THE BENEFITS OF BELLY DANCE:

“Once a week I put my everyday life on hold and go to belly dance class…..it’s like therapy for me!”

This is a quote by Yolanda Martinez – one of the many women currently attending and loving belly dance classes through Hourglass Bellydance.

Belly dance is experiencing a wave of popularity across the United States. Women of all ages and from all walks of life are learning that belly dance is a great way to exercise, lose weight, make friends, and reconnect with their femininity and sensuality.

Belly dance is a fun way to exercise!

We all know the scenario. With each new year, gyms and exercise studios everywhere fill up as folks lay down their hard earned money in order to tone up and lose weight. For the first couple of months everyone is very dedicated and enthusiastic, but then the realization hits – traditional exercise is hard work and not much fun! At this point, people begin to find reasons for not going to the gym, exercise comes to a halt, and many are right back where they started…minus a few bucks.

Many women are surprised at just how much they sweat in belly dance class. Belly dance is a low-impact exercise allowing you to burn calories without a lot of jumping or bouncing. At the same-time, it is a major weight-bearing exercise because the dancer is on her feet and moving throughout the dance, strengthening bones and helping prevent osteoporosis. Belly dance tones the back, hips, thighs, buttocks, abdominals, pelvic floor muscles and even the arms. During the dance, arms are typically held aloft and often ladies find it takes a few lessons to build up the necessary arm strength.

Belly dance will help improve your posture and flexibility. Belly dance students are constantly reminded to slightly tuck the tailbone, to pull in the lower abs, to raise and open the chest, and to set the shoulders back and down. Flexibility and range of motion are improved through repetition of circular movements that are basic to belly dance.

You will make great friends in belly dance class!

This is an unexpected bonus. You will meet some of the nicest, most unassuming women in belly dance class…truly! The relaxed sense of community in a belly dance class is really quite amazing considering the variety of women who attend. You will find women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities attending class; moms, kids, singles, teens, grandmothers, professionals, and housewives.  Believe me, you will fit right in!

Build self-confidence and reconnect with your femininity and sensuality!

Belly dance is a dance that celebrates women and illuminates the beauty of the female form. Many women discover it leads to an enhanced sense of self. It is every woman’s dance and once a woman begins taking classes, she will likely notice that she carries herself differently and has a greater confidence in herself and in her body.

Lorrie Pierce