Me before the people piled in for Sequins and the City 2009

After trying AcroYoga and Kangoo, my love for fun fitness workouts grew!  I’ve just finished a 12 week course in belly dance hip hop and as faddy as it sounds it was fantastic. The course reached a climax with a performance, Sequins and the City, in Great Portland street. Doing hip drops and shimmies across the stage was more exhilirating than the usual dose of endorphins during a session in the gym. With the bright light blinding me and making me sweat, I tried to remember the steps to the medley of Ciara, Work, Enrique, Taking Back my Love, a drum song and lastly some random salsa.

I realised how important mind-body awareness is. My mind would tell my hip to move up and over, but that’s not necessarily what it did! When I did dance class in school, I came to realise that my co-ordination wasn’t amazing. Nevertheless, dancing gives you a goal to strive towards and you can always improve. I know my chest drops are better when I keep my shoulders back! Achieving that perfect move gives you a rush of confidence and exhiliration.  In yoga,  it can be the moment you finally do a difficult back bend or manage to do the scorpion pose.

I think this is why courses, rather than drop ins, and types of fitness with different levels can help you push yourself harder.  You get the best fitness and mental benefits this way. Rather than the competition being with other players, it’s yourself that you have to beat.

To find belly dance classes in london go to try http://www.bellydanceclasses.net/united-kingdom/

I did classes with Melissa at Mia Serra Belly Dance.