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Healing Through Oriental Dance: Part 1, Physical Healing

© Shira

People first sample Oriental dance (often called belly dancing) for a variety of reasons: new friends, a new hobby, a new way to exercise, a chance to explore their sensuous side, etc. But they often stay for other reasons. And one of the reasons that some people stay with it is because it brings them healing.

We all occasionally need healing of one kind or another: sometimes it's emotional, sometimes it's physical. Oriental dance is a unique pursuit that can bring both kinds of healing to those who embrace it.

This 2-part series explores how Oriental dance can contribute to the healing process:

1. This article, Part 1 of Healing Through Oriental Dance, explores how the dance form can help eliminate pain, speed recovery from injuries, and contribute to overall physical health.
2. Part 2 addresses how Oriental dance can promote emotional healing from such deep-rooted issues as bulimia, breast cancer's psychic scars, and rape or sexual abuse.

It seems obvious, of course: dance is a form of exercise. And health professionals are always telling us that exercise is a Good Thing. But sometimes it's not easy to get ourselves to do it. And sometimes we're afraid of exercise because we fear it may make our condition worse.

How It Helps

The great thing about Oriental dance is that it is body-friendly. Unlike other dance forms, pure Oriental dance does not require leaping, hyperextension of joints, or abrupt movements. Admittedly, there are some artists who have incorporated ideas from ballet, modern dance, or other forms into their own interpretation of belly dancing to create a type of fusion, but at its heart Oriental dance uses gentle, natural movement.

Like most forms of aerobic exercise, dance can promote good health in the following ways:

• Better Circulation. When you exercise, your muscles need more oxygen, and your circulatory system works to bring it to them. That's why your heart beats faster and you start to pant. The increased blood flow throughout your body cleanses your cells of toxins, delivers life-giving oxygen to your cells, and speeds up your metabolism promoting healthy weight loss.
• Reduced Blood Pressure. Studies have shown that exercise is a useful treatment for high blood pressure. Exercise also reduces stress, which is one of the causes of high blood pressure.
• Joint Health. Exercise encourages your joints to remain mobile, and feeds them with the natural lubrications of your body. When you sit still all day at work, and then sit in front of the television at night, your body is no longer promoting this natural process, and you can start to lose your flexibility. The concept is similar to that of a machine that can seize up if it is left standing still for a long time. This can lead to pain and a feeling of stiffness. Belly dancing encourages fluid movement throughout your body in ways that other forms of exercise don't.