PREGNANT WOMEN: BELLY UP TO BELLY DANCING

PREGNANT WOMEN: BELLY UP TO BELLY DANCING

VICTORIA, B.C. (Wireless Flash) – Pregnant women who want to have an easier childbirth may want to belly up to belly dancing. According to Tess Fillmore, a self-described “belly dancing addict” and producer of a new belly dancing video, women planning a pregnancy can use the ancient Middle Eastern dance to help prepare their bodies for giving birth. Fillmore says undulating your belly helps strengthen and lengthen the torso muscles, giving a woman greater control of the gut and how it responds to the pain of childbirth. She also claims women in labor can benefit from making a belly dancing noise known as “Zagreet” – which sounds similar to Xena, the Warrior Princess’ battle cry. She says the exclamation “unblocks energy” and makes you feel great. You can check out her belly dancing video, Belly Dance – Instructional Fitness Workout Within Traditional Movement, at the arabiannights.ca website.

Wed 12-26-01