The next edition of ChronicBabe's blog carnival goes LIVE on Monday, January 2, 2012 and it's all about new year's resolutions. What's your plan for the coming year? Is there something you've committed to doing, and do you have an accountability buddy? What's going to change? What's going to be freakin' awesome? Tell us! Not only do we want to know, but also...you'll help inspire others.
To make my 2012 a happy year, I am making a very important resolution for myself. I am going to make sure to exercise regularly. Now I know that is probably the most common resolution, right up there with weight loss every year. For me it's different though. Before we adopted our son, Michael, a year ago in December, I was going to an aqua aerobics class three times a week, walking, and began a NIA class. I was feeling great! Then when we brought home a new baby, things changed! I began to slack on the exercising, put on weight, began to feel worse again, and because of my feeling worse it made it even harder for me to exercise regularly. It was a circle of disaster!!!!
Basically, for me, I need to exercise to keep my joints loose, my muscles warm and to keep my weight down. It gives me some energy, not a lot, but more than the usual amount. My fatigue is really bad and on top of the pain can really bring me down. It can really make me not want to do anything but lie on the couch all day, all week, well forever actually.
I found something that worked for me, and exercise is the key to keeping me active. No, I will never be in the Olympics or dance competitively or anything like that, but I am happier and healthier because of the exercise. I have gotten back into the exercise slowly in the past year so my resolution for 2012 is to keep it up and continue to add new things to keep it fun.
I began taking belly dance classes off and on about a year ago. I started in the beginner class and am now in the advanced class. I take the advanced class on the weekend and I still take a beginner class during the week. I really enjoy it. I am hoping to perform a dance number in our spring concert. Wow! Now that's big news!A Little About Belly dance...A beautiful and distinct ancient dance form, belly dance or raks (raqs) sharki (also called danse orientale), has a deep history dating back thousands of years in the Middle East. It is a dance of celebration and is done by women of all shapes and sizes. It is a dance of beauty and feminitity and embraces and celebrates the true beauty of the woman.
Although most often characterized by sharp, sensual and isolated movements of the torso and hips, belly dance is performed using every body muscle- including those in the arms and hands.
Not only is belly dance fun to watch and to learn, but it has many health benefits as well. It has a healing quality (physical and emotional), improves muscle tone and flexibility, promotes healthy weight loss, improves balance and coordination, builds stamina and strength, helps to maintain a healthy metabolism and can help to condition the body for childbirth.
One of the biggest myths is that belly dance is a dance of seduction performed to and for male audiences. In fact, bellydance tradition handed down through generations of women states that belly dance originated as a dance to celebrate and promote fertility and healthy childbirths. It was a dance to celebrate mother earth to many. It is thought that belly dance aides women in preparing their abdominal muscles for labor and even today, in places accross the Middle East and in North Africa, many of these movements are used in birthing rituals. In countries across the globe, many couples hire belly dancers to perform at their weddings as it is thought to bless the couple with a future of fertility and healthy babies/children.
Moreover, in the harem sub-culture, it is noted that women would enetertain each other by belly dancing for one another. Contrary to what many believe, the women in the harems would rarerly even see the king or sultan. (www.bellydancebysamora.com)
The beginner class is currently having a cardio belly class which is fast paced and makes you sweat! It is great for weight loss. I really enjoy belly dancing because it is easy on the joints, has wonderful movement for my muscles and joints (especially my back and neck), and my body knows if I miss a class. I actually hurt more if I don't dance! That is fantastic news. It makes me want to go back for more. There is no jumping or anything that is hard on my joints~I mean I have 2 joint replacements already and will be needing 4 more in the near future.
If you have read my blog before too you know that I was a professional ballet dancer. I really have a passion for dance. The belly dancing has given me back this passion for dance. I am able to do something I really enjoy, that is good for me physically and mentally as well as emotionally. It makes me a happier person. I am easier to be around! Just ask my hubby!
So for the year 2012, I want to make it a happy year. To be happy, I want to be dancing! And by dancing, I am exercising, I am keeping my weight in check and my pain and physical body as well as my mental and emotional body in check. As long as I keep it up, I will not have to worry about falling back into a rut and having to work my way back into an exercise regimen. So I hope to continue, and stay happy in 2012!!!!! Happy New Year to you all!
