Why do we need to exercise??

A lot of people want to look and feel good. Unfortunately looking and feeling good doesnt come easy, you have to work on it. I always believe that if you look good, you will automatically feel good about yourself. But alas!! for some people looking good is not enough, they want more. It all boils down to your way of thinking. You can either be positive or remain negative and sulk about your life until eternity.

What does exercise have anything to do with the way one feels and think. Well, for starters, exercising helps release endorphins in your body, which not only makes you feel good but also boost up your mood. Believe me, some people do get addicted to exercise because of the elevation in mood it delivers to them. (yours truly is one of them)

Physically, by exercising, one will definately lose weight. aha! That depends also on one's diet. Eat small portions 5 to 6 times a day in order to maintain a good metabolic rate. The more calorie you burn the more you shed off those love handles. Exercise done properly does rid off those flabs by tightening and toning your muscles.

Exercise is good for your heart and your brain power. Exercising helps your heart pump blood throughout your body efficiently. Its good for blood flow and keeps your organs strong and healthy. The oxygen in the blood is carried along with it. The oxygen gets to your brain. A healthy oxiginated brain is more focus and can think clearly. (perhaps can think positively too)

Another good factor about exercising is that it increases your energy, stamina and endurance. Have you tried carrying buckets full of water up a stair or park your car at the far end corner of the hypermarket and carrying your stuff all the way to where you park your car? Give it a try, you'll feel tired and exhausted. Exercising will help your body build strength and endurance and in no time you can do all those chores in a wink hence making you feel good about yourself.

Another interesting fact about exercise is that it also builds your immune system. Your body cant fight off sickness if it is not strong. Exercise will keep you strong and active.

A healthy body will always make a healthy mind! What are you waiting for? lets do it!!

Yaa habbi bii.... yaa....

Admit it or not - Malaysians love to dance. Once in awhile at the end of a vigorous workout i will jest up the class by doing a dance session. This is a fun session and almost everybody love to wiggle and let loose after a hearty workout. A simple chinese cha cha, dangdut or a belly dance would do the trick. Until recent years there were a lot of hoo haas about belly dancing in the country.

Honestly, I know nuts about belly dancing other than what is shown in movies. Although i have arabic blood, i have never seen any belly dancing in the family or any other form of dance other than Samrah (zapin arab) during weddings. I have heard of Samia Gamal though but only after my visit to China (a chinese belly dancer!) and Egypt and watching a live performance captivated me. I was mesmerized by the movements of the abdominal muscles with its own unique dance vocabulary that is integrated with the rhythm of the music.

I also noticed the expression on the dancers faces projecting their emotions through the dance and the music especially the drums. They are practically expressing and communicating through the rhythm of the music. What amazes me most is the way they move their hips and shoulders during the solo drum.
The movements seems easy and simple but mind you, it is not as easy as it seems. It takes months and probably years to perfect the movement. I had my fair share of failures. I maybe wrong but i consider the dance as a smooth, flowing of the abdominal muscles, hips/pelvic and shaking the shoulder. A very sensual movement indeed!

Recently i was invited by MAM Studio in Batu Caves, Selangor to do a belly dance. Im no pro but just love to dance to the music. The participants were a bunch of very enthusiastic and superb ladies. I really enjoyed doing the dance with them and hope to be invited again in future.

It was fun and everyone enjoyed it

Info i got from the internet on steps and techniques :-

Most of the movements in belly dancing involve isolating different parts of the body (hips, shoulders, chest, stomach etc), which appear similar to the isolation used in jazz ballet, but are often driven differently. In most belly dance styles, the focus is on the hip and pelvic area.

Important moves:

1) Shimmy - a shimmering vibration of the hips. This vibration is created by moving the knees past each other at high speed, although some dancers use contractions of the glutes instead. Dancers also put one leg to the side and then shimmy is performed by vibration of the leg which bears the weight. Shoulder shimmy is also an important element of belly dance.

2) Swinging arms - important expressive means in belly dance and highlights the beauty and flexibility of the dancer. In many cases hands are used to frame around the the moving part of the body to stress the expressiveness of that part

3) Hip punches - basic move. Helps alternate the weight on the legs and create impression of the swinging pelvis.

4) Undulation - rotating movements of the chest forward, up, back and down create impression of riding a camel.

Belly dance as an exercise?

Belly dance is a non-impact, weight-bearing exercise and is thus suitable for all ages, and is a good exercise for the prevention of osteoporosis in older people. Many of the moves involve isolation, which improves flexibility of the torso. Dancing with the veil can help build strength in the upper-body, arm and shoulders. Playing the zills trains fingers to work independently and builds strength. The legs and long muscles of the back are strengthened by hip movements. Most importantly you enjoy yourself and that'll keep your stress away!

after a sweaty workout

MAM Studio members - Malatoppp!!

Thank you Malique, Lynn and Manje for inviting me