Belly dancing your way to a flat stomach

As exotic music plays in the background, the dancers shimmy, their chests lift, hips slide sideways and then their chests drop.

This is a belly dancing class that is now inviting fitness enthusiasts to tone their abdomens, thighs, backs and arms, in a fun, easy way.

The dance, which has its origins in the Middle East, is becoming popular as fitness trainers incorporate it in workout routines.

The instructor, Azin Shariat, leads the session and regularly walks around the class to check on the progress of her students, especially when she is teaching new dance moves. Azin tells her students “to loosen up and let the body move naturally.

Drenched in sweat

Learners lift one hip up, move it to the side, down and then back to the centre, while switching the motion from one side to the other. This horizontal figure eight movement with the hips tones the muscles around the mid-section of the body leading to an improved posture. It also eases back pains caused by straining or aging.

One should not be fooled by the slow moves; as a first-timer I was drenched in sweat after just a few minutes.

“The routine goes from fluid movements and undulations (waves) to more rapid movements including shimmies and hits. This combination of movements can make for a beautiful dance performance and a great work out for the body.

Movements such as the belly roll can work out your abdominals specifically if it is practised every day,” says Azin, a professional belly dancer.

Hip exercise

Azin says the hip circle is a great exercise for the oblique and glute muscles, while the figure of eights can be used to target the the entire length of the abdomen, on either side of the umbilicus— commonly referred to as ‘abs’.

The oblique muscles are also located on the abdomen, while the glute set is located on the butt and help move the thigh.

The hip circle movements also help dancers develop core and muscle strength.

“If belly dancing is practised vigorously and regularly, and teamed up with a good diet then it can be effective in weight loss,” she says.

Belly-dancing is also a fun way of getting and staying fit because it combines music and workout, turning every session into an entertaining episode. It makes dancers feel “younger, beautiful and with greater self-esteem.”

Music is known to calm people and paired with dancing, it uplifts a person’s mood and reduces stress.

The rigorous movements around the hips are also known to improve its flexibility, and positively affect one’s balance.

The snake arms exercises, where a dancer holds one arm out and moves the shoulder, elbow and wrist in a wavy motion, helps tone the hand muscles and relieves neck pain and discomfort after sitting on a desk job for hours.

The workout if combined with aerobics or swimming, body muscles are reinforced further.

Marion Munga, the choreographer who founded Dance Factory Kenya, a dance event organising company saw an untapped market in people searching for places to express themselves through belly dancing while working out.

“The class offers women an opportunity to connect with each other and have fun,” says Marion.

Belly dancers enrolling for the Dance Factory classes are taken through the sessions by Azin. The school offers dance classes in Lavington and Westlands to people of all ages and is breaking down the misconceptions that dance is not ideal for the old or heavy people.

The workout is not limited to a class as students are encouraged to do the exercises at home. For the class, students are required to dress down and carry a hip scarf, which is worn around the waist to accentuate the mid-section and jiggle.

“The more one practises belly dance the quicker one will notice the results. Do it for around half an hour per night. Belly dance promotes a healthy lifestyle and self-confidence which is way more important than losing weight any day,” Azin says.

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