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Belly Dancing

From Chapter

Health and the Oriental Dance

The physiological effects of oriental dance 1.

“Exercise substitutes lots of medicine, but there is no medicine that substitutes exercise.”

Oriental Dance as a Recreational Activity

It is the goal of human beings to feel good in their skin, to reach an ideal physical, emotional, mental state, aspire for a perfect general health. Optimal physical condition, proper nutrition, and a balanced emotional life are all conditions of health. The latter one is the actual, daily state of a person, which is associated with every-day, general productivity.

According to the definition of the World Health Association:

“Being healthy is not identical with the absence of illnesses; it is the state of physical, mental, and social well-being.”

According to the Universal Lexicon:

“Physical, emotional, and mental well-being in the objective sense, great productivity and good general condition.”

How can oriental dance help preserve physical, emotional, and mental health?

As opposed to the popular name of this dance (belly dance) it does not only make the belly work, but the entire body. Its ancient, natural moves are perfectly suitable for obtaining and preserving fitness. The word bellyfit, which is a contracted form of belly dance and fitness, would like to demonstrate that correlation.

– As regards its physical effects: the many small repetitive moves and the larger, more energetic moves make almost all the muscles work.

– As regards it emotional side: Physical exercise in a good mood does not only charge us with energy for the time of the training, but is able to produce reserves that can increase our resistance towards the outside world.

– Mentally: Learning new, unusual things, approaching dance moves from a cognitive point of view, the new way of concentration also develops our thinking.

Let us have a look at the advantages of a “perfect general condition” based on the experiences
of Dr. Kenneth Cooper, one of the most well-known recreational experts:

– Greater individual energy

– More enjoyable, active free time

– Increased ability to deal with stress at home and at work

– Less depression and unjustified worrying

– Decreased physical symptoms

– Better digestion and less frequent constipation

– Greater self-esteem and self-confidence

– Effective regulation of body weight

– More attractive, slimmer figure

– Stronger bone structure

– Slower aging process

– Easier pregnancy and childbirth

– Increased ability to concentrate

– Greater will power, self-control, endurance in solving every-day tasks

– Less frequent pain, especially headaches and back pain

– Uninterrupted, deeper sleep

How can this perfect health be obtained?

We have to satisfy three fundamental human needs:

– Emotional balance

– Proper nutrition

– Aerobic exercise

These three aspects are strongly connected to each other.

Let us have a closer look at them:

Emotional Balance_____________________________________________________

Esoteric literature, holistic courses, emotional guides, and the support of friends are tremendous help in establishing emotional balance and a harmonious life.

In the chapter on training theory analysis we can read about the stress-releasing, community-building function of dancing as well.

We also deal with the effects of oriental dance on spirituality and creativity in a separate chapter.

We can find tips about how to make our love life more harmonious in the “Scented Garden” chapter.

Proper Nutrition Plan ____________________________________________________

“Accept your body and live in it in happiness!” Seika

We can find information about positive eating habits, matching foods, proper frequency and times of meals, fasting diets, special diets, and nutrition complements in magazines and from nutrition advisors.

If we are overweight, we shouldn’t believe the miracle diets and pills that are based on an unvaried diet and promise us fast weight loss. The models in the advertisements of these products may never have had weight problems in their lives, or were made slim with a pair of scissors. The perfect figure of the models on the front pages of magazines may also be a result of an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia (or even perhaps unhappiness).

Unfortunately, fashion and the supposed or real expectations from women make us lose our sober judgment and cause a distortion of body image. Plastic body corrections might help some women who can easily accept their new selves after the surgery. The mentioned eating disorders, however, deeply undermine self-esteem due to the constant self-punishment and ensuing guilt. Sadly enough, teenagers and young women have been suffering from these disorders more and more often recently. In such cases, the help of an expert is necessary.

If we are looking for a front page ideal, why not Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, or Madonna, instead of Winona Ryder or Twiggy?

Proper nutrition plan means consciously planning our eating habits in the following way:

– What do we eat?

– How do we eat it?

– When do we eat it?

– How long do we eat it for?

– What do we eat it with?

In case of a private dinner for two, one more question might also be relevant:

- With whom do we eat it?

We should pay attention to the distribution of the three main nutriments, which, according to doctor and sport physiologist Kenneth H. Cooper, is the following:

– 50% carbo-hydrate,

– 20% protein,

– 30% fat

The distribution of daily energy intake:

– Breakfast: 25%

– Lunch: 50%

– Dinner: 25%

One more help for regulating weight:

If we do aerobic exercises in the evening, we can reduce our appetite. This way we primarily burn fat and not the muscles, which are much more difficult to obtain and they are the ones that start deteriorating first if we are on a starving diet.

Aerobic exercises____________________________________________________

It was Cooper who introduced the term aerobic exercises. It means:

A physical activity which requires oxygen for a longer period of time, therefore puts the body into circumstances in which it must improve its own oxygen-utilizing capacity.

“During aerobic training, positive changes take place in breathing and blood flow. The aim of exercising is to increase the body’s ability to take air into the lungs and draw it out: blood volume increases, blood becomes more suitable for transporting oxygen. Physical activity improves blood supply in all parts of the body, including the brain. That is why we can suppose that aerobic exercise increases mental productivity as well.”

(Dobozy-Jakabházy: Sport Recreation 1992. p67. Translated by Emese Filus)

Physiological Effects of Oriental Dance/Bellyfit_______________________________

(Warning: Following the under mentioned guidelines does not substitute medical treatment!)

If you have any of the health problems mentioned in this section, you should see a specialist.

The following are individual experiences of women who practice oriental dances and were not recorded as part of a medical research.

