Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

[LisaAC]

I used to Delly Dance back in the 1980's when I was down to 143, AND could fit into my costume. Now, I'm lucky to get the danged skirt on. (it's not so bad because that sucker's velcrowed)

Anyways, does anyone else use Belly Dancing to tone and exercise?
I've been thinking about getting back into it.

[vmckelvie]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

Hi Lisa,
I L.O.V.E. my bellydance!

In my skinnier times, I used to perform and teach, and I even travelled to Egypt (stayed a month) to do workshops with the Egyptians (which was fantastic!)

I have kept up my bellydance at home - Dont have tapes per se, but I just dance old routines, whilst trying to make up some new ones, because I so want to be able to go back to performing!

When going to the gym and having my first assessment I had the nasty fat calipers placed on my skin, I was so surprised to find I have the least amount of fat around my belly (I definitely wouldnt have thought it!) but I think this is most definitely due to bellydance.

Belly Rolls, undulations I believe are fantastic for toning! Actually bellydance I think is really good, because you are isolating muscles and gaining core strength! Even a good old hip drop or shimmy will get those pounds, melting!

Put it this way, I have never lost the line done either side of my abs, and I swear that is from bellydance!

[Desertthorn]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

About a year ago we had some belly dancing posters too. Try the search engine and see what pops up

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

About a year ago we had some belly dancing posters too. Try the search engine and see what pops up

Cool. Thank you. I'll definately look it up.

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

Hi Lisa,
I L.O.V.E. my bellydance!

In my skinnier times, I used to perform and teach, and I even travelled to Egypt (stayed a month) to do workshops with the Egyptians (which was fantastic!)

Wow, that's fantastic. I know the Egyptians use belly dance a bit different than we do. It's not uncommon to have a bellydancer at the wedding reception from what I understand.

I had two instuctors, one was a friend of mine also. Her name is Amira and she's from Roanoke Virginia. She's very well known in this area, but used to travel to other places to perform.

She was told once that her style was Turkish. I've never learned Egyptian style, but would love to. A friend of mine was learning a while back via a YMCA course.

I think I'll dig out my old starter tape I began with. The name was "The Art Of Oriental Dance" I learned to do the back bend for floor work, but let me tell ya, it took me a month of trying to get flexible enough to slowly lower myself to the floor, in an arch, and come back up. LOL Now way I could do that at the moment, but hopefully soon.

Our dance troupe, the first person to person instruction I had, made our own costumes. I thought I was never going to get that bra covered. Had to hand sew that thing.

[floydgirl]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

I currently am taking belly dancing lessons. I find it more of a spiritual exercise, meaning it really gets me in tune with how my body works. I think it is very graceful, mysterious and beautiful. I am getting ready for a performance in April.

I use belly dancing as a supplement to my regular exercise routine. It is something I enjoy doing very much.

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

I currently am taking belly dancing lessons. I find it more of a spiritual exercise, meaning it really gets me in tune with how my body works. I think it is very graceful, mysterious and beautiful. I am getting ready for a performance in April.

I use belly dancing as a supplement to my regular exercise routine. It is something I enjoy doing very much.

Actually, Belly dancing was used for many reasons. One was a celebration of life & harvest, and in some cultures a celebration of the Goddess. (depending on your beliefs)

That's fantastic. I miss performing. One of these days I'm gonna refit back into my costume. LOL.

I was noticing your nickname. Are you by chance from Floyd Virginia?

[floydgirl]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

I was noticing your nickname. Are you by chance from Floyd Virginia?

No, I'm from Pennsylvania.

I love Pink Floyd -- the band. That is why I call myself Floydgirl. lol

My belly dancing teacher emphasized with us that it is a celebratory type of dance. She prefers the Turkish form of belly dancing, so that is what I am learning. I love, love, love the music, too. Belly dancing is one of the nicest things I've ever done for myself. I highly recommend it.

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

No, I'm from Pennsylvania.

I love Pink Floyd -- the band. That is why I call myself Floydgirl. lol

My belly dancing teacher emphasized with us that it is a celebratory type of dance. She prefers the Turkish form of belly dancing, so that is what I am learning. I love, love, love the music, too. Belly dancing is one of the nicest things I've ever done for myself. I highly recommend it.

One of my teachers did mostly Turkish as well. I don't think either of them really knew what type they did, they just did it. lol.

I've a friend that was learning the Egyptian style. Seems there are so many different forms.

I love looking at the costumes too. The cabaret style is nice, but I find myself liking the peasant styles too.

[Maerow]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

Yes, I belly dance too.

I bought a bunch of DVDs off Amazon and I am using those to learn it. I needed some form of excersize that I could enjoy, otherwise I knew I would never stick with it.

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

The videos are a great way to start. That's what I did, because all the classes at the time were full.
If you can find a class later on that will help you smooth out your moves. A video can only do so much, but it's a fantastic start. Not to mention you can play the movements over and over again until you've got it right.

[vmckelvie]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

Bellydance is pretty universal eh? and the different styles are very beautiful, I think

I have found the main difference between Turkish (sometimes called Raqs Sharki) and "egyptian" is that when learning turkish, the emphasis is placed with the hips. Hips are used to mark time, with an upward thrust, whilst when doing classical, its the opposite and the beat is marked by dropping them, in time to the music.

Both very beautiful dance forms, and Turkish is alot of fun, because it tends to be mainly upbeat and sometimes reminds me very much of a gypsy style... its amazing how you can get a different look to your routine, just by changing your hip drops

Tribal is a blast too! Google Rachel Brice, Man I would kill for her control and isolation!!!

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

I never knew that when I did shimmies that my shoulders moved. LMAO.
My instructor let me know and I learned to isolate them.
I love doing hip moves. That's half the fun. I have a purple
sheer skirt that I normally also either wear an underskirt or
I wear harem pants with. I love the way the skirt flows.
I love veil work too.

[vmckelvie]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

Lisa - I love veil work!

Double veil is my absolute favourite!!! I have a yummy pair of silk veils, that I actually bought from America. They cost me a fortune, but man they are beautiful!!!

Shimmies are great arent they? It took me ages to get comfortable with all my jiggly bits but I had so much fun with it!

I remember first learning, and I swear I would roll around in laughter when first trying to do this!

[LisaAC]

Re: Belly Dancing For Exercise And Toning?

We used to tease about belly rolls. I had a male friend of mine say "hey, I can show you a belly roll!" Then he dropped to the floor and rolled like a log. I thought I was going to burst my sides I was laughing so hard. It was totally unexpected.

Oh wow, another person who does double veils.
One of my favorite things is to wrap a veil around my body, as if it were a Sari.
Then I'd come out on stage with a veil over my head. It would drape down.
The arms would be the only thing moving and visable, besides the feet.
As the music speeds up, my hands find the way to the top (middle) of the veil at my head and I spin a few time which makes it float above me. Then
I get it by the ends.