[IsobelRose22]

Last week I decided to take up belly dancing. After doing a bit of reading I found out that it's low impact, can burn up to 300 calories per hour, and actually works with the female body rather than against it like a lot of dance type exercise does. So I thought, Great!! I can do it in addition to my running.

Thankfully I've found Veena and Neena and their range of belly dance videos on youtube. They're a little annoying but very easy to follow.

A good point is that it's very relaxing, it stretches out all your muscles, and it seems to have helped me sleep better than I usually do (I sleep right through, without waking up, and I'm not exhausted next day). However...this is not a work out for the faint hearted apparently, my entire body ached all over after 1/2 hour, so while it's fun and I'm not likely to get bored of it, I'm hoping that with a healthy diet, running and belly dance, I'll soon have my body whipped into shape in time for my 23rd birthday in October!

[IsobelRose22]

And despite having all the grace and flexibility of an Elephant at the moment (Given time that will change hopefully), it does make you feel very body confident and a little bit sexy during and after the work out. The ideal exercise I think

[Rosinante]

I'm glad you posted this - it's something I've been thinking of for a while.

I'd like to join a class but I'm quite nervous: I know belly dancing was Not created as an erotic/exotic art originally but the view in the west is of something done by very beautiful women, and I'm a small round ball....... I need to go to Oz for courage, I think!

[IsobelRose22]

I did a class when I was at my absolute heaviest (17st 8 lbs) and the class was amazing, so welcoming! there were women of every age, shape, size and ability, there was no pressure it was 1 hour of fun.

[IsobelRose22]

Besides, Belly dancing works better with a few curves

[4xcharm]

I took a belly-dancing class years and years ago. Late 70's, early 80's?
It is a good work-out, lots of strength and control. If the music is right, I will still bang out a few minutes of hip-popping, belly-shaking. Can't go too far wrong with dancing as fun exercise.