Exercise Your Way To Beauty: Ever thought about taking up dancing as a form of exercise? Find out all you need to know here about the latest styles!
I’m gonna dance the night away! Okay, the Leo Sayer song from the 70’s rang truer when I was bit younger, but I still love to dance.
I think dancing is the best form of exercise – for body and mind. It lifts my spirit.
If you’re not one for hitting the dance floor every Friday night, there are a multitude of dance forms to try. Ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, Bollywood, tap, swing, ballroom, Latin, country and western. The list goes on and on.
Hubby and I did a semester of salsa a couple of years ago and it was so much fun! Dancing with a partner is great, but I actually prefer to do my own thing: I want to be creative and express my personality.
About 5 years ago I discovered belly dancing. I love it! It’s feminine, sensual, creative and a great workout. And don’t forget about the beautiful costumes! There are different forms of belly dance that you can practice – you can choose between more traditional versions of the dance (e.g. Egyptian) or a more modernized version like tribal or gothic. Each one differs in music, style and costuming, but the core of the dance remains the same. Most movements involve isolating certain areas of the body for e.g. the shoulders, chest or stomach. Most styles focus on movements of the hips. Belly dancing is a fun way to shimmy and undulate the stress away, to build strength and endurance and to gain self-confidence. Belly dancing is for women of all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels.
Another dance form that has become increasingly popular is pole dancing. I tried this once at a bachelorette party. It was super fun and I was super stiff in the days that followed. This is an art form that combines dance and gymnastics. This form of exercise is especially great for buidlng core and general strength. If you are looking for a fun way to build strength and endurance and get a toned body, this may be the one for you.
Nia is a form of exercise that I’ve heard a lot about. I’ve read that it is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts and it is done to soul stirring music. It has taken the world by storm. Nia’s aim is to promote health and to positively shape the way you feel, look, think and live. I am really keen to give this a try.
If you’re feeling a bit more daring, how about Burlesque?! Burlesque is sexy, sultry and just a little bit naughty. Most think of striptease when they hear the word Burlesque, but it focuses more on the tease than the strip. This dance form has elements of cabaret, comedy, jazz, a bit of sass and attitude, lavish costumes, feather fans and boas, and maybe even a cheeky stage name.
Whether you decide to take a class, solo or with a partner, or just to pump the music in your living room, let yourself go! Give in to the music and don’t be afraid to be creative. Your soul will love it and your body will thank you.
C’mon, check out Leo’s video. I dare you to try and keep your feet from moving 😉 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE-Okqna4sQ
Take up dancing as a form of exercise and get fit the fun way!
Read about some exercise shortcut secrets. Or read about how to get rid of your lovehandles.
Article by: Charlene http://www.beautybulletin.com/blog-directory/our-bloggers/pretty-please-charlie