Comments on Cranky Fitness: Belly Dance: Exercise or Embarrassing Exhibitionis...

ADDICTED and I hate exercise. I'm about as coordin...

2009-07-13T23:45:54.736-04:00

ADDICTED and I hate exercise. I'm about as coordinated as a fainting goat, but belly dancing seems to fit me. 1st class, I was clumsy and embarassed by the whole idea of it. 2nd class, I started thinking "hey, I can do this". 3rd class I was feeling downright sexy and feeling it. I actually went to two classes today and am practicing moves at home. I'm loving it... it's exercise that doesn't feel like exercise and is dare I say it?... "fun". I don't think I'll be wearing the costumes or anything (maybe on Halloween) but as far as "exercise" goes, it's the one thing I found that doesn't suck :)

I started doing the Twins belly dance dvd's 2 mont...

2009-07-04T13:34:45.212-04:00

I started doing the Twins belly dance dvd's 2 months ago. Seemed hard at first but now I surprisingly have the moves down.I dont see it as a workout and actually look forward to doing it daily. Ive lost inches all over the place and found curves I thought I had lost. I highly reccomend the twins instructional dvds.

I second the Suhaila videos. They are similar to ...

2009-06-22T16:24:05.218-04:00

I second the Suhaila videos. They are similar to "Learn to Bellydance" in that they move fairly quickly. I have found it best to do the video and then practice the exercises alone so that I am better at them the next time I try to go through it.

I signed up once for a class, many years ago in my...

2009-06-19T09:22:46.155-04:00

I signed up once for a class, many years ago in my thinner (but not skinny) days, but the class was cancelled. I've wanted to try again. I might check out some of these DVDs!

Belly dancing is fun! I never took a class, but u...

2009-06-19T00:10:55.911-04:00

Belly dancing is fun! I never took a class, but used the Neena and Veena DVDs. They have some fun routines and teach at a slow enough pace for uncoordinated people like me! Definitely not good for cardio, but great for learning how to isolate muscle groups. Plus, once you know a few moves you can always put on some music and have fun looking silly and getting your heart rate up. I just envision that any man walking by my window will be awestruck by my mad skilz!

I have always heard that many classes out there are for all fitness levels and body shapes. For instance, belly dancing classes are extremely popular at one of our local senior centers!

Kellie -- well, so long as you're still enjoying y...

2009-06-18T22:52:47.201-04:00

Kellie -- well, so long as you're still enjoying yourself, with or without giggles!

E.A. -- Yes, I've heard other people recommend Jenna before; she has a good reputation for teaching belly dance.

Jenna's basic moves and isolations DVD explains ev...

2009-06-18T22:33:23.910-04:00

Jenna's basic moves and isolations DVD explains everything very clearly, i highly recommend this one! Belly Dance has staved off depression, got me in the best shape i've been in years and i've only been doing it for 2 months! Plus you can turn your husband into a sultan! haha, ok just kidding about that last part but they do like to watch...

I took intro bellydancing classes and loved the po...

2009-06-18T22:17:36.763-04:00

I took intro bellydancing classes and loved the positive energy from an all shaped group of women. I just found myself giggling and laughing too much. I didn't exactly get kicked out of the class, but I realised it wasn't for me. After that I tried boxing classes, which got rid of the giggles very quickly.

Aw, Nikki, we knew what you meant. Sekmetsat... d...

2009-06-18T21:19:19.468-04:00

Aw, Nikki, we knew what you meant.

Sekmetsat... do I want to ask how you get past metal detectors? Naah... probably not ;)

I just published a post on my bellydance experienc...

2009-06-18T19:09:08.417-04:00

I just published a post on my bellydance experience. I loved everything about it. I love feeling sexy while getting a workout too....that didn't come out right, but I meant bellydance LOL

i've done belly dance. i like Bharatiya Natyam bet...

2009-06-18T18:09:06.537-04:00

i've done belly dance. i like Bharatiya Natyam better. but ALL dance is greaty in my book.

and i have ankle bells, belt bells, saris, cholis, salwars, nose rings, hair jewelry, i have it all... i love jingling.

My wife swears by belly dancing. And she's the bo...

2009-06-18T16:21:40.785-04:00

My wife swears by belly dancing. And she's the boss so I'm on board!

That's quite true -- this is one exercise class at...

