Prenatal Belly Dance: Ancient Lamaze for Modern Moms
Belly Dance and Childbirth
Belly dance and childbirth have been connected for thousands of years. An ancient art form, belly dance is about 6,000 years old. Experts suggest that this centuries-old dance was first performed as part of a ceremony that venerated a female fertility goddess. As society moved away from Pagan religion and into monotheism, the dance’s religious roots fell away and belly dance became a folk dance performed at family celebrations. There is even evidence to suggest that mothers passed along the tradition of belly dance to their daughters in order to prepare young girls for childbirth.
According to belly dance researcher Carolina Varga Dinicu (also called Morocco), Middle Eastern women have used belly dance to ease labor pain for centuries. In certain Arab tribes, a traditional birth ceremony involves both the pregnant woman and her relatives and friends dancing through the labor—up until the moment of the birth! Encircled by her female relatives, the mother-to-be watches as the others perform pelvic undulations. She stays calm by watching the dancing and eases her pain by dancing the movements herself.
There is much evidence to support the fact that belly dance movements ease labor pains. In fact, several belly dance movements are taught in Lamaze classes. For example, the “deep breathing” technique is known to belly dancers as the “stomach flutter” while Lamaze’s “pelvic rocking” is a belly dance move called the camel.
Benefits for Moms-to-Be
You can think of prenatal belly dance as a dialed-down form of the typical belly dance you might see performed in a Middle Eastern restaurant. In other words, expect to come to class ready to learn movements that feel natural and graceful as opposed to movements that bring the phrase “break it down now” to mind.
A typical prenatal belly dance class will cover basic belly dance movements and focus on how to use them during the various stages of pregnancy both for general fitness and for pain relief. A skilled instructor can show you which movements to use during specific stages of your labor. Since belly dance has an ancient connection with birth, these classes tend to be very celebratory of motherhood and femininity in general.
Besides including all of the regular benefits you get from exercise and strengthening the muscles needed for childbirth, prenatal belly dance benefits a new mom’s mind and soul. While some pregnant women feel sensual and full of life, others can feel awkward as their bodies shift through various stages. In either case, belly dance fulfills a mental need to let a woman feel beautiful and gives her an outlet to connect with other women going through the same changes.
Is it Safe?
But is belly dancing during pregnancy safe? Absolutely. Doctors recommend that pregnant women do low-impact exercise throughout their pregnancy between 5 and 7 times per week. Belly dancing fits the bill for this low impact exercise, strengthening your core, legs, and shoulders without causing discomfort or strain. As long as you maintain a posture that supports your lower back, belly dancing during pregnancy should be good for you even if you weren’t in the best shape prior to getting pregnant.
There are, however, certain precautions to keep in mind while practicing prenatal belly dance. A good instructor will be able to help you modify moves that may put too much stress on your body. The pelvis, for example, loosens during pregnancy, and you will want to be sure that you do not overstretch it.
In general, pregnant belly dancers are cautioned not to overexert themselves. Other than being wary of putting strain on your lower back, it is also recommended that you keep footwork to a minimum. Too much fancy footwork could lead to a fall.
When it comes to prenatal belly dance, the rule is that if it feels good and natural, do it. If it doesn’t, go back to doing the movements that make you feel at ease.
This post is part of the series: Current Trends in Belly Dance
While traditional belly dance is a Middle Eastern folk dance, modern belly dancers are updating this ancient art form to meet their needs. The Current Trends in Belly Dance series will explore where the modern American woman is taking belly dance.
