The Top 5 Health Benefits of Belly Dancing

You may already be familiar with the various gyrating and undulating moves that are an integral part of exotic belly dancing. What you may not know is how belly dance classes can positively affect your health, vitality and wellbeing.
Traditional Middle-Eastern style bellydance comprises of graceful movements that come naturally to the female form. Whilst you hip drop, sway and shimmy, you are utilising the muscle groups in the abdomen, pelvis, trunk, spine, and neck.
1. Improved Posture
Belly dancing lessons London improve posture and offer a great lower body workout that strengthens the muscles in the legs, with minimal impact to the knees and ankles. Use of the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes allows you to hold your body steady whilst performing the sways and shimmies. Bellydance improves balance, tones the muscles, and helps to relieve stress to the back. Belly dancing counteracts the constant compression of the spinal discs and maintains flexibility. It can also strengthen the bones and prevent osteoporosis.
2. Enhanced Muscle Tone
Bellydance is a safe, fun and effective way to exercise and tone all muscle groups. The combination of movements puts the muscles, joints and ligaments through a full range of repetitive motion that is gentle on the lower back and hips. Flexibility and suppleness are enhanced during the low-impact weight-bearing movements. The toning effect is evident on the legs, back, shoulders and arms.

3. Less Stress

When you lose yourself in the music and repetitive movements of belly dance you become instantly calmer and less stressed. The concentration that is required, to perform many of the moves during advanced belly dance lessons, can help your mind switch off from everyday worries. One of the many negative aspects of stress is the way in which it physically impacts on the body. It can cause muscles in the back, neck and shoulders to tense up, causing contractions or spasms. This often results in soreness and pain. Rhythmic belly dancing increases the flow of blood to the muscles, flushing away the lactic acid that causes pain and discomfort.
4. Weight Management

Whilst belly dancing doesn’t offer the same cardiovascular benefits as an intense workout at the gym, it can still burn up to 300 calories per hour. As a regular workout, belly dancing classes London can help you manage your weight, when combined with a healthy diet. Many women who enjoy belly dance also choose to boost their dance routine with additional aerobic and cardiovascular exercise.
5. Childbirth Prep
The gentle rhythmic motions of belly dance are a great prenatal exercise routine. The pelvic rocking is beneficial in teaching expectant mothers how to move the pelvis during natural childbirth. These post-natal muscle control exercises help to tone the abdominal muscles, and to improve circulation to the pelvic area. After giving birth, belly dancing can help you gradually ease your body back into an exercise regime.
Advisory Note: It’s important to check with your medical provider before starting any new form of exercise, especially if you are pregnant or have existing medical problems.