural world, not just physical objects, but also the human experiences we all share. Emotions can be expressed through bodily movement and this feels very satisfying. In Western culture in particular, people are not encouraged to freely express their emotions. For some expressing emotions through art or creative movement is easier than with words.

Belly dance is good for your body

Belly dance has lots of physical benefits. Total body movement such as belly dance enhances the functions of other body systems, such as circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, and muscular systems. It is one of the few exercise forms that tones up the pelvic floor. I have personally witnessed back problems disappear, skin conditions clear up and many other maladies eradicate or diminish. It could be the movements are physically curative; the stimulation of energy or perhaps it is the feeling good that is the great panacea.

Belly dance is an aerobic exercise with carefully considered stretches that energize the body internally /externally and promotes the life force. In belly dance we habitually raise the sternum. Realignment of the sternum produces an increase in the capacity of the lungs. Obviously more oxygen means more energy.

Belly dancers often look younger than their years and can do athletic dancing when other less active people of the same age are 'taking it easy'. Belly dance not only makes women stay healthy and beautiful, it also helps women to stay younger and healthier for longer. This has the obvious beauty benefits that reflect good health.-Toned body, Shiny hair and good skin.

Exercise such as belly dance has shown increases in the prevention and survival of breast cancer. (Stein Rob ‘Exercise can cut your risk of breast cancer’ Washington post 2005) Belly dance also helps elimination of waste and digestion. The lymph system needs exercise to flow correctly. Lymph flushes out toxins. A belly dance class will make lymph flow 15 x faster, so dramatically speeding up the elimination of toxins. Better sleep- People who take regular exercise such as belly dance sleep better.

To help stay healthy, the Government recommends that everyone take part in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity five times a week. It seems amazing that something that feels as fun and sensual as bellydancing counts. Regular dancing will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cancer. The amazing thing is, it feels like you are just having fun. Being fit does not have to be a hard slog!

Sacred dance

In sacred belly dance, movement and prayer become one. Belly dance is an ancient revered art; it is a method of personal healing, energy stimulation and connecting mind-body-spirit. All matter is in a perpetual state of movement. Belly dance with its circles, spirals and figure-eight configurations describes life at its universal cataclysmic inception. People find that through these creative movements, they can express their own individuality and personalities.The dance frees the spirit and nourishes body and soul.

Many traditions around the world have known and used dance’s powerful esoteric and metaphysical properties both in healing and divination. Through dance, people can tune into the rhythms and pulses of the Universe. Dancing like this expresses the human longing to reach out beyond the confines of the ego and the personal body, to connect and become one with the universal body.

Dance in its truest form is an expression of the life force. When we dance we are always in the present moment, the now.

Healing dances.

In the Middle East and other parts of the world, dance is used with the specific intention of healing all forms of dis-ease. Shamans often use dance to commune with healing spirits to help their patients. The Guedra is a healing dance practising in North Africa. This form employs specific dance movements from the fingers to transmit healing to people in the group. Having the correct intentions and focus are essential for the experience to have the desired affects.

Guedra may be unlike other trance dances of the Middle East (like the Zar and the Hadraa), as it does not involve the exorcism of demon spirits or the use of sacrificial animals. It is purely beneficial and joyful. The Egyptian Zar is hosted and led by a shamanic type of female leader. Head swaying and ritual are used to create a cathartic experience to alliviate stress and various negative mental, emotional or physical states. These are decoded as being caused by bad spirits. Recipients are encourgaged to placate these. Ceremonies that involve dance cover a wide range of healing and exorcism objectives.

A birth dance

Belly dance was/is also used to facilitate easy childbirth and recovery. Dance anthropologist Morocco, describes how North African desert women use dance to sooth and relax, when they are in labour. She observed belly dance moves being performed by the birthing mother and the other women around her. These act to make the process of childbirth easier. Watching the other women dance seemed to have a hypnotic and relaxing effect on the experience of labour. The moves of belly dance are also good for pre and post pregnancy. The dance helps to tighten up the pelvic floor as well as enhance confidence and fitness generally.

A dance for the Goddess

There is much evidence to suggest that what we now call Middle Eastern dance, in the past was used as a form of Goddess worship. Bellydance can help women reconnect with this archetypal experience to be put in touch with her own power.This in no way has to compromise ones core spiritual beliefs. Women are not just bodies they are souls and minds. All dance forms are a combination of mind- body - soul. Bellydance is a form developed by women for women. Over thousands of years. If you connect with this energy you are this energy.

Muscle tone.

Belly dance improves muscle tone in a low impact way. Belly dance provides an increase in core strength, which provides stability in your body and improves Posture.

Burns the calories

Regular dancing will also help keep you trim. Avoiding weight gain can become harder as we get older, because ageing is associated with a loss in muscle mass and an increase in body fat. But as you joyfully shimmy across the floor, you'll be burning calories: (Around 300-600 per hour) You will also be toning up, building muscle and adding flexibility.

Good for your bones and joints

Dancing helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis because the steps and torso moves put a strain on your bones, helping them to stay strong and dense.The denser your bones are, the longer your bones will remain strong and less likely to fracture if you should fall. Also the dips, backbends, turns and side-to-side movements in belly dance make good use of your muscles and joints, helping to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.