2009-06-18T16:03:02.976-04:00

That's quite true -- this is one exercise class at least where larger people are not scoffed at.

If people are not confident enough about their ability to a)brave the classroom setting or b) move their body, then the Veena and Neena Basic Dance DVD is a good place to start.

Some great comments here! I'm still snickering at the idea of using your abs to pop coins into the parking meter :)

I took belly dancing classes and the instructor st...

2009-06-18T15:59:30.518-04:00

I took belly dancing classes and the instructor stressed the history of the dance. It wasn't a sexy, lap dance type of dancing but we danced as an art form. I really got into it. The clothing is great. The people are weird. (I met a woman who claimed she was a witch) and in the area I live in, there are many, many belly dance troupes. One thing I loved about it was there were a lot of different sizes of folks who danced. You could weigh 300 lbs and dance or you could be a thin-y mini and dance. All sizes welcome. No one made fun. As Roxie said, it was a very body-positive exercise and experience and my self-esteem improved.

That video was CrAzY!!!! I never knew abs could b...

2009-06-18T15:42:10.126-04:00

That video was CrAzY!!!! I never knew abs could be a substitute for your hands!! Imagine flipping quarters off your abs into the parking meter, soda machine, etc.! The possibilities....

I have taken a class and it was hilariously funny ...

2009-06-18T15:33:38.683-04:00

I have taken a class and it was hilariously funny and eventually you do get a work out. At first you spend a lot of time just figuring out what muscle you are supposed to use to move JUST your hips. For anyone trying the first time, I highly recommend an actual class. It helps to have a teacher right there who can really help you focus on the part that should move and the part that should stay still.

I don't know about this - my feet don't much care ...

2009-06-18T14:55:11.384-04:00

I don't know about this - my feet don't much care for dance classes. Last time I took one I ended up on the floor. And I wasn't supposed to be there. I tripped over myself and landed square on my bum.

I tried belly dancing when I was younger & was not...

2009-06-18T13:47:22.835-04:00

I tried belly dancing when I was younger & was not great at it but it definitely works the core! I also like that their view of a beautiful body is not stick thin!

I loved trying belly dancing! Haven't tried any dv...

2009-06-18T13:18:05.462-04:00

I loved trying belly dancing! Haven't tried any dvds though (it was a 8 week class). It was tons of fun and some decent exercise. We were also commanded to smile and enjoy ourselves every time we got too serious with concentration.

I've tried a couple of DVDs, and have enjoyed it. ...

2009-06-18T12:28:42.421-04:00

I've tried a couple of DVDs, and have enjoyed it. I'd like to try an actual class, though. For beginners. Who have no rhythm. Or coordination.

Wow, I had no idea how much there was to belly dan...

2009-06-18T12:15:44.465-04:00

Wow, I had no idea how much there was to belly dancing!

I'd like to say I'm open minded enough to give it a try... but it's always seemed too "girly" for a unreformed tomboy like me. And I mean "girly" in a good way! I'm just not in touch enough with my feminine side to feel comfortable with all that hip movement.

Picture an average hetero dude landing in a belly dancing class and you'd get some notion of what I'd look and feel like. But I totally admire all of you out there who are game for it!

I actually love belly dancing. It's so much fun an...

2009-06-18T11:55:49.911-04:00

I actually love belly dancing. It's so much fun and a great workout for someone like me who is trying to incorporate working out into their routine because it's fun and takes your focus off the fact that you are excercising.

I've never taken belly dancing classes. (I don't k...

2009-06-18T11:36:16.062-04:00

I've never taken belly dancing classes. (I don't know if I'm secure enough with my masculinity to try) But, I have several friends who are longtime belly dancers. It is my understanding that the dvds while the only option to many are not the way to go if you have the option. Try in person classes, or better yet find a group that dances for fun and see if you can join. Well that's my two sense.

Having tried a few belly dance as cardio DVDs, I w...

2009-06-18T11:24:33.408-04:00

Having tried a few belly dance as cardio DVDs, I will say I wasn't impressed with them as a workout. But I did enjoy the dancing aspect and I wish I enough stomach control to flip a coin into a bowl!!

Thanks Sarah -- those are amazing videos. I've hea...

2009-06-18T10:52:13.100-04:00

Thanks Sarah -- those are amazing videos. I've heard of Suhaila -- I haven't checked her out yet, but this sounds like a good excuse to get another DVD ;)