Belly Dancing

Learning to belly dance has many benefits and you will feel improvements in both your physical and mental wellbeing. Belly dance promotes a positive body image. Celebrities that are always on television and designer fashion labels promotes slim and thin people and it can have negative psychological effects on women who do not fit into this category. Low body weight can affect mood, increase stress on the heart, disrupt the sleep cycle and deregulate normal gland functioning. It may also be linked to erratic menstrual cycles.

Few women are born with the build and metabolism to achieve the current popular body image, leaving a hard and disappointing road for others who try to measure up but cannot because of their natural body shape.

Belly dancing is a wonderful way to counteract these negative body images and celebrate the more natural curvaceous feminine form in all its shape and sizes.

In the ancient world, when belly dancing came into being, thinness was a sign of poverty, sickness and starvation. For a woman of those times, having a softer layer surrounding her bones showed that she was well fed and healthy, possess financial means and was endowed with security and happiness. Remember that when you look in the mirror.

Preparing to Bellydance
Creating a positive dance environment

Find about 6 feet of space all around you. You need enough space to move with as little restriction as possible. You should also have a large mirror in front of you in which you can see yourself from about 60cm above your head down to your toes.

Privacy is also important, especially when you first start. Dancing in the daylight which stream through your windows is a delight but this can expose you to the curious eyes of passers-by. You can drape sheer fabric in different colors over your windows; you will have the benefit of natural that is tinted into different shades. Candles can also be a nice addition to your settings. The aim is to build a spiritually warm atmosphere which brings emotional contentment and security.

What to wear

There is a variety of clothing for belly dancing but whatever you dance in, makes sure it matches the following criteria

Choose something that does not restrict your movements or freedom in any way.

Be brave and allow for a top that fully exposes your midsection. No matter how big or small, you don’t have to be shy! A lot of women also find a sports bra very comfortable. For your legs – a pair of running or yoga tights rolled over at your waist is a great inexpensive choice.

Find something light and feminine such a shawl of silk scarf to drape around your hips.

Once you really get into it you should invest into clothing so that you can look the part. There are plenty of wonderful belly dance clothes to choose from which will make you look the part. There are plenty of wonderful belly dance clothes to choose from.

Try costume –type bra tops, vest tops, chois and tie-arounds for you upper body. Underneath, flowing harem pants and billowy gypsy skirts give unlimited range of movement and feeling.

Coin belts come in every color and design you can think of and are worth every penny for the fun they are adding to your dancing. The exciting jingling they bring adds spirit and authenticity to the dance and can spark your imagination like nothing else.

You can find professional belly dance costumes, coin belts, hip scarves, and accessories at Turkish Corner. [http://turkishcorner.com/belly-dance.html]

Relax your mind and body

To bring yourself into the right frame of mind and to life your spirits, start with some breathing exercises to relax your mind and release some tension.

Stand or sit comfortable and close your eyes

Relax your abdominal muscles and inhale deeply for five heartbeats. Let your stomach extend fully so you draw in as much air as possible.

When the five beats are up, hold the air in your lungs for two beats and then release your breath completely for another six beats. You should feel your shoulders and neck muscles relaxing

Repeat this excursive at least four times. If you are feeling particularly tense, repeat the breathing technique until you feel calm and peaceful.

Imagination is also a powerful tool. Let your mind take you to a simple flower garden with cool grass under your feet, a favorite is a white sandy beach with ocean lapping the shore. Wherever you wish to go at that moment is fine.

Selecting the Music

The music of the Middle East has incredible soul and touches and touches upon all aspects of human emotion.

Whatever you are feeling, from joy and sadness to ecstasy and surprise, you can find music to match your mood. The most common instruments in Middle Eastern music are the oud, the nay, the kunoon and the dumbek.

As you practice the techniques, count out loud to the beats in the music. When your timing skills improve, you can start counting in your head instead of out loud. This is a simple technique that some dancers give up once they feel they have mastered counting. This almost always leads to sloppy technique. The strongest dancers keep counting no matter what level of expertise the reach.