Bellydance Articles, Page 1, Press, by Raylene Bliss

• Ancient Art Of Bellydance
• Bellydance Away Winter Kilos
• Benefits From Bellydancing
• Fun Way Of Getting Into Shape
• Sun Shines On Fun Day
• Time-Out For Mums

Ancient Art Of Bellydance
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

In it’s purest form, Bellydancing is one of the most beautiful dances in the world and also a great way to keep fit, according to Despina Yiannoukas, who is offering classes at Daceyville. Despina said Oriental Dance or Bellydance as the Western world named it, was originally part of ceremonies to celebrate the birth of a baby and women as mothers. She was immediately drawn to the ancient beauty of its music and movements, though she admits the desire to get into one of the traditional costumes had been spawned years earlier by the television show I Dream of Jeannie.

“I was at a Lebanese restaurant and I was awe struck,” she said of her first encounter with a Bellydance performance. Despina was enchanted by the old Arabic music with an ancient mystical sound and amazed at the incredible muscle control of the dancers. “Another thing that struck me about the dance, unlike aerobics and whole gym world, was you did not have to kill yourself to do it,” the former fitness instructor said. “It is very strengthening in terms of muscle endurance, but its not no pain no gain.”

There are many Oriental Dance studios in Sydney, but Despina’s Academy of Oriental Dance is the only mobile studio. Despina has taken Oriental Dance into the universities, schools and kindergartens where she is working with children as young as two and adults as old as 70. “This ancient art is becoming very popular among women in many Western countries, including Australia, for various reasons,” she said. “It keeps you fit, centred, teaches excellent posture and develops strong muscles. It can also ease back and menstrual pain and helps to prepare a woman’s muscles for childbirth.”

Despina has studied Oriental Dance for eight years and has seen, through Oriental Dance, women who have learnt to appreciate their bodies and what shape they are. “The more women can appreciate themselves, the stronger their self-confidence becomes and the more likely they are to succeed both with career and relationships,” she said.

Bellydance Away Winter Kilos
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

The fun way to shake off the winter blues is through Bellydancing.

“Bellydance is the perfect way to keep those winter blues at bay,” Clare Godfrey, a Registered Nurse said. “It helps you feel well mentally and physically during the winter months when you're particularly susceptible to putting on weight and feel down in the dumps.”

It is well known that winter is a time when a lot of people put on weight. This is due to the cold weather - our bodies automatically request more food so as to increase our fat level and keep us warmer. This biological phenomenon served humans well many thousands of years ago when they had less sturdy shelter and access to clothing was not as straight forward as it is today. But for us in modern day Sydney, that extra layer of fat does nothing but get in the way of us looking our best and feeling our healthiest and fittest.

“The trouble is, our bodies don't realise that it's the year 2000 and that we don't have trouble finding clothes or shelter,” Ms Godfrey said. So they still try to protect us from the cold by asking for more food during the winter months. The result: we put on unwanted and unneeded weight in winter. So how can we prevent this?

“Rule number one is not to fight the body,” said Ms Godfrey, “In other words, don't deny your body food by starving yourself.

“Instead, increase your activity: exercise.”

Studies have shown that in winter people suffer more from depression than during the warmer months. This is thought to be for two reasons: short winter days mean more hours of the day are spent in darkness; and people often reduce their social activity during the winter months so they are more isolated.

“Bellydance is a winter sport because it is done indoors,” Ms Godfrey said. This means that wet and cold weather doesn't affect it - you can just keep on dancing all year round. “And socially, it's a great way to get out among people. So, besides increasing your fitness and helping to keep those unwanted kilos away, it is a year-round activity that allows you to meet other like minded people.”

Benefits From Bellydancing
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

For all those people who made a resolution to get fit in the new millennium but have already given up, Bellydancing may be the answer. Anna Menzies, Kylie Prats, Lisa Johnston, Michelle Daffy and Patricia Brown started Bellydancing just before the turn of the new millennium.

Anna, a 27-year-old publicist from Woollahra said, “I love the exotic element of Bellydancing which brings richness into my life.”

Kylie, a 36-year-old graphic designer from Kensington said, “After only a few short weeks my muscle tone is increasing, and I find Bellydance gives me the gentle but thorough workout I have been looking for.”

Lisa, a 21-year-old secretary and psychology student of Kingsford said Bellydancing had improved her confidence and posture.

Michelle, a 37-year-old office manager of Narwee has found the benefits for her include greatly reduced back pain and some weight loss. “I did find out, although I secretly knew, that I am not very fit,” she said. “Bellydancing is a hell of a lot more complicated than it looks and twice as much fun.”

Patricia was shocked when, after only one class of Bellydancing, her frozen shoulder improved dramatically. Two more Bellydancing devotees who began classes in June last year can attest to the healing power of this form of dance. Marina Hatzigeorgiou has found that her migraines have been reduced in frequency and intensity while Jennifer Zuber found her chronic hip problems disappeared.

