MANILA, Philippines – Belly dancing has gone a long way from its ancient Arabic roots. Exotic, hypnotic and seductively beautiful, it is now the new fitness solution for many women. It’s a fun and fabulous way to get healthy — complete with groovy music, sensuous moves, and glamorous costumes.
One of the many health benefits of belly dancing, in fact, is having a healthy belly.
“Belly dancing is a very good workout because it has a lot of favorable side effects to the body. One good thing about this dance is it actually aids in improving digestion,” says Jill Ngo-Crisologo, owner and directress of Peak Performance and Dance and Fitness Center.
Peak Performance recently tied up with Nesvita Pro-Digestion in holding “BellyFest 2009: the third Philippine Belly Dance Festival” at Glorietta. Attended by women who have a passion for belly dance, BellyFest 2009 was a dance concert featuring various belly dance styles.
“BellyFest is also a celebration of femininity. We gather yearly to share our love for belly dance and to help other women get fit and appreciate their bodies,” said Ngo-Crisologo.
Get a healthy belly
Belly dancing is a great exercise for the abdomen as it involves rolling the belly and swaying the torso. Contracting the belly strengthens the abdominal muscles, which may activate and stimulate the digestive system.
According to the Gastroenterological Society of Australia and other health studies, regular exercising helps in digestion and in releasing digestive hormones and thyroxine whose main function includes regulating growth and controlling the rate of metabolism in the body.
Regular belly dancing likewise aids in preventing constipation, as exercising is important for normal body movement.
Adding Nesvita Pro-Digestion to belly dancing creates a powerful combination for getting a healthy tummy. It is non-fat milk that contains Actifibras, a unique blend of fibers that is proven to help ease digestion and reduce bloating and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Nesvita Pro-Digestion is also an excellent source of calcium to help strengthen the bones.
Other health benefits
Belly dancing can also help improve posture and tone muscles. Toned muscles help prevent back pain which may be caused by the unnatural curving of the spine, a phenomenon that occurs when muscles are weak.
Belly dancing likewise aids in losing excess weight. It can help burn up to 300 to 400 calories per hour. As an intense yet enjoyable workout, belly dancing may be coupled with a healthy diet to create a sound weight management program.