When starting a new exercise regime, or picking up a new active hobby, it is completely normal to experience some minor discomfort as muscles not previously challenged make their presence known. Nowhere is this more obvious than after a first dance lesson. Dancing it is ALL about core strength, and if you are weak in the core area, you will most definitely be overcompensating with your back muscles, resulting in back pain. Ballroom dancing can be especially hard on your back, as in order to achieve proper form, you must hold yourself erect with your arms extended. Without a rock-solid core, that’s going to be difficult to do for an extended length of time.
The best way to train your core in order to avoid back pain is to think outside of the classic crunch. A basic crunch only works some of the abdominal muscles, for a strong core, you need to target the transverse abdominis, which wraps around your core like a belt. Some excellent core-strengthening moves involve variations of the plank pose- similar to a push-up position, but with the arms directly below the shoulders, instead of out to the side. Another is the “pike crunch”- starting on your back with your arms extended above your head and your legs lifted about 2 inches off the ground, raise your torso and legs at the same time to touch your fingertips to your toes.
If time is a factor, a supplemental device such as an Ab belt may be something to consider. The purpose of this device is to firm and tone the core with pulses of EMS (electronic muscle stimulation). The principle of such a device is quite simple- an electric pulse of a low current runs to a targeted muscle and causes it to contract- just like when you contract it during exercise. Constant contraction and release will strengthen the targeted muscle in a short time with very little effort on your part, resulting in reduced levels of back pain.
People across North America are looking for the next weight loss craze or a fancy way to get trim. What they don’t realize is the answer has already been staring them in the face all along. If there’s one thing that “Dancing with the Stars” has done for general fitness, it’s how the show has highlighted what a great workout dancing can be. Celebrities who start off a little bit chubby eventually work their way down to slim and trim dancing machines. It’s something that people have definitely noticed even with celebrities who are traditionally known for being overweight. And underneath it all, it all boils down to basic science and the fact that dancing gives you a full body workout. If you’re tired of looking for that next new fad, this might be the perfect option for you.
One of the most interesting things about dancing is the fact it can be different things for many people. It can be a rigorous workout, a way to relieve stress, or the perfect way to socialize. And for some people, a combination of all these factors makes it the perfect activity to burn off a few calories. You have to remember that the physical act of dancing requires coordination and physical exertion. And like with any other work out, the more you do something, the more your body adapts. You get a perfect combination of cardiovascular exercise while building up muscles as well. That’s why people can get that desired tone to look quite easily with a sustained routine.
Dancing has always been a part of working out in one form or another along the years. After all, take a look at exercise tapes from the 80s and they are usually set to aerobic workouts with a dance themed soundtrack. But it wasn’t until recently that full-blown dancing has been considered a great alternative to the gym or home exercise equipment. Thanks to a rise in establishments that offer fitness themed dance classes, people are exploring this option more than ever and getting proven results. And once you learn the basics, there’s no reason why you can’t take these lessons into real-world dance situations.
There’s nothing wrong with taking a traditional dance courses either, and you’re still going to get one heck of a work out this way. It might be a slower pace, but that’s perfect for people who are not used to rigorous exercise. You can sign up with a friend and learn different dances like the cha-cha, the Rumba, or Samba. Not only will you come away with an increased level of fitness, you’ll have more skills to enjoy this hobby on a whole new level. This is the perfect option for anyone looking for a fast weight loss routine happens to enjoy music and interacting with new people.
There is more involved in teaching a belly dance class than simply showing your students the movements of belly dancing.
Belly dance teacher training can show you step by step how to conduct your belly dance classes. With a pre-written belly dance syllabus and step by step instructions you will not have to worry about what to teach and in what order to teach it, and can focus on establishing a relationship with your students and helping them to progress.
Dance steps are progressive in movement – one step needs to be taught and performed proficiently before a student can move on to the next step. A set belly dance syllabus ensures you impart skills to your students in the correct order so they build correct, safe dance technique and avoid injuries.
Improvisation should also be done with your students right from the start, because at its core, belly dancing is an improvisational dance form and it’s important for students to start developing that skill early.
Teaching classes is a business and should be handled accordingly. A good belly dance teacher training course will include guidence on how to conduct your business. A belly dance certification will give your current students and prospective students more peace of mind in knowing they choose a great instructor to teach them the art of belly dancing.
People love to dance for a variety of reasons, but the greatest of those is probably simply because they enjoy it. Yet this wonderful form of enjoyment brings with it some often unexpected bonuses in the area of fitness, health and weight control. This happens of course because when a person dances at a fairly energetic pace for a prolonged period of time, they are using up a lot of energy and making the muscles in their body work harder than they seem to be.
The reason people can keep up with a lengthy dance routine better than they can do something like running or working out in a gym is all down to the enjoyment factor. Of course this is a key element in making dance one of the better ways to stay fit and looking great. When people do something they really enjoy, of course they are going to make sure they do more of it and for longer than doing something they do not enjoy!
As a means to improving fitness and vitality levels as well as strengthening muscle groups responsible for maintaining good poise and promoting better stamina and a slimmer, better looking figure, dance and weight control go hand in hand. You can dance your way to better fitness while enjoying a great figure that looks good in whatever clothes you choose to wear. This is a great advantage over many other less enjoyable exercise forms.
Dancing is probably the most under used and least considered means to a better body when you think about the huge industry that is constantly bombarding overweight people with this or that diet. Instead of spending all your money on a diet, why not put on some great music and get dancing? You’ll get a better result because you’ll not only look good, you’ll feel good too!
When was the last time you threw your back out dancing? For me, it seems to happen about once a year. Let’s face it – dancing can be very demanding on your body, and if your core muscles are not built up enough you are going to be very susceptible to back pain and injuries – and this is especially true when you get old like me (over 40 and more than one child classifies you as old in my book).
Fortunately for me though, the last time I threw out my back I discovered inversion therapy through inversion tables. Since then, I spend twenty minutes a day (10 minutes twice a day) using my Teeter EP-550 inversion table, and I truly suffer much less back pain as a result. The benefits of inversion therapy for dancers include the following:
increased blood flow to your brain
improved lymphatic system flow, which will decrease the amount of time your body is sore after a hard dance workout
improved flexibility
less back pain
reversing the effects of gravity on your body
Obviously, as a dancer you can see how these benefits would not only help your dancing but help you to dance longer. So next time you are online, take a look at a few reviews of inversion tables and see if you can find one that will help your back.
Also, if you don’t have the money now for an inversion table, here’s a quick video that will help you with some good back stretches:
