Belly dancing can be traced back to regions in the Middle East, Africa, as well as the Mediterranean. This exotic dance is no longer just a form of entertainment.
Uniquely designed for the female body, belly dancing has recently invaded many gyms and fitness centers. Belly dancing workouts are perfect for toning the abs, hips, chest, and buttocks.
Belly Dancing Benefits
Belly dancing is fun but it also gives a fantastic workout. This dance is not just an aimless wiggling of the hips. Belly dancers get a wonderful abs workout that targets the core muscles including the obliques and deep transverse abdominals.
Belly dancing workouts offer the following benefits:
Weight Loss
High intensity belly dancing provides a workout that can help you lose weight. You can lose as much as 300 calories in an hour of belly dancing. This workout is perfect for those who want to lose weight in a fun and enjoyable way.
With regular practice, you will notice a difference in your waistline and how your clothes fit. This is a great workout for those who are looking to improve their body shape and lose weight.
Flexibility and Posture
Belly dancing helps improve flexibility and posture. The hip movements involved in this dance help open up the hips and increase range of motion. Belly dancers also have to engage their deep abdominal muscles to maintain correct posture while they are dancing.
This helps to improve posture and prevent back pain. The increased flexibility and improved posture will also help you in your day-to-day activities.
No more sitting all day at a desk with poor posture!
Relaxation and Stress Relief
Belly dancing is a great way to relax and relieve stress. The movements help to release tension from the muscles and the mind. The music is also very relaxing and can help to calm the mind.
This is a great workout for those who are looking to destress and relax.
Tones the Muscles
Belly dancing offers a full body workout that tones and strengthens the muscles. The dance movements also improve the body’s flexibility and posture.
This workout is perfect for those who are looking to tone their muscles, improve their flexibility, and correct their posture.
Improves Balance
Belly dancing helps improve balance and coordination. The movements involved in this dance require the use of different muscle groups. This helps to improve the body’s overall balance and coordination.
This is a great workout for those who are looking to improve their balance and coordination.
Getting Started
Belly dancing is a low-impact cardio workout that can help tone your core muscles. Many of the movements in belly dancing focus on specific muscle groups.
A belly dance exercise routine can combine movements that will strengthen your abs, back, chest, legs, thighs, buttocks, and arms.
The following traditional belly dance movements can get you started on a belly dancing workout:
Hip Circle: Hip circles exercise the obliques and also the glutes. Start by standing with your feet hip-wide apart. Lift your arms slightly at your sides.
Now shift your hips over to the right and move them in a circular motion, rotating to the front, left and then back. Pretend you are hula-hooping. Repeat the movement in the opposite direction. Make your movements fluid and graceful
Rib Slide: This belly dancing workout tones the abdominal muscles and obliques. Stand with your hands on your hips and place your feet together.
Move only your ribs to the left, back to the center of your torso, and then to the right. Keep your hips and lower body steady. Continue moving from side to side.
Vertical Figure Eight: This belly dancing exercise routine works out the lower portion of your rectus abdominus and oblique’s. Stand with your feet hid-width apart and your arms raised to your sides. Lift your right hip and heel and lean to the right.
Drop the hip and heel and return the hips to the center. Repeat the movement to the left side. Combine the movements to both sides in a smooth motion. Imagine yourself drawing a figure 8 with your belly button on the wall in front of you.
Shimmy: This is a fun and easy belly dancing move that works the entire body. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms raised to your sides. Shake your hips from side to side.
You can also move your arms and upper body to the rhythm of the music. This is a great cardio workout that will get your heart pumping.
Belly Rolls: Belly rolls tone the entire abdominal region. Sit on the ground with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Rest your hands on the ground behind you for support.
Lean back slightly and engage your core muscles. Roll your shoulders up to your ears and then back down again.
Continue rolling your shoulders as you lift your hips off the ground and roll them from side to side. Make sure to keep your core engaged throughout the entire movement.
Belly Dancer’s Pose: This is a great stretch for the entire body. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms raised to your sides. Lift your right leg and place your foot on the inside of your left thigh.
Inhale and lengthen your torso. Exhale and bend your left knee, bringing your thigh parallel to the ground. Stay in this position for a few breaths and then switch sides.
As you can see, there are many different belly dancing moves that can help tone your muscles and improve your flexibility. This is a great workout for those who are looking to get started on a fitness routine.
Belly dancing is a low-impact cardio workout that can help tone your core muscles. Many of the movements in belly dancing focus on specific muscle groups.
A belly dance exercise routine can combine movements that will strengthen your abs, back, chest, legs, thighs, buttocks, and arms. The following traditional belly dance movements can get you started on a belly dancing workout:
Belly Dancing Workout
Now that you know some of the basic belly dancing moves, you can put together a belly dancing workout routine. A typical belly dance routine will last for about 30 minutes.
You can do the routine 3-4 times per week to see results. Remember to warm up before starting your routine and cool down afterwards.
If you want to add some cardio to your routine, you can do some light aerobic exercises such as jogging in place or jumping jacks. You can also add some light weights to your routine to help tone your muscles.
Here is an example of a belly dancing workout routine:
Warm-up
Start by doing some light aerobic exercises such as jogging in place or jumping jacks. Do this for 5 minutes to get your heart rate up.
Belly Dance Moves
After warming up, start doing some of the basic belly dance moves that we listed above. Do each move for 1 minute and then take a 30 second break in between movements. Repeat the entire routine 3-4 times.
Cool-down
After completing your routine, take a few minutes to cool down. You can do some light stretches or walk around the room. Make sure to drink plenty of water after your workout.
Now that you know some basic belly dancing moves, you can put together your own routine. Remember to warm up before starting and cool down afterwards. You can also add some light cardio and weights to your routine to help tone your muscles.
Final Words
Belly dancing is a great workout for those who are looking to get started on a fitness routine. It is a low-impact cardio workout that can help tone your core muscles. Many of the movements in belly dancing focus on specific muscle groups.
With regular practice, you will see an improvement in your muscle tone and flexibility. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start belly dancing!
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