BELLY DANCE AND PREGNANCY Belly dance existed as dances of fertility since the dawn of human civilization. Hip rolls and circles are good for strengthening the pelvic and abdominal muscles, which are involved in childbirth, while relaxing them at the same time. Hip circles are not only used in Middle Eastern dance, but also in Hawaiian, Maori and other indigenous forms of dance. All these forms of dance, which use circular hip movements, have been linked to child birth rituals. BENEFITS: Strengthening pelvic and deep abdominal muscles and all those muscles specifically used for giving birth, thus facilitating the process of delivering and of recovery. o Relaxing the body. o Improving self esteem. o Promote good posture. o Help maintain general fitness. o Help maintain a god sense of balance. o Relieve back ache. o Promote socialization, if performed in classes. MOVEMENTS: The most suitable belly dance movements to be used by pregnant women are slow, undulating and rolling motions, such as hip circles and figures of eight. Sharp movements are not suitable and, similarly, many people think that shimmies should not be performed by pregnant women, especially if they are not used to exercising. Many movements in modern prenatal exercise classes are very similar to belly dance movements, such as the ‘camel’ or the ‘belly flutter’. These last two movements, in particular, are useful to encourage optimal fetus position and during labour. The process of muscles isolation, which is so important in belly dance, is also considered to be very helpful during child birth. If a woman is capable of contracting some parts of her body, while at the same time relaxing all the other muscles, she will be able to feel more relaxed overall, while focusing only on the muscles involved in delivering the baby. Belly dancing in pregnancy is not only about strong pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. Some belly dance movements are good to relieve various symptoms, for example: belly rolls can help ease constipation; while heart shimmies can alleviate heartburn. PRECAUTIONS: 1. Always seek your doctor’s advice before starting any exercise program. 2. Avoid back bends. 3. Keep a natural pelvic tilt (keep your bottom tucked under). 4. Be aware of the softening of ligaments in your body; therefore avoid jumps, hip twists and sharp movements. 5. Listen to your body and avoid movements that cause pain or discomfort. 6. Stop exercising altogether if you feel unwell or experience bleeding, dizziness and/or pain. 7. Do not overheat and avoid exercising on hot days. youtube/watch?v=ObqCy9z_QL8
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 15:07:57 +0000
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