Bellydance your way to fitness

Posted on May 31st 2007 6:50AM by Lauren Greschner

Filed Under: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness

Anyone who loves to dance knows that not only is getting a good groove on a lot of fun, it is also a pretty great workout. Fitz posted recently on the hot bodies gliding across the floor on Dancing with the Stars and Martha wrote about how dancing is becoming a hot new fitness craze.

One type of body-moving I'm interested in, but haven't yet had the chance to try, is belly dancing. Every time I see a group of women moving their hips and tummies to a Middle Eastern beat, I'm incredibly impressed by both their self confidence and how hard they work.

Are you interested in trying out this exotic craze but are intimidated or want to know a bit more about it? Take a look here for some history, cool details about the dance -- including the fact that belly dancing is good for both aerobic fitness as well as toning -- and information on how to get started. If you're already addicted to the dance, why do you like it and how did you get started?

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Tags: belly, craze, dance, dancing, fitness, fun

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

katie 5-31-2007 @ 2:31PM

I love bellydancing. I've been learning from friends and dvd's. The best way to learn is classes, but if they aren't available (or like me, they get canceled the day before...) there are a number of videos geared towards beginners, fitness-seekers, club dancers or love of the dance form.

And its easy to practice, put on some music and move your hips!

What I really love is the body and size acceptance in dancing itself. You don't have to be skinny to bellydance -- and having a belly makes moves look better!

Starr 5-31-2007 @ 2:31PM

I love Bellydance for fitness. It is friendly for all ages and body types. In fact at most Bellydance gatherings, I see more older women (and men) than younger. I dance a style called American Tribal Style, which involves more group activity and a lot more clothes (smile). In fact my costume weighs in sometimes at about 10 pounds.

Eileen 6-08-2007 @ 9:35AM

So glad to see belly dance first thing this morning! I have been dancing American Tribal Style belly dance and performing at local midwest renaissance faires for three years. I absolutely love it.

Some good places to find belly dance in your area: college rec centers, YMCA's, parks & recreation departments, fitness centers, local dance studios, and of course, the listings on Shira.net

Namaste!
Eileen

Hadiyyah 6-04-2007 @ 2:45PM

I've been in classes for 3 years and absolutely love it. The dance, the culture, the history, the costuming and the camaraderie are so much fun! Most dancers I've talked to at vendor's shows and haflas say that it took them about 8 years to feel that they were really proficient (8 seems to always be the answer) but I figure I'm 1/3 of the way there so I'm going to keep on. I have to drive an hour one way to class but it's so worth it, it's my one indulgence. The last hafla I danced at, I met a woman who had just started in her 70s. The best thing about belly dance is that it celebrates *all* female bodies.

whitney 6-04-2007 @ 2:46PM

It is true that you tend to see older people bellydancing, but I'm just 20 and I love it! I always thought it looked so cool and so eventually I just bought a dvd and went at it. It's a great way to get started and get a little bit more comfortable with it if you are wary of taking classes knowing nothing. I have 3 workout dvds now that I use regularly and I'm thinking about joining a class. Great way to have fun, drop a few pounds, and tone up!

Zoria 6-04-2007 @ 3:28PM

How amazing to see belly dance this afternoon! I have been dancing and taking classes for 3 years, and now I am blessed with being able to teach the style as well. I take and teach cabaret (glitter and shimmies) style and Tribal (darker and tight isolations) style. I saw many videos and found a school near me and I've never looked back.
It's a fantastic way to not only excercise and feel great about yourself, but to be in a welcoming place with wonderful women (and men!).

Thanks for putting information up about this fantastic dance. I think more people should join up and see how much better you can feel about your body and yourself, and who doesn't need a big dose of feminine support!

brittany 6-04-2007 @ 4:42PM

hey i like moving my hips it is a lot of fun and more people can try it because u can lose wate and all that
ttly

Molly 6-04-2007 @ 5:35PM

The best thing about bellydance is the self esteem you gain from it. Our class had every size, age, shape, and color, but we were all united for an hour every week to celebrate being women. We learned that a woman's body is beautiful no matter what shape it is.

