two conversations I had just recently made me believe that even though belly dancing seems intimidating as well as not-my-thing, I may do it if I were expecting again.
Sitting is the new smoking
My good friend Kelsey, a life coach as well as acupuncturist, said “Sitting is the new smoking” during a marathon road trip discussion we had about careers, childbirth, relationships, as well as parenting. “You’re going to hear that more as well as more,” she said.
And she was right. Within a couple weeks, I saw this article, Be A writer That Moves Be A Mover who Writes, acknowledging that humans in the past did not sit in one setting for hours each day, as well as the effect this has on our body should be considered, particularly for those of us who spend a great deal of time at computers.
Rise in sitting, increase in C-sections
Part II of my rate of interest in prenatal belly dancing as a great concept came when a Bay area infant resource center called then Comes infant revealed their new class series From The Hips, with a message that explained, “With most of us sitting at desk tasks as well as clacking away on the computer or wise phones, our bodies aren’t getting that hip as well as belly motion needed during pregnancy as well as birth to assist infants move into position, assisting labor development at a more steady pace. This leads to things like posterior infants (ouchie), ‘failure to progress’, as well as increased utilize of labor augmentation, pain meds earlier than really hoped for (if at all), as well as C-section.”
Not a new thing, however a totally old-fashioned thing
I asked Sabrina Freidenfelds, the creator of then Comes infant in Oakland, where the classes will be held, to tell me more. She said, “When people who believe of belly Dance, most believe of seductive women dancing around guy smoking hookah pipes, however it was really a dance and movement type that dates back originally to the Red camping tent — women assisting other women in labor. It’s a method of moving the hips as well as belly to assist get that infant down, move into ideal position, as well as assist distract women from the pain of labor (pre-epidural days).”
How it works
The doula who is mentor the Oakland class explains the benefits of belly dancing as:
Strengthen abdominal as well as back muscles
Assist with pelvic floor versatility as well as stretching
Improve body mechanics as well as posture ((for ideal fetal positioning as well as for regaining as well as preserving core strength)
Plus, calming relaxation, breathing, and/ or visualization techniques.
Sabrina, who at 32 weeks pregnant, is taking the class herself, says, “There are general belly dancing classes as well as on the internet resources, however they definitely don’t have that vibe, the “sisterhood” thing that we have going on. most of us have two left feet as well as are just chuckling our method with it, however there is likewise some serious direction going on too, as well as sections of the class that are truly believing about birth prep as well as postpartum recovery.”
“That’s the potent part, when it goes from a lot a women having fun, making our belly dance belts shimmy, as well as then then we recognize “Wait! This is really assisting us prepare as well as recuperate from this crazy ‘having a baby’ thing!”
How to get started
No prenatal belly dancing class in your area? First, feel free to take a routine belly dancing class. You’ll be the cutest woman there when you shake your huge belly around. Second, think about a video you can try in the privacy of your own home.
photos courtesy then Comes infant in Oakland