Is it possible to practice oriental dancing during pregnancy? Is it possible to belly dance while pregnant?

Belly dancing and pregnancy

After looking at beautiful oriental dancers and listening to the enthusiastic speeches of my friends, I decided to sign up for belly dancing. Pleasant music, a great mood, and a pleasant time were guaranteed to me. I ran to class with joy, because I immediately felt that it was mine. Three months later I learned the good news - I’m pregnant! And the question immediately arose: “Is it possible to practice oriental dancing during pregnancy?”

It turned out that it is not only possible, but also desirable. During the dance, all muscle groups of the expectant mother are trained. For the effect to be positive, you need to try to exercise regularly, but at the same time take into account the peculiarities of the situation.

There is an interesting version about the origin of belly dancing. It is said to have originated in ancient times. In the beginning, these were ritual movements that helped a woman during pregnancy and childbirth. They perfectly trained the pelvic muscles, helped the pregnant woman feel her body and learn to control it.

About the benefits of belly dancing for pregnant women

Belly dance movements together represent an optimal exercise program during pregnancy. It harmoniously combines loads on the necessary muscle groups without the use of strength exercises. As a result of regular dancing, joints become flexible, back muscles are strengthened, and the functioning of the cardiovascular system improves.

And some more facts:

• During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles are subject to a lot of stress, and as a result, stretch marks and scars on the skin can appear. With the help of belly dancing, muscles are strengthened and, of course, they recover faster after childbirth.
• During the dance, the muscles tense and relax in turn, and this contributes to the rapid development of the placenta and eliminates a common pathology during pregnancy - placental insufficiency.
• Belly dancing helps train the abs and pelvic muscles, and develops the ability to relax deep muscles. These skills will help significantly reduce pain during childbirth.
• For those who practice belly dancing, the muscles of the perineum become elastic and the likelihood of their rupture during childbirth is reduced.
• Oriental dancing classes improve intestinal function and such unpleasant phenomena as heartburn, bloating, constipation, which often plague pregnant women, hardly bother you.
• Every day the baby gains weight, and the load on the mother’s spine increases. Belly dancing trains the back muscles, which makes pregnancy easier.
• Many expectant mothers are prone to rapid mood changes. When dancing, “joy hormones” are released, and this leads to an improvement in mood. And communication with like-minded people charges you with positive emotions.

Contraindications for dancing

If you want to take up oriental dancing, be sure to consult your pregnancy doctor. Perhaps such physical activity is contraindicated for you. Dancing cannot be practiced for the following reasons:

• if a pregnant woman has toxicosis or gestosis;
• asthma;
• there is a risk of premature birth;
• if there are disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland;
• pathologies of the placenta are observed;
• heart diseases;
• multiple pregnancy.

If there are no contraindications for belly dancing, and the doctor has given the go-ahead, then dance to your health, but keep in mind that the guideline for the duration and intensity of classes is the well-being of the expectant mother. So, dear mothers, dance to your health. The main thing to remember is that you need to observe moderation in everything.

moymalich.ru

Belly dancing for pregnant women: pros and cons

As promised, we are publishing our take on belly dancing for pregnant women. As our survey showed, most women are quite aware that belly dancing for pregnant women is also rich in pitfalls, and therefore they need to practice with caution. According to the survey, most women prefer to switch to more specialized courses for pregnant women during pregnancy, or to lighten the load and reduce the duration of classes. Next, we will look in detail at all the pros and cons of oriental belly dancing for pregnant women and try to give a definite answer to the question: “Is belly dancing harmful or beneficial for pregnant women?”

From the history

Belly dancing originated many thousands of years ago in temples. It originated as a ritual dance, with the help of which skilled priestesses of temples helped future mothers in labor prepare their body and mind for childbirth. Belly dancing was intended to make the process of childbirth as easy as possible. During the dance, young pregnant girls strengthened their bodies: they practiced movements and stretches that made it easier for the child to be born. In some African and Asian regions, the technique of retracting and protruding the abdomen (an element of oriental dances) is used as preparation for childbirth for young women.