It's also a blast to perform for your friends. Specifically, males.

racergurl 6-05-2007 @ 3:45PM

I love belly dancing and have been doing it for about a year and a half. I agree with most of what this article says, but one thing. You won't get tone by just doing belly dance like once a week. You have to do other things like cardio and lift weights. Sure, belly dance helps, but you won't see a big change physically just through belly dance. Also, many ppl who do belly dance do not fit the physical image of what a woman is supposed to be. Belly dancers come in all shapes and sizes. I encourage everyont to try this fun and challenging dance!

daddysgirl7224 6-04-2007 @ 6:17PM

I love to bellydance and i do it as a personal hobby. It keeps me fit and active. You will find that if you put any type of music on, your body will flow with it. I just turn on the radio and bellydance! In my opinion, Bellydancing is really, really fun. I think more people should try this and I'm glad that some people finally reconize it. Bellydancing is a fun way to stay fit.

Mehirah 6-04-2007 @ 6:23PM

I love bellydancing and have been doing it for 3 years. In July I will reach the 4 year mark of my bellydancing journey. I'm at the bellydancing studio at least 3 times a week and yes it does keep me in shape. I love this dance because women with any shape and size and age can do this dance. If you are in the Columbus, OH area check out www.habeebas.com.

Katharine 6-04-2007 @ 7:15PM

I love belly dancing, and that's saying a lot because I'm only 12 years old. So for whoever says belly dancing is for older women, they're really wrong. I've been taking it for almost a year, and all I can say is it's really great! It's a great workout and if you like dancing, then you should try it! So if I'm 12 and I can do it, then I think anyone can do it. I suggest Egyptian Belly Dancing, which is the one I take. It increases fitness, posture, and self confidence no matter what size or age you are. I suggest it to anyone who loves dancing and wants to stay fit!

Sierra 6-04-2007 @ 7:16PM

Hi, My name is Sierra and i am only 12!!! I have been belly dancing since the age of 4!!! I am indian so it comes naturally!!! I also indian dance so i am a pro at both dance types!!! I have taught 10 people how to belly dance and now they are great but not exacly any where close to how good i am. well they are all american so it is a little harder for them to learn the different body movements. I do a belly dance from India( Since im indian) which is more of a cultural/traditional and harder type of belly dancing!!! The really cool part is Im only 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

iman 6-04-2007 @ 8:43PM

i love bellydancing.i'm egyptian, so i've been doing this for my whole life.and i've often wondered why egyptians are always so thin!this is a great workout,i reccomend it for everyone!

Florez 6-04-2007 @ 11:07PM

Soy colombiana y me encanta Shakira!! I was absolutely amazed by her talents with belly dancing and my friend and I decided to take it up last summer. We found a place in my neighborhood and it was such a fun experience. I've been doing it for over a year now and I absolutley love it. The environment was so much fun, you could get an awesome work out and still have fun being cute. I really recommend belly dancing.

dancergoddess89 6-04-2007 @ 11:08PM

I love belly dancing! It really is such a fabulous workout!
I actually enjoyed it so much i became a belly dance teacher because I want to share the greatness of this dance to EVERYONE!!!

sam 6-04-2007 @ 11:08PM

hey i love belly dancing! i have always wanted to try but havent been able to find a class in chittenden county vermont that teaches it. Can anyone recomend some way to learn it becuase i really want to, for exercise, fun and to inpress them boys at prom!

alilove27 6-05-2007 @ 9:44AM

Wow what a coincidence, I was so excited to see this here today! I just recently moved across the country on a new adventure, and am trying out new activities to get a feel for the culture and the people here. At work today, a friend and coworker of mine mentioned that she takes belly dance classes down the road and invited me to come join... I was so excited! I have done some of the videos and absolutely loved it. I am in my 20s but have been living with arthritis and a collagen/join condition in my hips and knees since childhood.. my physical therapists always recommend pilates type exercizes for core strength without the impact on the joints. One thing about belly dancing as a workout is CORE CORE CORE!!! So good for anyone trying to strengthen that area, for any reason. I cant wait to start my first class tomorrow.. rock on belly dancin sistas!!!

niki 6-07-2007 @ 7:35PM

I tried to get my friend to take a class with me...she's 5'1" and wears a 16 to a 20, and she didn't want to do it. Then we went to the mall and they were having an exhitbition and she saw a woman who was her size tastefully dressed and bellydancing. The cheers the women of all shapes were recieving encouraged her to try it. Now if we could only find a class to take it in our area....I'm glad it celebrates the beauty of our bodys, the way we move, and that everyone can look different and that is ok....

Lauren Greschner 6-07-2007 @ 10:33AM

Thanks to all of you belly dancing beauties for your positive comments about both the post and the dance. You've convinced me to go for it and give it a try!