How belly dancing improved my health

I dread the gym. The treadmill does little to excite me and I find the elliptical machine absolutely boring.

For years, I have searched for a workout routine that I enjoy enough to keep me active on a regular basis. From tae-bo to yoga to pilates, I have tried them all and dropped them just as quickly. I know that exercise is essential to my health and well-being yet I never found the motivation necessary to maintain a consistent regimen.

I was about to embrace my fate and commit to a life of laziness when a friend of mine suggested belly dancing. I immediately thought of Shakira's hot moves and figured, why not? So, I took my friend's advice and registered for an eight-week intro to belly dancing workshop at the Broadway Dance Center in New York City.

Finally, a workout routine that went beyond basic crunches! Belly dancing is about finding power in your womanhood through movement. I was instantly drawn in by the sexy dance moves and loved that expressing my femininity was a central point. I also found comfort in the fact that the class was made up of only women. No worries about looking cute. Instead I was able to focus strictly on exercising.

Week after week, I felt myself transforming into a new person. I walked out of each class feeling relaxed and calm, and my overall stress levels reduced greatly. I also began to develop a renewed sense of self-esteem and gained a higher level of comfort in my own skin.

The physical rewards were tremendous as well. Belly dancing can be quite rigorous as I learned after the first class. I often found myself struggling to keep up in the beginning. Halfway through the eight weeks, though, I began to build endurance. Repetition of movements including figure eights, hip drops, and belly rolls strengthened my hip, torso and leg muscles, and performing veil work and other moves, such as snake arms, increased my upper body strength. As my core muscles became stronger, my posture quickly improved.

Belly dancing is definitely a great way to remain physically fit and have fun at the same time. After experiencing it for myself and seeing dramatic improvements in my overall health, I can certainly say I do not plan to quit belly dancing anytime soon. I have finally found a workout that I truly enjoy and look forward to. I even made some new friends in the process. And the best part is that women of all shapes and sizes can reap the benefits of this art form.

Claudia Frias/Terra USA