Positive aspects of belly dancing

It is well known that belly dancing

• trains the deep abdominal and pelvic muscles, which are heavily involved during childbirth
• helps you learn to relax deep muscles, which significantly reduces pain spasms during childbirth
• trains the muscles of the perineum (the more elastic they are, the less likely it is that they will rupture or be cut during childbirth). Elastic perineal muscles also help improve a woman's sex life, increasing her sexual performance and strengthening her marriage.
• creates the necessary load for the leg muscles (if contractions occur completely or partially vertically, this will create a huge load on the leg muscles)
• strengthens the veins of the legs, which prevents the appearance of varicose veins, which often affects pregnant women
• trains the muscles in the shoulder girdle, which helps maintain the shape of the chest, strengthens the back, the load on which increases with the increase in the size of the abdomen

Belly dancing is a very beautiful and complex art, which is also very beneficial for a woman’s health. It involves most muscle groups, including those that we rarely use in everyday life. Physical health is extremely necessary for every woman to perform the main function that nature has endowed her with - bearing and giving birth to healthy offspring.

Since during pregnancy a woman’s abdominal muscles experience increased stress: the abdominal muscles and the skin on it are stretched several times, then if a woman has never trained her muscles before, then after giving birth it will be almost impossible to bring them back to their previous state. Oriental dancers cope with this much easier: they recover after the birth of a child in a very short time, and their trained muscles help them regain their former slender waist. Women who practice oriental dancing have very strong intercostal and oblique muscles, which ensure a slim waist.

Among other things, belly dancing improves complexion, since the dancers' intestines function much better than those of people who do not attend classes. During dance, the vestibular apparatus and coordination of movements develop, the spine is aligned, the ligaments and cardiovascular system are strengthened. Belly dancing is a preventive technique in the fight against hypertension and cervical osteochondrosis. During the dance, the rhythm of breathing plays a significant role - it contributes to the dancer’s pleasure by stimulating special pleasure centers through the release of endorphins.

Teachers of oriental belly dance for pregnant women are confident that there are practically no contraindications for women; the main evaluation criterion here is well-being, and an experienced teacher should always keep a vigilant eye on his students and be interested in their condition. Most conscientious teachers, before enrolling you in their belly dancing group for pregnant women, will ask you for a certificate from a gynecologist confirming that your fetus is normal.

Doctors' answer to belly dancing for pregnant women

This type of activity as belly dancing for pregnant women appeared in oriental dance schools relatively recently, but its growing popularity today does not leave most doctors indifferent. Doctors who have a negative attitude towards belly dancing for pregnant women have their own arguments.

Since this new direction in belly dancing is now quite in demand, that is, it generates profit, not all teachers filter their students. It’s good if the teacher requires a certificate from a gynecologist, but there are also those who do not do this.

A large number of doctors today are against belly dancing for pregnant women, because in principle, people with cholecystitis, tuberculosis, bronchitis, stomach ulcers, liver disease, people with displaced vertebrae and hernia, as well as with flat feet and varicose veins (classes are held on half toes) cannot practice oriental dancing ), for diseases of the ovaries, fibroids, cysts. But many people may not even be aware of the diseases that affect their body.

One awkward or sudden movement when practicing belly dancing for pregnant women can lead to tragic consequences in the form of miscarriage or damage to the fetus. For this type of dance, there are even a number of prohibited movements, such as, for example, sharp turns and shaking.

Although, as the dancers themselves say, everything is very, very individual, and there are often cases of belly dancing teachers for pregnant women in the 6th month of pregnancy, or when a pregnant dancer easily performs beautiful shaking without any consequences. There are also cases where dancers won titles in competitions while in the first months of pregnancy.

Conclusion

Despite a rather impressive list of contraindications, belly dancing for pregnant women is gaining popularity, and today more and more schools are adding it to their list of directions.

As with any important decision, only you can say for sure whether maternity dance is right for you. At the same time, do not neglect examination by doctors. If your teacher, when enrolling you in a group, does not require any certificates from you, then this is the first signal to doubt his professionalism.

During the classes themselves, you should rely only on your own well-being; under no circumstances should you move abruptly or overload yourself. These are not activities where you have to work hard to try to do an element better than everyone else. Belly dancing for pregnant women teaches you to relax first of all. After classes, you should under no circumstances be in pain, otherwise you should give up dancing and switch to gymnastics for pregnant women.

From the moment you decide that you will take up belly dancing for pregnant women, you should be as attentive to yourself as possible. Care in your exercises will ultimately lead to a positive result: your childbirth will be painless, and after it you will be able to restore your figure in a short time!

