I’ve been dying to join a [tag]belly dancing[/tag] class ever since my daughter first introduced the idea to me four years ago. Finally after signing a petition, Fitness First The Fort launched “Belly Dancing” wednesday classes. I was late for the 10:00 AM class and ended up watching the women move their bodies to Egyptian music. How exotic.
I caught up with the teacher at the locker area and she said that I can still catch up. She’ll bring colorful hip belts next week for only 700 pesos ($14.00). It costs 750 pesos in Market! Market!
I was brimming with excitement and teased my husband.
“And once I learn the rudiments, I can practice belly dance in front of you.
My second daughter overheard me and shrieked, “I didn’t hear that! How disgusting!”
*sigh*
My daughters still think of me as a mother and not as a woman. Or her idea of belly dancing is sleazy sexual entertainment and limited to young women. Or did she think belly dance as stripping?
I didn’t want to upset her anymore.
Really, there are many reasons why women take belly dancing .
* Exercise and dance;
* A fun hobby that nurtures self expression, celebration, fantasy and feeling pretty;
* Community and sisterhood;
* Cultural involvement;
* Balance of the yin when a career demands a lot of yang energy!;
* Physical and psychological therapy for reclaiming self esteem and for healing on many levels;
According to the American Council on Exercise, Belly dancing has emerged as one of the hot new workout trends in recent years. See, I hope to work hundreds of muscles, burn calories and de-stress with belly dancing.
I know that I will…
– love the control I learn to have over my body and how I stay fit.
– love the feminine connection I make with myself.
– love the mystical feminine components of belly dance.”
My age shouldn’t stop me NOT even my belly fats. I’m going to swirl my way to fitness. Belly dance will keep me younger  body, mind, and spirit!
Let’s see. Stay tuned.
ooh, go momma 🙂
i want do that too after the baby but it’ll depend on how busy i’m going to be once the baby gets here. chances are i’ll probalby buy a DVD of it.
I’m sorry your daughter feels the way she does about belly dancing, she sounds as if her perceptions of the art are probably coming from stereotypes and misconceptions. I would highly recommend her to visit http://www.puredance.org which is a tribe of dancers who come together to spread world peace and healing through the art of dance. I happen to be one of them=)
I hope you do take the belly dance classes. No woman is ever too young or too old– this dance is ageless! Also remember this dance is for woman of all shapes, sizes— it’s designed to cater to the body of women.
Go ahead and take the classes, you’ll mesmerize people around you with your confidence and believe me your daughter will come around sooner or later. This is especially true when she gets older, wiser and less judgmental.
Good luck & good shimmies.
dexie: hehe. Yes I see DVDs being sold around. I might also buy just so I can practice along with it.
wow really fitness first started belly dancing class?? 🙂
cool, haha maybe i can try one or something when i get back.. haha my problem now is to figure out how to dance! hahaha 🙂
i like the boxing class though — it’s really fun 🙂
You go girl! 🙂
Cris: yes after a lot of us signed up for a petition. Other branches already had like Manila or Eastwood . I see a lot join boxing class . I should try that too.
Toe: Go me!
LG: thanks for the link. Yes I think it is due to stereotypes of belly dancing.
Wow! How sexy!
hmmmm i wonder if it’s hard….i’m sure your belly gets a good workout.
Hard rock abs sexy body movements……heck i wanna join too!
do you get to wear sexy outfits as well? =)
Vivian: The teacher wears the flowy skirt and a top which shows her midrif. The belts are placed over her hips. The bells are so you know if you are moving your belly muscles properly. As for the rest of the class, most wear their gym outfits with the belts on their hip. yes join the class if you know of one or if you’re a member of FITNESS FIRST.
yeah try the boxing haha super fun 🙂 i think i’m more a boxing person than a dance person coz i had the hardest time in body jam (which they say is the *easiest* class na in fitness).. either that or i was too conscious haha :p but hmm reading all the positive comments about belly dancing, i think i just might try it too when i get home. anything for me to lose weight! 🙂
Cris: I can only last 40 minutes with body jam due to my fractured leg which limits my moves. When I saw the belly dancing classes, it looked like the girls were having fun.
My Fil-am cousin occassionally sidelines as a belly dance instructor, but what makes her an unusual instructor is that she’s obese. I don’t want to put a number on her weight but the only way to describe her is “hindi mo akalaing kaya niyang gumiling nang ganoon.”
In fact, she was featured one time in Unang Hirit along with belly-dancing enthusiast Regine Tolentino. Regine quipped on the show: “tignan niyo naman mga misis kahit anong klase ng katawan niyo pwedeng-pwede pa ring magbelly-dancing!”
Of course after I translated that to her my cousin exclaimed “that biatch!” in jest.
Jon: the belly dance teacher has a healthy belly too. Being a belly dancer doesn’t mean one needs to have perfect belly. In the middle east, most belly dancers are plump.
Belly dancing is good while your pregnant, it is good for your back and as you dance, your stomach craddles the baby. so belly dancing is good for the baby, if you read about the history of belly dancing , it was about a woman who celebrates her femininity and body especially at the time of childbirth
I heard that ‘belly fats’ as you call them, actually make it easier to start belly dancing… you cant dance with your belly if you havent got a belly!!! 🙂