Clare Godfrey, a 36-year-old registered nurse from Coogee, said that the most positive thing about Bellydancing was that it reduced stress levels. “For the duration of the lesson I am transported to a different place and time where none of my day to day stresses exist,” she said.

Dr Misaki Ikegame of Potts Point Family Medical Practice said Bellydancing could help better certain conditions such as lower back problems, sciatica, osteoarthritis, sacroiliac joint pain and any other soft tissue back strain. “It’s particularly good for these conditions because it is low impact and strengthens the back and abdominal muscles,” she said.

David Peterson, a physiotherapist at Potts Point Physiotherapy said that the deep transverse abdominal muscles and oblique abdominal muscles were worked by Bellydance, making it unique as a form of exercise.

Fun Way Of Getting Into Shape
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

If Despina Yiannoukas has any say in it, millennium fitness will be about getting into shape the fun way – through Bellydancing.

The owner of Dreaming Of Jeannie Bellydance Academy says besides the fun factor, Bellydancing firms and tones your entire body – including legs, tummy and arms.

“Ladies, there are no more excuses!” Despina said. “This is the perfect way to get fit for the new millennium. Forget lap swimming! Getting in shape this summer will be anything but boring – these Bellydance classes are 100 percent fun.” It is low impact so there is no risk of injury. Age and shape are irrelevant – any woman can do it.

Bellydance is the best way for mums to get into shape and feel good about their bodies. Carla Simmons, a Maroubra mother of two, has been dancing since June this year. “It’s something that I do because it’s just for me,” she said. “You don’t need a partner to go to classes and as my husband hates dancing and I’ve always loved it, it’s perfect. I also really hate exercise – I usually have to force myself to do it, but Bellydancing is fun. I also think that Bellydancers are gorgeous and when I do it, I feel gorgeous too.”

No dance experience? No problem. Kylie Douglas, part-owner of Coogee’s famous Bobby Dazzler op-shop recounted her experience with Bellydance: “I’d been to aerobics before and felt really un-co. At first I was a bit worried because I had no dance experience. But it’s so much fun – you learn to dance without even realising it.”

Rebecca Duncan, an administrator from Neutral Bay, makes it all the way to Kingsford every week. “It’s just fun. It makes me laugh and keeps me fit,” she said.

Lisa Taylor, a research assistant at the University of NSW has found that it’s helped her reduce stress. "It loosens you up," she said, "And you forget everything for an hour."

The classes have also been known to help some problem backs. Maree Burgess, of Randwick says, "Ever since I started Bellydancing in March this year I haven’t had to go the chiropractor once."

For others it helps reduce menstrual pain. Sue Kramer, a Kingsford mother, said, "I’ve found that it’s almost eliminated period pain for me."

The millennium summer is upon us - shimmy your way into the Year 2000 with a new body and confidence to match!

Sun Shines On Fun Day
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

Thousands of fun day enthusiasts flocked to Coogee beach on Saturday. The morning clouds subsided and the sun appeared to smile on this year’s fun day, which raised money for Sydney Children’s Hospital. The Dreaming Of Jeannie Bellydance Academy gave a colourful exhibition of this ancient dance form to the delight of a large audience.

Children’s favourites Humphrey and the Flower Pot Gang produced thrills of delight from the younger members of the crowd. There were also plenty of interesting and varied stalls to browse around.

Time-Out For Mums
by Raylene Bliss (Published in the Southern Courier. Reprinted with permission from Marc Gonsalves, Editor, Southern Courier, Sydney, Australia)

Too much work and not enough play can take the shine off the armour of even the supermum. With Mother’s Day this Sunday it is the perfect opportunity for all mums to hang up their mops, pack away their briefcases and do something for themselves. “From a psychological perspective, it’s important for everyone to have some time-out and do things that are just purely for fun and pleasure. That particularly applies to women,” clinical physiologist [NOTE: should read: ‘psychologist’ not ‘physiologist’] Lara Keogh said.

“We are often brought up to think of and look after others first, at the expense of our own needs. This of course pertains even more to those of us who are mums. While you may feel guilty about leaving the kids with your partner, relative or a sitter, it is extremely important that you do so on a regular basis. Having time-out for yourself will help to boost your mood and lower stress levels. This in turn helps you to be a better mum.”

It is important for all women to keep a balance between work demands and doing things for themselves.

“Personally, I have to watch myself very carefully as I tend to become a workaholic very easily, so having a class to get to in the evenings is a great way of keeping the day in perspective and ensuring I don’t spend endless hours at work,” Dreaming Of Jeannie Bellydance Academy proprietor Despina Yiannoukas said. [NOTE: the quotes in this entire paragraph should have been from Lara, not me!] “it also gets me out of my old pattern of coming home and collapsing in front of the TV and therefore living the ultimately unsatisfying work-TV-sleep routine. Of course Bellydancing is not the only way to achieve a balanced life, but with its psychological, mental, social and physical benefits it’s a great place to start.”