When reprinting the material in full or in part, an active hyperlink to http://navadance.com.ua is required.

navadance.com.ua

Belly dancing during pregnancy

I don’t know about you, but I really like belly dancing. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to dance it, but I think that someday I will definitely learn this amazing and incredibly beautiful type of dance. And today I want to look at this type of art from a slightly different perspective. It turns out that belly dancing during pregnancy is an excellent gymnastics for expectant mothers.

In Morocco, for example, you can see the entire dance ritual that is performed before conception, during pregnancy, and also during childbirth. Belly dancing is not only beautiful movements, but also excellent exercises that help open the uterus before childbirth and force the birth muscles to work.

During the dance, a woman will not receive a sharp physical load on the body, and there will be no shocks or shocks. Belly dancing trains the legs, hips and stomach. During the dance, the abdominal and pelvic muscles work very actively, and it is these muscles that are directly involved in childbirth.

Regular belly dancing classes will allow a pregnant woman to avoid ruptures during childbirth, because... During dance, these muscles become pliable and elastic. In addition, this dance strengthens the back, relieves heartburn, heaviness in the stomach and constipation. By learning to control your body during pregnancy, you will not only make the birth process easier, but also maintain the elasticity of your abdomen, hips and chest after it.

If you decide to attend belly dancing classes, then first of all you should also consult your doctor. Restrictions on classes may be as follows:

• High or low blood pressure
• Muscle or joint diseases, heart disease
• Risk of miscarriage
• Multiple pregnancy
• Placenta previa, etc.

If you have no restrictions on physical activity, then feel free to start exercising. You can start dancing at any stage of pregnancy. The main thing is to choose a good trainer, attend classes regularly, monitor your own well-being, and you will be guaranteed a good mood and a boost of energy. Women who know how to dance oriental dances are feminine and beautiful! Check out the new video and head to the dance hall!

Good luck to you, dear readers. See you soon on the pages of the “Children of Miracle” blog.

childguide.ru

Belly dancing during pregnancy.

All oriental beauties pay great attention to their body, especially before childbirth. It so happens that in the East they give birth more often and take pregnancy more seriously. What is the secret to the health of women in Egypt, India, Saudi Arabia and other countries? Of course it's belly dancing!

All varieties of oriental “fouettés” and “pas” come down to belly dancing or bella dance. Some civilized citizens believe that this is a whim of women who do not work. However, this is a misconception. After all, belly dancing during pregnancy is not only an oriental art, but also gymnastics for pregnant women. It was invented a long time ago. Therefore, in some countries they began to forget its purpose.

Morocco is the land of toned tummies. They will be happy to demonstrate to you the entire dance ritual that is performed before conception, during pregnancy and childbirth. Beautiful movements are stunning in beauty and help open the uterus before childbirth. Instead of midwives, you can see an “ensemble” of dancing girls. They show movements that make childbirth easier.

The movements that are reproduced in dance make the birth muscles work. We all spend a lot of time at the stove, at the computer, at the desk. We don’t walk, but “fly” in order to be on time everywhere. Nothing in common with the plastic arts of the East.

The benefits of belly dancing for pregnant women.

Belly dancing for pregnant women means no shocks, no shocks, no sudden physical activity. This is a set of exercises that help train the hips, abdomen and legs. If the placenta is in motion, it develops much faster.

During the dance, the abdominal and pelvic muscles are involved in the work. They take a direct part in childbirth. If you learn to control them, you can also relax them. This will help relieve pain during contractions.

During childbirth, many women experience cuts and tears. This is due to the fact that even with the most active sports, they forget about the muscles in the perineum. Belly dancing makes them pliable and elastic.

Every woman who has given birth knows how much stress is currently placed on her legs. It is very difficult to endure contractions and attempts. Very often, after giving birth, mothers experience problems with varicose veins. For this reason, doctors recommend walking more during pregnancy. Tiring walking can be replaced with a mesmerizing dance. All women have a favorable attitude towards Arabic music.

You will receive mental pleasure and physical benefits. After all, during pregnancy it is difficult to maintain a constant level of emotions. The positive charge will make you smile once again.

You should be happy about your position. Belly dancing during pregnancy strengthens the fragile back, which bears the weight of a rounded belly. Moreover, heartburn, constipation and heaviness in the stomach recede into the background.

One more argument can be made in favor of bella dance. This is maintaining an attractive shape. Look at the oriental beauties. They have seven children each, but their bodies are like those of young girls. If you control all the cells of your body, then after childbirth you can maintain the elasticity of your breasts, hips and abdomen.

