How to Belly Dance for Fitness
Belly dancing is a hip new way of staying fit in a communal and supportive atmosphere. It appeals to anyone looking for a way to break out of his or her old fitness routine. Belly dancing tones muscle while accentuating curves and can be learned by dancers of all fitness levels.
Instructions
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Do a Belly Roll
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Stand straight, with your knees relaxed, and put your hands on your hips.
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Suck in your diaphragm while you relax your pelvic muscles.
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Relax the diaphragm while tightening the pelvic muscles.
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Repeat over and over in a flowing manner, while imagining that your navel is making a full rotation: down, in, up and out.
Belly Dance for Fitness
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Wear the right clothes. Belly dancing clothing is suggested, but anything loose and comfortable will do when you're just getting started. Belly dancing is performed barefooted.
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Trim your midsection, thighs and hips while learning to shimmy. Belly dancing is non-competitive and stress-free. Go at your own pace and stop if you feel tired. And don't be surprised to see men in your class--belly dancing is beginning to cross gender lines.
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Get out what you put in. Depending on the length and frequency of your sessions you can get a body-shaping workout that firms and tones while strengthening muscles. Because belly dancing is low-impact, chance of injury is rare so dancers of all ages and health levels can reap the benefits.
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Improve your posture and balance through belly dancing by building abs and strengthening back muscles. Learning to control abdominal muscles takes practice and many strengthening exercises can be done anywhere, anytime.
Learn the Basics of Belly Dance for Fitness
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Join a belly dancing class near you. Many gyms, community centers and local colleges are beginning to offer classes.
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Find an instructor in your area by contacting local belly dancing performers who may be able to point you in the right direction, or consult Internet directories such as the one at Shira.net (see Resources below).
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Learn to belly dance for fitness with the help of DVDs found online at BellyTwins.com and ActiveVideo.com (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
Consult a doctor before you begin belly dancing if you are pregnant or haven't exercised in a while.
Don't belly dance during the first 6 weeks of your pregnancy, as it puts too much pressure on the pelvic floor.
