Belly dancing is not just for the young or for those with perfectly toned bodies. In fact, it is a low impact and fun exercise that is well suited to just about everyone. There are many ways that belly dancing can benefit your health and your life in general (and of course, contribute to your overall fabulousness!). Here we take a look at five of those ways.
Number 1- Those looking to lose weight pay attention! Belly dancing is an excellent fat burner and an excellent way to lose weight. This is because there are so many moves involved that your body just doesn’t quit! A one-hour class can burn in the area of 350 to 500 calories. Just think how much time you have to spend on the Stair Master or the treadmill to burn that many calories!
Number 2- Belly dancing supports improved posture and overall toning of the body. When you do this form of exercise you are putting muscles to use that are relatively inactive in your day-to-day life. In this way, your body becomes more limber and flexible, and movement takes place in all of the muscle groups.
Number 3- With all of the tension and pressure that most people are under, finding ways to relieve stress is an important element of being healthier, both physically and mentally. When you are under a tremendous amount of stress your body tenses up, which leads to a decreased flow of blood. Belly dancing can help to relieve this because it gently stretches the muscles and unclenches the ones that are very tight. It also helps to relax and re-energize the body. Belly dancing not only can help rid you of stress but, doing it regularly is an excellent way to stop the build up of stress before it gets to be too much.
Number 4- Due to its low impact effect on the body, belly dancing is advantageous for the bones and joints. Many physicians recommend this type of physical activity to their patients who suffer from aches and pains in their joints, as well as back problems. As long as it is done with a measure of care and caution, belly dancing can be beneficial to those who suffer from joint problems.
Number 5- If you want to firm up your leg muscles and increase the strength in your arms, then belly dancing is for you.