You will have a great opportunity to get out of the house for a while, change the environment and talk with your dance partners. Many pregnant women are depressed by the fact that their social circle is limited. Support your mental state.

Belly dancing during pregnancy - what to pay attention to.

If you decide to take dance classes, there are some facts to consider.

• Even if you have never danced before, this does not mean that you will not benefit from it.

• Belly dancing can be performed at all stages of pregnancy. However, you should consult your coach.

• If you get tired from studying, stop for a while.

• The coach does not have to be Indian. The main thing is that he has experience and reputation.

These rules are very simple. Give health to yourself and your child.

ya-zdorovaya.ru

Is it possible to dance during pregnancy: the benefits and harms of dancing

Prohibitions during pregnancy sometimes become absurd - you can’t cut your hair, you can’t raise your arms above your head. For modern expectant mothers, such taboos, as a rule, only cause a condescending smile. However, there are contraindications that really make you think. For example, is it possible to harm the unborn baby if you dance during pregnancy? The question is especially relevant for active women who are not used to sitting in one place. Let's find out whether it's worth giving up dancing during pregnancy or whether it's just another relic of the past.

When is dancing during pregnancy dangerous?

If you feel great and moderate physical activity is not contraindicated for you, feel free to go to a dance studio and enjoy the movements to the music. But when there are complications or you are in the first weeks of pregnancy, it is better to hold off on dancing.

You shouldn’t take risks and put extra strain on your body if you are diagnosed with:

• severe hyper- or hypotension;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• threat of miscarriage;
• increased uterine tone;
• gestosis of pregnancy;
• polyhydramnios;
• discharge mixed with blood;
• disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• acute muscle or joint pain;
• serious underweight or, conversely, overweight.

In addition, those women whose pregnancy is multiple should be extremely careful.

In any case, the decision to take dancing classes for pregnant women should only be made together with your gynecologist. Amateur activity is strictly contraindicated.

Read whether pregnant women can eat fresh and pickled cucumbers.

Learn about the causes and risks of developing Down syndrome in a child.

What are the benefits of dancing for pregnant women?

We found out that there are specific objective conditions under which it is dangerous for expectant mothers not only to dance, but to engage in any physical activity in general. If you are not at risk, the following information will be useful to you. Let's talk about the good that dancing classes for pregnant women will bring to expectant mothers.

Let's start with the fact that any type of activity, especially accompanied by music, has a positive effect on a woman's nervous system, improves her mood, and charges her with positivity and energy for a long period.

Attention: from 5–6 months of pregnancy, the fetus is able to perceive external sounds, which means that by dancing to good, pleasant music, you are simultaneously shaping your baby’s musical taste.

In addition, dancing for expectant mothers is also useful because:

• help strengthen the muscles of the legs, back, pelvis and, as a result, recover faster after childbirth;
• train the respiratory system, and proper breathing is one of the main factors for a successful birth;
• it has been proven that dancing during pregnancy reduces the risk of developing late toxicosis and varicose veins;
• dancing stimulates blood circulation and helps stabilize blood pressure;
• moderate physical activity that a woman experiences during pregnancy gently and gradually develops the muscle groups involved in the birth process, which means the risk of injury to both the fetus and the mother is reduced.

Important: if you danced before pregnancy and feel the strength to continue dancing in the early stages, still consult with your doctor to see if you can continue dancing as before.

How to dance correctly for pregnant women?

When going to the dance hall, it is important to remember your special position and strictly adhere to the following recommendations:

• choose only those types of dances that do not involve stress on the abdominal muscles, since otherwise there is a high probability of uterine tone;
• dance exclusively in groups for pregnant women under the strict supervision of a professional instructor;
• stop classes immediately as soon as you feel any unpleasant sensations (palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath): dancing should bring only positive emotions and feelings;
• do not overwork, optimally a dance lesson should last from 20 to 30 minutes;
• exercise no more than three times a week, but maintain regularity;
• while dancing, do not forget to drink water in small sips;
• never make sudden jumps, jerks, pushes while dancing, being in an “interesting” position;
• Always warm up before dancing to avoid sprains and injuries;
• After the lesson, it is useful to lie down for a while with your legs raised up to improve the venous outflow of blood from the lower extremities and reduce the manifestations of their swelling.

Provided that all of the above rules are followed and you are in good health, the question of whether you can dance during pregnancy will not arise.

During pregnancy, special attention should be paid to the choice of dance type.