Beautiful movement.

Other skills you'll develop as you learn to dance - poise and grace! A body always looks better if the person has good posture. Posture is a reflection of mental and emotional states. Have you noticed how confident people always have good posture? Standing better makes the physique look trimmer, the individual look more confident and taller. With regular practise of bellydance this becomes the default method of standing. All dance assists better coordination, balance and muscle strength. These are particularly important in later life as it helps to reduce the risk of falling.

Good for your mind.- How does bellydance sooth and uplift the mind? Belly dance is meditative and requires the mind to engage with the body, this gives the dancer a break from thoughts and worries that can sometimes torment us. This is similar to the effects of yoga or Tai Chi. In this state the spirit can flow through the body.

Studies have shown that physical activity is known to increase special neurotransmitter substances in the brain (endorphins), which create a state of well-being.

In various studies it has been demonstrated that exercise is almost as effective as anti depressants,in treating depression. In a Belly dance class we are in a group interacting in a positive and supportive way, this can create feelings of acceptance which is essential for psychological health. Laughing is something that happens a lot in belly dance classes. Laughing has been show in clinical tests to create big improvements in the body’s immune system. Belly dance,can keep your mind active as well as your body. The exercise we receive in class improves circulation and helps prevent oxygen starvation to the brain, and remembering complex steps stimulates the working memory. In fact, research suggests that dancing reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Not only can exercise slow mental decline, but it may actually enhance brain power. There is some evidence that listening to music while you exercise stimulates mental functioning more than silent activities. So regular dancing might even help you improve your IQ score! Stress can cause a variety of mental and physical problems,

Bellydance is a powerful de-stressing technique. Dance and movement are known to have physical and psychological benefits for those with mental illness. A Survey by the charity Mind found that 83% of people with mental health problems looked to exercise to help lift their mood or to reduce stress. Two-thirds said exercise helped to relieve the symptoms of depression and more than half said it helped to reduce symptons.

A recent study by academic Sarah Cook, who has personal experience of mental health problems, shows dance is a powerful therapeutic tool. As a student, she ended up in hospital for several months after becoming suicidally depressed. She discovered dance more than 10 years ago and has since used it as a way of dealing with grief, sorrow and other "stress-producing" emotions, quite literally dancing them out of her. She said: "I use dance as my personal strategy.” Dance is a way of dealing with feelings and releasing them, instead of locking them in and going to the doctor with depression and anxiety.

Builds friendships

There's another good reason why belly dance benefits the brain - an improved social life. Of course there is nothing to stop you turning up the volume and shimmying round your living room if you are inspired to do so. However, belly dancing tends to be a shared pursuit. Spending time with good friends can stimulate the mind and protect against mental decline. Being part of a group, team or community is one of the keys to a happy life, bringing emotional support and a sense of purpose. Middle Eastern dance involves women interacting as a group, sharing and intermingling the roles of audience and entertainer. Many studies show that belonging and interacting in a supportive group can help improve mental AND physical symptoms. A study of women with breast cancer, divided women into two groups- one in a support group and one that did not attend a group. Amazingly the support group had a significantly larger number of survivors than the women who were not in such a group.

Exciting and uplifting

Belly dance can still your mind and change your consciousness. Even watching a bellydancer can be a hypnotic yet exciting and uplifting experience. Bellydance was designed to express the feelings of joy and celebration. Even watching another body express this is an uplifting experience. You can literally, dance away your cares. You can embark on a stimulating voyage into new musical realms.

The sense of achievement you'll feel as you master complex moves is something that feels amazing - When you can see and feel your improvement with practice, it can give your confidence an enormous boost.

Improve body language

The body is frequently the vehicle that stores emotional pain. When a woman has bad body language which give victim signals, she is more likely to suffer abuse. Much research suggests that the way we view our selves is affected by others perceptions of us. If Middle Eastern dance is taught with this in mind and combined with psychological and feminist concepts, powerful, positive, postural changes can be the result. The effect of this is that it promotes positive feedback from others. People respond to confident, assertive body language by non-verbally communicating the affirmation that that person is powerful and worthy of respect. This feedback can only enhance self-esteem.

Dance shows and performances.

Performance is fun, builds team spirit, forges friendships and boosts self esteem.

Ishtar's Belly dance classes and workshops

Belly dance classes are all one hour long. They consist of technique, various modern and ethnic forms of Middle Eastern dance and Bollywood. Styles taught - Basic technique, Egyptian and Turkish cabaret /folkloric, flexibility and conditioning moves, drill combinations, khaligy ,Bollywood fusion, gothic. Cabaret and healing dance. toning exercise, choreography, trance dance, floor work, dancing with props (Zills, veil and canes, swords, fans. ) Occasionally, there is meditation and visualisation. Their is a really warm, inclusive, non-judgemental and friendly atmosphere in the classes. I believe people learn better in an encouraging and friendly environment.

For overall health it is important to include stretches and moves that involve virtually every part of the body. This is why Ishtar incorporates elements from Yoga,Tai chi and Pilates to really elevate health and wellbeing. The result is a completely holistic exercise.

Any show girls will have a chance to perform, at great venues.!

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