Burn Fat By Working Out In Your Head!!!

Did you know, those that visualized working out "in their heads" had a higher resting metabolism in scientific studies than those that did nothing "in their heads"? Yes, it's true!!! You can burn a bit more fat by turning on your favorite song or soundtrack in your head while walking or sitting and watching television.

So shimmy away in your head before you go to class or between classes for extra calorie burn!!! Need some "material"? We've got great new moves to give you in all of our classes where you can be the star of the show in your head!!!

Bellydance Factoid: How Do I Shoulder Shimmy?

Shoulder Shimmy

There is a difference between a breast shimmy and a shoulder shimmy although they look rather similar. The main difference is that the shoulder shimmy is executed by pushing one shoulder forward while pulling the other shoulder back. In class, we also call it "punching". Punch the right shoulder, then punch the left shoulder. Alternate your "shoulder punching". There is no way to keep the "girls" from coming along for the ride, since they are connected to the upper part of your body. However, you don't want to lead with your chest.

****Note, highly recommend you start out practicing with a supportive bra on when you do this move. The first time we did it without a supportive bra, our "girls" were moving a lot!!! (laughing)

Bellydance Moves: How To Camel Roll

We have covered a lot and there is still more to come. In the meantime, here is a breakdown on the "Camel Roll".

Camel Roll
To do a camel roll you should start with the rib cage and the tuck and release of the pelvis. Let's start with the rib cage by pushing the ribs forward, up, back and center. Then round it out till it's smooth (This is what your torso will be doing also). Next we'll work on the pelvis. Start with your feet parallel and facing forward with your knees slightly bent. Now tuck the tail bone under causing your hips to go forward. Now, release it back to center and the push it slightly back and then back to center. Keep your spine supple.

Now let's combine the moves.

Think of your body being divided into sections, your top is section one, the middle is section 2, and the pelvis is section 3. Think of an imaginary wall in front of you. Not one section of your body can touch the wall at the same time. Sooo, if section "one" is touching the wall, then section two and three are not. If section "two" (your stomach/midsection) is touching the wall, section one and three are not. With this in mind, push the ribs forward and the pelvis back. Next, push the ribs up and the pelvis goes back to center. As you execute this movement, section "one" is touching the imaginary wall and section two and three are not. Then, pull the ribs back a bit more as you tuck the tail bone under you. Keep your spine supple and flexible. At this point your section "two" should be touching the imaginary wall, section one and three are not touching. Your spine should be pretty concave at this point as you move into pulling your ribs back and your pelvis toward the center. Finally your hips (section "three") should move forward as your ribs and hips return to the center. Attempt this move again, but try to smooth it out.

Also, try it with one foot in front of the other or on the balls of your feet (helpful for walking). Make sure your roll down the spine though every vertebrae.

Benefit and "Why You Should Care Factor": Works all of the muscles in your torso for a slimmer physique. Also works your stomach because you are executing a "mini-ab-crunch" for your upper abs (reduce and tones upper belly size). This also increases the strength in your back over time because we commonly don't work our backs because we are sitting all day (less back arches and injury).

Your Doctor May Want To Tell You The Truth - But Can't

An arresting and jarring title - I know....

For years, members of the natural health and holistic community and believers in following a more natural path have always known that you should work WITH your doctor towards better health - not just blindly follow your doctor without question. What does this mean? It means, your doctor may want to suggest something MORE to help you - but can't. So it's up to you, and us, as consumers to take control of our health and research the prognosis given. Don't assume that pain, fatigue, or lack of focus is normal.

Recently, an article featured in The New York Times called "When Doctors and Nurses Can’t Do the Right Thing" shed light on the dilemma that doctors and their medical staff faces. Some doctors and their staff WANT to give a more aggressive treatment for various patient medical conditions, but between the threat of medical establishment and the lawyers - the stakes are simply to high. For those doctors that are aware of "something being wrong" - they are among the group suffering from "Medical and Moral Distress."

Why can't doctors and nurses just TELL you what you need? Because they risk loosing their jobs, being sued, or having their medical license revoked. One doctor reported on this incident in an article titled "An Important Letter About Trust". After recommending a common and effective alternative approach to a patient's condition, the doctor was immediately summoned in front of the American Medical Association for a full investigation with the potential of loosing his medical license! In this situation, the doctor "got off with a warning" with the condition to NEVER mention natural approaches to treat patients again.

But the tide is turning, as more cases of people using alternative therapy yields results, members of the conservative school of thought in the medical community and the legal community are beginning to notice and hopefully pave the way for the public to become aware of ways to take charge of their health without quickly and resorting to prescription drugs. In the future, maybe doctors and nurses like these featured in these articles will be able to tell their patients the truth - without fear of consequences....

Featured Articles:

An Important Letter About Trust

When Doctors and Nurses Can’t Do the Right Thing

Belly Roll and Childbirth

As promised to last week's Wednesday night class, I've located several articles that cite the benefit of using the "Bellyroll" to aide in the birthing process.

These are the following sites:

Bellydance Your Way Through Pregnancy

Discussion Board Post #21 By "Belly dancer" on 1-29-08 at 2:04 am

Belly Dancing and Childbirth by the bellydancer Morocco

Essentially, the sentiment was the same. If you start learn the bellyroll early on, your birth will be an easier one because of your ability to isolate the muscles in that area. Another benefit includes providing the reproductive organs with more oxygen resulting in improved health. So ladies - let's roll!!!