Important: pay attention to dances that do not require increased activity, sudden movements and strong stress on the abdominal muscles.

Let's try to find out how some types of dances affect the body of the expectant mother and directly the development of the fetus:

• oriental dancing - involves minimal stress on the abdominal muscles; they are distinguished by smooth movements and softness, but such an element as shaking should be abandoned;
• rumba – perfect for pregnant women, especially if the woman’s husband becomes the woman’s partner;
• salsa is also not contraindicated for pregnant women, but the pace and range of hip movements should be reduced;
• flamenco is a rather charismatic type of dance, but quite suitable for expectant mothers. Take a medium tempo and enjoy the mesmerizing Spanish melodies.

Attention: do not choose European, modern dances as a physical activity during pregnancy. Give them time after the baby is born.

If you don’t know where to stop, watch a video on the Internet that shows dance classes specifically for pregnant women. Perhaps this will make it easier for you to decide on a style.

A little about belly dancing

Often, oriental dances are recommended for pregnant women. Of course, because this type of dance is aimed directly at awakening femininity and revealing sexual energy. It also has a beneficial effect on the general condition of women's health.

Movements performed during oriental dances during pregnancy contribute in the best way to:

• relaxation of deep muscles;
• training and increasing the elasticity of the pelvic floor and perineum muscles;
• maintaining correct posture;
• strengthening the muscular corset of the back.

We advise you to learn about the features of Pilates classes during pregnancy.

Find out if Pimafucin is safe for pregnant women.

Read: how sinusitis is treated in expectant mothers and what medications are safe to use for this.

Oriental dance classes in special groups for pregnant women are certainly useful. Don’t give in to stupid prejudices and stay active even in such a wonderful state as pregnancy. Remember that the whole range of positive emotions that you experience during pregnancy will certainly be passed on to your baby. Smile more, laugh and fill your life with positivity!

Today we talked about whether pregnant women can dance. If you are full of strength and energy, do not limit your activity. Walk, dance, do yoga, gymnastics, swim! After all, it has long been proven that playing sports during pregnancy in most cases is exclusively beneficial for both the expectant young mother and the developing fetus.

moeditya.com

Belly dancing during pregnancy, is it possible to dance salsa in the early stages, video lessons

During pregnancy, a woman’s life does not stop; she does not have to deny herself anything and lose her hobby. Therefore, many pregnant women ask the question: is it possible for pregnant women to dance? Perhaps this question will cause bewilderment for many, since they immediately imagine a big belly, swollen legs, and sluggishness. People assume that dancing during this period is harmful - after all, you need to think not about your desires, but about the health of the baby, you need to take care of him and constantly be in a state of peace. But all these are just stereotypes, and most doctors say that this even has its advantages.

Positive aspects of dancing

What advantages could there be if a woman engages in such entertainment while pregnant? Here are some of them:

1. With the help of dance, the muscles of the legs, abdomen, and back are strengthened.
2. It will help fight apathy and stress. Restores psychological balance.
3. The lightness that appears during dance allows a woman to feel beautiful and gives her a state of confidence.

So dancing during pregnancy is not only possible, but necessary. Naturally, no one is talking about any sharp, impetuous and fast dances, but calm dancing will only be beneficial. Any activity should bring joy, and especially during such a period. Moreover, the mother’s good mood will be passed on to the baby.

Rules to follow

Speaking about the fact that a pregnant woman can dance, it should be noted that when engaging in this hobby, you should still adhere to some rules:

1. You should not make sudden movements.
2. The load must be increased gradually.
3. There is no need to get tired during training.
4. You should eat well and drink enough fluids.
5. For a long period of time, try to reduce the load.

In addition, it is worth discussing with a doctor, who will tell you what is best to do and what is healthier for your body.

What dances are best to dance?

You can dance in the early stages of pregnancy in special classes or on your own at home, using a video. It is worth choosing exactly those recordings where professionals will tell you how to correctly make this or that movement for a pregnant girl. Nowadays belly dancing for pregnant women is very popular. It is believed that by doing them, you can better prepare for childbirth by strengthening the muscles of the pelvis and abdomen. Good for salsa classes.

Video belly dance lessons for pregnant women will help you understand where to start and what rules you need to follow. Choreographers will tell you how to correctly perform any exercise without causing any harm to yourself or your child. If you've never been into dancing before, this video is perfect for beginners. Teachers start from the very basics, while focusing on the woman’s position and taking into account the workload and class time.

