BELLY DANCING

Belly Dancing
Many experts say belly dancing is the oldest form of dance, having roots in all ancient cultures from the orient to India to the mid-East. Probably the greatest misconception about belly dancing is that it is intended to entertain men.

Throughout history, this ritualized expression has usually been performed for other women, generally during fertility rites or parties preparing a young woman for marriage. In most cases, the presence of men is not permitted.

The dance often focuses upon isolating different parts of the body, moving them independently in sensuous patterns, weaving together the entire feminine form. Belly dancing is generally performed barefoot, thought by many to emphasize the intimate physical connection between the dancer, her expression, and Mother Earth.

BENEFITS:

• Improves posture &muscle toning.
• Weight loss - up to 300 calories/hr.
• Excellent Pre-natal exercise regimen.
• Dance with minimal impact on knees & ankle.
• Aids digestion

BASIC MOVEMENTS

Hip Drop
Circles
Shimmy

Hip Drop

Hip Drop

Activate your thigh muscles to either push the hip up or pull it down. Movement comes from the knee and the thigh muscle/hip & ankle.

CIRCLES

Hip Circles

Ground your feet into the earth.Create imaginary Circles around your hips and trace...

Shimmy

Shimmy

Ground your feet to the Earth, Slightly bend knees - alternately straighten knee- to lift hip up.

------Working Muscles ------

Hip : Medial Rotators: TFL, Sartorius, SemiM, Gracilis
Lateral Rotators: Deep 6, Gluts, Bicep femoris
Abductors: Gluts, Sartorius, Piriformis, TFL
Adductors: All Aductors, Gracilis & Pectineus

------Working Muscles ------

Knee:
Medial Rotators: Goosefoot muscles ( Sartorius, Gracilis & SemiT),
Popliteus & SemiM.
Lateral Rotator: Bicep Femoris
Extensors: Rectus Femoris, Vastus Lateralis,Medialis & Intermedialis
Flexors: Bicep Femoris,SemiT/SemiM, Gracilis, Sartorius,
Gastrocnemius,Popliteus & Plantaris.

------Working Muscles ------

Ankle:
Plantar Flexion : Gastrocnemius,Soleus, Tibialis Posterior,Peroneus Longus/
Brevis, Flexor DigitoriumLongus,Flexor Hallucis Longus & Plantaris Dorsiflexion : Tibialis Anterior, Extensor Digitorium Longus, Extensor
Hallucis Longus
Inversion : Tibialis Ant/Post, Flexor Digitorium/hallucis Longus & Entensor
Hallucis Longus

Let try isolating those muscles...