Health Benefits of Belly Dancing - Article Example

Health Benefits of Belly Dancing Belly dancing is also referred to as Raks Sharki. It is a type of popular dance around the world that makes use of the attractive hip drops, trunk, spine and the neck to operate with the body instead of being against it. Usually, when a belly dancer performs the dance, she utilizes her quadriceps, hamstring and also glute just to hold her steady while she performs the hip movement. “The impact on her knees and ankles are at a minimal even when she gets a lower-body workout. This is due to the fact that the impact is how much stress is placed on her joints and not how hard her legs impact the ground” according to Coluccia et al. (2005). Furthermore, it is a very sexy dance to watch while one performs. On the other hand, belly dancing comes with many health benefits. Therefore, the sole purpose of this study is to examine the health benefits of belly dance. Belly dancing is beneficial for mental and emotional health Bossonis, “belly dancing accompanied by music is a very good ingredient at de-stressing/ stress reduction. Moreover, dancing to the music one is passionate about” (2004). In addition, the joy of it is when an individual shares how it helps reduce stress to friends. Due to how many women are busy nowadays, it is important that to treat stress reduction as a necessity other than a luxury. This is because belly dancing helps eliminate the destructive stress and thus it acts as a form of self care. Once an individual masters the art of belly dancing, the greatest type of mental and emotional health is that it increases one’s self esteem. A person is able to gain more self confidence and above all one becomes more agile. On the other hand, the art of belly dancing utilizes movements that generally women are blessed with naturally. More so, as one increases the masterly of all movements of belly dancing, the movements start flowing naturally and they lead to one developing a more positive attitude towards oneself (Health Benefits of Belly Dance 2012). Akademi, “Happiness and joy develop as one attains more and more confidence. The body becomes stronger. It increases mental recovery and emotional breakdown. Belly dancing makes one feel good about their selves which leads to self acceptance, joy and happiness” (2014). The positive side effects of belly dancing bring joy in one’s life enough to tackle life stresses and thus an improved mental and emotional health. Belly dancing is beneficial for external physical health Every human beings spinal column contains numerous bones and ligaments than any other body part. It has thirty three vertebrae stacked one on top of each other. Every movement of the torso is dependent on the flexibility and function of the spinal cord. Coluccia et al. states that “during belly dancing, muscles that are attached to the ligaments and vertebrae generate movement to the trunk and pelvic areas which stimulates muscle toning and flexibility” (2005). In addition, the toned muscles help improve the body posture preventing back pain which is mostly the cause of bending. Belly dancing involves numerous coordinate movements of the body. Scientifically, belly dancing has been found to use or burn between three to four hundred calories per hour. However, the intensity varies from one person to another depending on one’s movements. Moreover, when combined with a healthy diet, belly dancing acts as a weight reduction program. Bossonis states that “it does not matter the number of dancing practices one may have because even if its ones a week the body feels the benefits of the dance” (2004). However, many psychologists who specialize in exercises advocate more belly dancing practices hence a weight reduction program. The belly dancing movements enhance a superb prenatal exercise regimen that is important in strengthening the muscles during childbirth. This is because of the natural hip tucks and the toned abdominal tucks which are compared to the pelvic rocking exercises taught during prenatal classes. Coluccia et al., “belly dancing enhances the ability to control muscles in expectant mothers and it also facilitates natural birth as well as fabulous post-natal exercises which are beneficial to abdominal toning” (2005). In the first weeks after childbirth during the healing process, the movements work the muscles effectively and gently. Belly dancing is beneficial for internal physical health According to Akademi, “continuous practice of belly dancing leads to the effect of strengthening of the earth shimmies” (2014). This implies inner physical strength whereby one feels that the feet being strong and earthed. The strength also translates to the flow of energy in one’s self because even the confidence as well coordination of the body is enabled. Earthy feet also imply that one is able to walk with confidence in the midst of a multitude during performances and other occasions. Studies have depicted and clearly stipulated that belly dancing is a cure to sexual health in women. First of all, it helps to solve menstruation problems in women mostly those who undergo painful periods. This leads to internal physical health because the continous movements of the belly translate into improving the uterus muscles by reducing crumps. Women who practiced belly dancing had a more positive approach to their menstruation and sexuality (Unknown 2014). The other internal physical benefit of belly dancing is the fact that it aids in digestion. Belly dancing helps in the abdominal area exercises which not only are rolling off the belly, but by swaying the torso. It further translates into aiding in the food movement along the digestive system. Therefore, belly dancing is appreciated because of the purpose it serves in aiding digestion (Health Benefits of Belly Dance 2012). Belly dancing can promote spiritual health Several cultures that started the art of belly dancing such as Indians, Middle East etc. practiced it as a sacred dance. On a spiritual basis, the movements and prayer were merged as one where it was practiced as a form of personal healing enhancing energy simulation and connecting the mind, body and spirit. Some people believe that the eight configurations during belly dancing are descriptive in nature of stipulating the universal inception. Al-Rawi states that “people found that the creative movements of belly dancing expressed their personalities and individuality because the dance freed the spirits and nourished the body and soul” (1999). The middle East and other world’s part that practice belly dancing used the dance with specific intentions that were meant to heal certain types of diseases. For instance, the Shamans use belly dancing to commune with the healing spirits to offer aid to their parents. Another example is the Guedra in North Africa that practices a more improvised type of belly dance with finger movements to transmit a form of healing to the people. This form of belly dancing was not exorcism in nature but it was natural that offered purely beneficial happiness and joy. It was also believed that it alleviated negative mental conditions such as stress thus it was very spiritual in healing (Akademi 2014). Belly dancing is good for the mind and it was and still believed that it soothes the mind further enabling the meditative process. Al-Rawi, “belly dancing requires that the mind and body to engage in order to help the dancer get rid of worries that can torment one” (1999). It also enhanced communication with the spirits according to cultures that practiced the art of superstition that offered prayers to the goddess such as Indian culture. It thus offered the wellbeing of good spiritual health. Conclusion Belly dancing is very beneficial in so many aspects. It is a dance that is encompassed by very attractive hip drops, trunk, spine and the neck to operate with the body instead of against it. it offers the opportunity for physical internal and external healing. It also offers emotional and mental health benefits as well as spiritual health benefits. It is a dance that is very attractive to watch people perform. Therefore, I would recommend this dance to many women as possible because the benefits of the dance outweigh the exhaustion it may bring. I would love to attend a belly dancing performance because it’s very awesome. Works Cited Bossonis, Rania. Bellydancing for fitness. Gloucester, Mass.: Fair Winds Press, 2004. Print. Al-Rawi, Rosina-Fawzia B. Grandmother's secrets. New York: Interlink Books, 1999. Print. Coluccia et al. Belly dancing. Rochester, Vt.: Park Street Press, 2005. Print Unknown. "Health Benefits of Belly Dancing." worldbellydance.com, 2012. Web. 6 Apr 2014. . Akademi, Lofkosa. "International Belly Dancing - Health Benefits." Internationalbellydancing.com, 2014. Web. 6 Apr 2014. . Unknown. "Bellydance & Goddess Classes, Workshops, Performances & Events :: Bellydance & & Goddess : retreat, holiday, articles bellydancer Merseyside, Wirral and Nationwide - Bellydance as Therapy."Bellydancemerseyside.co.uk, 2014. Web. 6 Apr 2014. . Read More