Another dance that will be useful for expectant mothers is salsa. It is perfect for those who are about to have a baby in the near future. Salsa for pregnant women is also adapted so that women can learn all the basics correctly without harming their position.

Dancing plays a big role in the lives of many women. No one will want to part with it, especially if they have previously invested a lot of time and effort into such a hobby. Someone, on the contrary, begins to exercise only in a special position, then it is worth following all recommendations on loads. Be sure to consult with your doctor before subjecting your body to physical activity. Only he can tell you what activities are right for you and how much time you can devote to them.

Video lessons

Katrin Selezneva

Teacher of modern and classical dance, participant in international competitions. Teaching activity in dance schools for 8 years.

see also

danceda.ru

Belly dance for pregnant women

During pregnancy, all the family's attention is focused on the woman's belly, which is growing every day. The younger children and husband curiously put their ears to him, warily listening to what is happening inside, and the mother herself measures the added centimeters every day - and they all try to protect the new little man from worries. True, it often happens that these efforts go too far, and then the expectant mother is strictly prohibited from all the joys of life: going to noisy companies, doing her favorite aerobics, driving a car. Her only destiny now is to bear a healthy child. But the useful can always be combined with the pleasant. And belly dancing can give pregnant women such a chance for a full-blooded, interesting life.

NOT dirty dancing

Most of us associate belly dancing with the wide hips and bare navel of slaves from the harem of a formidable sultan or a fabulously rich Shah, who, with one lazy clap in the palm of their arrogant master, begin to please him in every possible way. It is clear that these erroneous and sanctimonious ideas, repeatedly disseminated from movie screens and the pages of pocket bestsellers, led to the fact that a ban was imposed on him for many years.

However, in reality, this dance was widespread in many Asian countries, Ancient Greece and Rome and, in fact, was a ritual temple performance in honor of the goddess of fertility, known in mythology as Demeter, Ceres, Astarte, Ishtar, Isis, Anahita, etc. ., having nothing to do with eroticism. In Asia, dance still remains the personification of motherhood, the pain and joy with which a new soul is born.

Therefore, in no case should you confuse belly dancing with striptease: exposing your belly and reaching the point of obscenity is not part of the strict traditions of dance. Eastern plastic art hypnotizes and enchants the Western viewer, rather, with its unusualness and virtuosity of execution. If classical European choreography focuses on the dancers’ legs and their conquest of a large area of ​​the stage, then eastern choreography focuses only on the torso, and the dancer may not leave one place at all.

From a practical point of view, belly dancing has served for thousands of years to prepare a woman’s body for childbirth, teaching her how to synchronize her movements and labor pains, and not fight them. At the same time, the dance was a purely intimate domestic ritual. In Saudi Arabia, it was performed in front of a woman in labor by several experienced female “instructors” (men were not allowed to be present) so that by repeating the movements she could more easily give birth.

Give birth without complications

One of the most common problems that arise during childbirth is the inability of the woman in labor to relax and “let” the fetus pass. This is especially important in the second stage of labor, during the so-called period of “expulsion” of the fetus from the womb. After all, when the cervix dilates poorly or too slowly, and drug stimulation of contractions does not help, there is often a need for surgical intervention, that is, a caesarean section.

To avoid unnecessary problems, ancient cultural traditions that harmoniously combine dance with pregnancy and the birth process come to the aid of the expectant mother. It has been noticed that pregnant women who are actively involved in gymnastics or oriental dancing have significantly fewer complications, and the birth itself goes faster.

By taking belly dance classes, you can learn how to relax and control your muscles. In themselves, these specific body movements are very useful: they help increase the elasticity of the pelvic floor and joint mobility, reduce venous congestion, stimulate intestinal activity and maintain balance (and this is especially necessary by the third trimester, when the expectant mother’s center of gravity noticeably shifts forward).

Always beautiful!

A strong, well-developed muscular-ligamentous apparatus of the pelvic region and perineum is of great importance for preserving the beauty of a woman after childbirth. For many, due to the weakness of the abdominal muscles and the natural increase in intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy, the stomach becomes flabby and saggy (not to mention stretch marks), and this subsequently threatens the prolapse of the internal organs. After the birth of a child, dance speeds up and facilitates the recovery period for a young mother, allows her to avoid depression, restore her body to its former attractiveness, grace and sensuality, and most importantly, to believe in herself again, because you can’t help but admire the masterful performance of even simple dance patterns!

