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Sunday, November 20, 2005
Exotic exercise
By Kara Mae Muga Noveda
IT might have been infamous she-spy Mata Hari’s favorite exercise regimen.
Obscured and romanticized in Mediterranean exoticism as a female dance of seduction—belly dancing has, indeed, come a long way to modern fitness centers in the metro.
Women who have been charmed by this dance have taken it seriously as a workout as they sign up for cardio-belly dancing. Besides the physical benefits, sweating out via booty shaking builds appreciation for one’s body image.
At the classes in Cebu Holiday Spa, for example, women beyond their roaring twenties recollect their youth and become giggling girls once more as they curve their arms up and then (snake arm move), fold their lower trunks (pelvic tilt move) and raise their hips ten counts up and then down (hip bump move) to the upbeat Arabic music.
With golden belly belts around their waists, fitness buffs dance their way to a firmer stomach and toned arms. It’s strictly called cardio-belly dancing exercise that started in Davao City. While in Manila, most circles have kept true to its traditional, artful purpose of belly dancing.
“The dance exercise allows one to move around a lot, and the routine is designed for group exercise especially. While shedding weight, they also build their self-confidence, “ explains fitness consultant Lita Quisumbing.
An instructor for the cardio-belly dance-exercise, one of Greg Orosio’s perhaps favorite line includes, “Go girls!”
With much of his knowledge learned from online sources, Greg admits that, “Anyone can learn or teach belly dancing moves. But the fun element is doing it together in groups.”
“Routine exercise could get boring after a while. (Cardio) Belly dancing has a lot of different movements. It’s able to work on the different parts of the body, especially the abs, which could be difficult to maintain when you’re over 30,” laughingly shares career mom Elaine Cooper at the end of the 30-minute session.
(November 20, 2005 issue)
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