Oriental dance can be categorized under aerobic activities. Its regularly performed moves have the same effects on the human system as regular jogging or swimming. Its content and structure, and their space-time and dynamic features, render it suitable for anybody regardless of age or initial fitness. According to Nádori László, one primarily needs to do aerobic exercises in order to obtain fitness, in other words we first have to improve staying power. Once we have improved our staying power, the following changes occur:

– Growth of heart volume. After 6-8 weeks, increase of cardiac output, i.e. increase of blood pumped into the bloodstream by the heart in a minute. These changes result in the decrease of at-rest pulse from an average of 60-70 to 40-50 (in the case of professional athletes, it might be around 30-35, which is a sign of extraordinary fitness).

– Maximum oxygen uptake increases, which increases energy intake ability.

– Capillary function improves, arterial-venal difference increases, oxygen supply of the muscles improves

– Maximum oxygen pulse rises, which is the amount of oxygen taken in during one cardiac contraction.

– Myoglobin, the red pigment of muscle tissues rises, which takes in and releases oxygen.

– The number of mitochondriums in muscle cells rises, in which energy generation occurs due to oxidation.

– Glycogen content rises, i.e. the ability to store glucose; the functioning of enzymes with aerobic effect strengthens.

– Rise of ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) and b-phosphate.

– The working of the heart changes, diastolic and systolic periods lengthen, the oxygen requirement of the heart muscle is reduced.

– Breathing becomes more economical, the volume of blood circulation and haemoglobin increases.

(Nádori László: Fitness Training 1992. Translated by Filus Emese)

MOROCCO Egyptian Dance and Chi Gung TEACHER Training Qualification Intensive residential 7-28th July Egyptian Dance and Drumming 31 July-3rd August Dancing with the Angels: Angels and Dance with Katie and Michelle Roberton-Jones	www.dance-asylum.com http://www.youtube.com/user/RiadLahboul1
NEWGEN TRAVEL & TOURISM - Greece ΤΗΛ: 210 7510307 ΚΑΙ 210 7526100 -109	newgen@newgentravel.gr
Great opportunities for teachers who like to bring groups to Turkey!	www.turkishbellydance.net
26.-31.May Fazil’s Oriental Tour - Oriental Tours to Turkey - Fazil’s Studio YOUSRY SHARIF -	fazilstudionyc@yahoo.com www.fazilstudionyc.com Address: Fazil Studio NYC
Halanda and Hala Dance	Dance & Music Tour to Egypt: June 24-July 8!
July-2nd August - DELHI, INDIA: Bellydance and Latin Festival with Leila Haddad and Katie Holland.	www.katie-holland.net or www.bellydancingindia.com
17-22nd August - MOROCCO-Meknes: Bellydance and drumming with Katie Holland and Simon	www.katie-holland.net or www.simonwebster.org.uk
23-27th August - FRANCE: Oriental Fusion: Belly-Yoga Retreat with Katie Holland and Uma Wright.	www.katie-holland.net or www.yoga-destination.com
November 20-30th - January 12-21st 2010 GOA, INDIA: Bellydance and Tai Chi with Katie Holland and Glen Pelham-Mather January (approx) 23rd-30th 2010 RAJASTHAN, INDIA: Bellydance and Tai Chi with Katie Holland and Glen Pelham-Mather.	www.katie-holland.net or www.gpm-martialarts..com www.kokoindia.com
26-28th March, 2010 ISLE OF MAN, Brightlife: Bellydance and Drumming with Katie Holland and Simon	www.katie-holland.net or www..brightlife.com
March/April 2010. Exact dates TBC MOROCCO-Meknes: Bellydance, Drumming and Tai Chi with Katie Holland, Simon Webster and Glen Pelham-Mather. .	www.simonwebster.org.uk
April 2010 - TURKEY: Bellydance and Tai Chi with Katie Holland and Glen Pelham-Mather	www.katie-holland.net or www.gpm-martialarts.com
Dear Colleague, Misr travel is the national travel agency of Egypt established 1934. Since establishment, Misr travel has been among the top ten ranking tour operators in Egypt & the Middle East. With 2500 employees, Misr Travel is the largest tour operator in the Middle East. Misr Travel owns a large transportation fleet with different sizes of busses in addition to limousines for individual transport. Furthermore, we own hotels, Nile cruises, Floating restaurants as well as Land restaurants in all major Cities of Egypt. Misr Travel has allotment contracts with all non exclusive hotels & Nile cruises. Through a network of over 30 local offices, Misr Travel has the ability to handle any volume of guests. Backed up with the departments of operations, business development, Customer service as well as Quality control, Misr Travel guarantees the highest quality of customer care. Misr Travel has the pleasure to share its services with you. Kindly inform us about the most convenient way from your side to start a mutual cooperation. we can make tours for you to take more experience in the oriental dance by professional Egyptian dancers and maybe we will do an event for the oriental dance soon. In Egypt, there are many festivals of the oriental dance. One of them will be from15 November to 22 November 2010 which is a huge festival for the oriental dance . In April 2011, Leila Hadad , who are a worldwide dancer, will come to Egypt and she will make a workshop for belly dancers from all over the world. If you are interested in attending the festival or the workshop, we can make for you and your students a package for two weeks , one for attending the festival and the other to make a cultural trip in the most interesting cities of Egypt such as Cairo, Luxor ,Aswan and Hurghada. Awaiting your feedback we remain with our Best regards, Dina El-sayed Business Development Executive	Misr Travel Tel: (+202) 23964016 Fax: (+202)23937200 Mob: (+2) 0162601051 1 Talat Harb Street, Cairo, Egypt

NELLY MAZLOUM

DANCE RESEARCH INSTITUte

Dance News 2010