By the way, thanks to oriental dancing, women can actually add several centimeters to their height: characteristic exercises and breathing techniques expand the chest and straighten the spine.

Music for the belly

Interestingly, belly dancing also has a beneficial effect on the fetus: having received a lot of oxygen and a minimum of unpleasant shaking during the mother’s exercises, the unborn baby calms down peacefully. This is not surprising, because a good mood and that special sparkle in the eyes that appears in a dancer when the most refined femininity blossoms in her are directly related to the condition of the baby. Particular attention is paid to the correct positive attitude in classes. Under the monotonous “one-two-three-four” you won’t learn to feel the plasticity of the dance, and without a sense of humor, liveliness of perception of the world and a developed ear for music, all movements will remain stiff, “wooden”. Therefore, all dancers need to develop themselves and learn to feel the difference between the Western music we are used to and the Eastern one.

Imagine the keys of a piano: there are twelve of them in each octave - seven white (main sounds) and five black (midtones). The keys display the scale introduced at one time by J. S. Bach and A. Werkmeister. Many ancient oriental melodies and songs also use quarter tones, which have no place in a standard piano. Imagine how the Asian version of this musical instrument would look twice as “toothy.” In addition, in the East, chords are practically not used; there is always a free path for improvisation and experimentation.

As for the safety of belly dancing, this freedom of expression reduces the possibility of injury, because the main condition of the classes is to listen to your body and, without exhaustion and violence against yourself, do only what “goes”: Lessons should give the pregnant woman only pleasure and evoke tenderness in her to the unborn child. By the way, an elegant suit that emphasizes the dignity and beauty of the figure also helps with this. It doesn't have to be an expensive bodice, chiffon harem pants or a flared skirt with slits on the sides. Opt for comfortable clothes that will not hide your body from the instructor’s eyes, and decorate it in oriental style.

Dance lessons

Oriental dance technique involves tensing and relaxing only certain muscles, while all others are completely relaxed. Therefore, literally in the very first lesson, dancers learn to liberate the body and correctly distribute muscle tension: every muscle must be “found” and felt.

It is not difficult to recognize your physical self. It is enough to perform the simplest exercises, at least the following: stand in a comfortable position (feet shoulder-width apart, arms and knees relaxed, chest straightened). Without holding your breath, draw in your stomach, but not too much, and now, without protruding, relax it. Let's complicate the task a little: try to retract the diaphragm (this muscle is located between the navel and the chest), relaxing the pelvic muscles, then, on the contrary, retract the pelvic muscles, relaxing the diaphragm. By repeating the exercise several times, you will feel how the pelvic muscles and diaphragm can work independently.

After the dancers have found a common language with their own body, they begin to learn dance steps: not sharp and angular, but smoothly shimmering and wavy. For pregnant women who have recently started exercising, rapidly changing movements are strictly contraindicated; however, it is not necessary to focus on this: dangerous movements (“shaking”, “blows”, “volumetric eights”) are complex, and beginners will not be able to cope with them. Meanwhile, a unique dance can consist of just a few alternating basic elements.

When to start?

Anyone between the ages of 9 and 90 can practice oriental dancing without special choreographic training; pregnant women are no exception, although, of course, they should take care of themselves. If the expectant mother is healthy and has been belly dancing for some time, and her pregnancy is going well, then the lessons can be continued throughout the entire nine months with an instructor (changing the difficulty of the tasks according to the period). However, as before starting any exercise or exercise program for pregnant women, be sure to consult with your doctor. If you decide to take up dancing while already pregnant, most likely, you will be advised the best time for this is after the 20th week, when the threat of miscarriage is reduced to a minimum.

Keep in mind that at each stage the set of dance movements has its own characteristic features. For example, in the first trimester (that is, up to the 14th week), a minimal load will be useful: concentration on proper full breathing and relaxation. Practice smooth movements of your arms and legs. But tension in the abdominal muscles is undesirable now; you can master such exercises in a lighter version in the second and third trimesters.

There is no need to twist and “wiggle” your belly too much when dancing: a pregnant woman undergoes a real course of preparation for childbirth, performing the easiest and safest steps. For example, the natural bandage of the growing tummy that supports the uterus - the oblique muscles - is usually trained like this: standing on one leg, the other is first placed in front of it, and then brought back behind it. You won't be bored, because all the elements of oriental dance are trained to music - often to the accompaniment of cymbals or sagat.

Swelling in the lower abdomen during pregnancy