Shimmy your way to Fitness: The Mystical Art of Belly Dancing
It's an ancient art of seduction, an inevitable enticement identified with the fluid movement of the hands like serpents or ribbons flying in the air, swaying hips, undulating torso, and articulated isolations employed in a range of dynamic and emotional expressions - a rhythmic dance that evokes a language of its own.
Belly dance is a Western term for "raqs sharqi" which means dance of the East or dance of the Orient. In Europe it is called an Oriental dance. Similarly in Turkish, it is referred to as "oryantal dansi" or dance of the East. Although the exact origin of this dance form is unclear, it is believed to have descended from dances in early Egypt and from religious dance Temple Priestesses once practiced, and also is considered to have been a part of traditional birthing rituals and was spread from migrations of the Roma people or of related groups. Whatever the origin point, belly dance surely has a long and rich history and is now being widely practiced for several purposes.
Belly dancing often features the "roundness" of the woman's body in contrast to the modern Western cultural preference for flat abdomens. Most of the basic steps and techniques used includes circular motions isolated in one of the body; for example, a circle parallel to the floor isolated in the hips and shoulders. Accents using "pop and lock" where a dance either "shimmies" or makes a striking motion in her shoulders or hips are common, as are feats of flexibility, rolling one's belly muscles, and uses movements in every muscle group of the body.
No one understands this better than Carlyn Pangantihon, a belly dance instructor in Skyline Fitness and Winners Gym. She has been training belly dance enthusiasts for a little over a year now. "I was self-taught, I was intrigued at the same time inspired by the movements and the costumes that goes with belly dancing, so I learned the skill from watching and imitating belly dance videos," she says. At first she started practicing an hour a day but due to the invigorating results it does on her body, she began increasing the time she spends on perfecting each movements and techniques. "I started to ask myself questions as to why the dancers portraying in the videos have tight muscles and lithe body. As I went on learning, I discovered that the more rigorously you work on that particular body part, the more it becomes firm and strong." Seeing her perform, it is not surprising why she easily mastered the art of belly dancing given a short time. She had a major in dance and sports at Western Visayas State University, thus exposing her to different types of dance. "By day, I work in a pre-need company, and teach ballet lessons to kids in Sta. Barbara, my hometown. And then teach belly dancing here in the city later in the afternoon." She recounts that belly dancing is predominantly a fitness class but over time it become more than just enhancing the physical aspect of the exercise. Dancing provides a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength. Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular isolations, teaching the ability to move various muscles or muscle groups independently. "Our sessions here besides reaping the heath benefits of each lessons also became an avenue for my students to relieve tension by just being lost with the movements itself, having an improved sense of well-being, and better body image and self-esteem as it becomes their enjoyable past time as much as exercise."
Three of her students, Rufina Aquino, Ma. Cynthia Baterna, and Gloria Legarde, all professionals, happily professed the changes belly dancing did on them. They revealed to have lost several fats, became curvier, freed them of stress and made them rest and sleep better at night. There is certainly truth in it because besides being a form of art, belly dancing is believed to be the quickest way to achieve firmness and reduces stress related illnesses. An intense sixty minute session may burn around 330 calories and at the same time works out for physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual expansion as well as introducing the individual to a multitude of creative, social, cultural and fantasy avenues. It too creates a drama through the crafts of costumes, exercise and self-expression. "Belly dancing is a graceful, and seductive dance. The music itself is sexy and enigmatic. It's a very enjoyable way of exercise," says Carlyn. She even have Korean students, most of which she happily recounts as stiff dancers.
For those who awkwardly have two left foot, there is still a better chance for you to learn some moves. All you need is just a hip sequined scarf, a pair of hips, and a desire to dance. "I've had students who has zero skills when they started but as the lessons went on, they grew more intuitive with the way their body moves and began to follow their own rhythm."
Beneath the surface of its fitness appeal, belly dancers share a common understanding about what it's like to be a woman and the liberating need to express oneself through the body. It is as if you were given a poetic voice, a new range of physical mobility, or an expanding singing range or a pair of wings to fly. It is a liberation towards a rich, personal and joyful experience of life.
This is a frivolous activity to indulge when you find yourself bored or getting too stressed out! Take a few minutes to have fun. Put on that glittery bra and frolic in the vitality of your own rhythm. You may be surprised to find a goddess within you.