The Many Benefits of Belly Dance

I was thrilled to wake up this morning to a post from one of my dear students, linking to a spineuniverse.com article named Belly Dance Your Back Pain Away.

Call me a pessimist, but I don't usually expect much from articles written about belly dance in the mainstream. They tend to be, at best, just fluff pieces that totally minimize what belly dance really is, or at worst they could be full of stereotypes and misinformation.

This time around, I was pleasantly surprised. For once, an accurate and informative take on the dance form we love so much - and from a medical source, at that!

So let's break down the many benefits of belly dance as listed on the article, and why I love them so much: 

• The article mentions that belly dance is "being recognized as an important cultural form of expression."
  
  This is very true and I love that it is briefly mentioned, despite the fact that this is an article focused on the physical benefits of the dance.
  
  We are really just beginning to recognize the full importance of this dance, in every aspect: physically, mentally, communally, culturally, and spiritually. For far too long belly dance has been dismissed at face value due to stereotypes and misconceptions about what it even is, but this is beginning to change and will continue to change in the coming years. With this shift in perception, more studies will be conducted and new discoveries will be made.
  
  
• It talks about the way that belly dance posture helps to correct spinal alignment and ease pressure on joints. 
  
  I spend a lot of time in my classes, especially at beginner levels, reminding students of this posture. As Dawn Ferchak, the author, beautifully defines, posture is "the way you hold the body to perform particular movements so that those movements are fluid, graceful, and painless." In belly dance, we keep our pelvis in a neutral position (tailbone pointing down), soften our knees and engage our abdominals to assist in this posture. This is crucial to alleviate stress on the lower back and the knees. 
  
  
• It cites a scientific study about the benefits of belly dance for chronic back pain. 
  
  The article mentions a 2017 study that found that a standardized belly dance program can positively influence pain and function in women with chronic back pain.
  
  I did not know about this study, but I am not surprised! My student Ellen (the one who shared the article) reports that she is healing well and quickly since her back surgery less than 1 year ago. She has, of course, the go-ahead from her doctors to perform this type of movement, and I always encourage my students (especially those with injuries and other limitations) to constantly check in and listen to their bodies, and help them modify movements as needed. 
  
  And I, myself, am prone to lower back issues due to my natural bone structure.  I wonder if the reason I have remained mostly injury-free throughout my life is because of belly dance. I do other forms of exercise and movement as well (and I highly recommend doing more than just belly dance, which is why we'll be adding powerful activities for cross-training in the SharqiDance curriculum soon), but the only one I have been doing consistently for the past 14 years is belly dance.
  
  
• It talks about the psychological benefits of the dance: improving depression, anxiety, and self-esteem issues. 
  
  I can 100% say this dance has helped me improve my own body image, my relationships with other women, and helps me manage my depression and anxiety when I am having episodes. Nearly all of my students have reported the same benefits as well. This is not to say that one should not seek a therapist when dealing with mental health issues, but this type of movement, in conjunction with talk therapy, can be a very beneficial path to healing. 
  
  
• It mentions a scientific study about the positive effects of belly dance on body image.
  
  “While research on various forms of dance has emphasized unhealthy body image influences, belly dance offers a counter-example, indicating broad and inclusive body image norms, lack of pressure for body image conformity, and high levels of body satisfaction among dancers.”
  
  I was also not aware of this study before, but I am not surprised. Most mainstream dance forms in our culture emphasize thinness and youth, whereas belly dance generally does not. Now, a caveat: this could be dependent on the belly dance instructor and their own philosophies and personal issues, and professional belly dance performers are unfortunately subject to the general public's preferences of how they should look.
  
  The belly dance world is not a perfect world, and body image issues certainly could arise or be aggravated in those scenarios. However, generally speaking, the belly dance community itself is much more open to a variety of body types than other dance forms and our society and popular culture. 
  
  And though I cannot speak for every belly dance teacher, in my classes every body type is welcome, accepted and appreciated, and I try to convey to my students a sense of appreciation for their own bodies as best as I can, as well as for diversity in body types in general.
  
  
• It talks about belly dance being accessible to people of all ages. It also mentions that it is not exclusive to women. Men can belly dance, too! 
  
  Nearly anyone, from school age to seniors, can participate in belly dance. It enhances health, assists with posture, can alleviate back pain, and strengthen both body and mind.
  
  This statement is spot on, and a breath of fresh air to see in a publication. My students range for their 20s to their 60s, but there are belly dancers who continue dancing well into their 80s and 90s, and others who start at much younger ages. Belly dance has roots in Middle Eastern social dances, which are danced by average people of all ages. 
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• It mentions belly dance being a fun, creative outlet that also serves as a health and fitness activity.
  
  I believe that every human being needs some way to develop and express their natural creativity. And it is well known that we all need regular physical exercise, as well. Why not get both from the same activity?

That just about covers the benefits mentioned in the article (if you haven't checked it out by now, you can read it here.)

Belly dance offers countless other benefits as well, ​which you may have noticed if you already practice it. What positive impact has belly dance had in your life, health, or well-being? What are the benefits you've personally experienced from it? 

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