Posture excersices - Page 2

Kharmine · 08-08-2007, 08:37 PM

I've studied ballet, too, adiemus, and I know what you mean. Belly dancing is like the "anti-ballet" exercise in contrast!

I would suggest getting deep-tissue massage such as Rolfing from an experienced and certified professional. I've found it helped greatly to "unstick" muscles that had tended to go wonky because of my moderate spine curvature.

I've also found hatha yoga to be helpful to make the muscles more flexible. Both yoga and belly dance emphasize natural movement, which is a great counter against the unnatural strain imposed in ballet.

adiemus · 08-09-2007, 07:10 PM

I agree that belly dance is totally 'antiballet'!!!
I agree that deep tissue massage might help get 'unstuck' but if I don't have good muscle strength to retain the change, won't it just return to the habitual posture? I thought specific exercises might help to strengthen the muscles that are weak and lengthen ones that are too short and overused and rebalance my posture. Any physiotherapists or exercise therapists on the forum?

Kharmine · 08-10-2007, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiemus

I agree that belly dance is totally 'antiballet'!!!
I agree that deep tissue massage might help get 'unstuck' but if I don't have good muscle strength to retain the change, won't it just return to the habitual posture? I thought specific exercises might help to strengthen the muscles that are weak and lengthen ones that are too short and overused and rebalance my posture. Any physiotherapists or exercise therapists on the forum?

A good personal trainer would be able to help you focus on the right things to do, but you might also consider Pilates -- it was originally designed as physical therapy for injured soldiers.

Moon · 08-10-2007, 01:18 PM

Hmm, I don't think bellydance is totally anti-ballet. It is very different, yes, but ballet had quite some influence on "classical" Egyptian style bellydance.

janaki · 08-10-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moon

Hmm, I don't think bellydance is totally anti-ballet. It is very different, yes, but ballet had quite some influence on "classical" Egyptian style bellydance.

I am with Moon on this. I do agree that ballet moves can;t be executes as relaxed as belly moves. But ballet has other infulence in bellydance. Moves like arabeques and many styles of turns are imported from ballet into bellydance. Also dancing on the demi point, and airy, lifted feeling. Folklore dances have the earthy grounded feel to it. When I was doing Randa's workshop, she didn't like us when we are flat footed. She kept saying to us to stand on our toes!!!

adiemus · 08-10-2007, 10:02 PM

I think I mean that ballet 'makes' you lock your knees, pull upright and keep a still centre, while belly dance grounds you, you work with your knees bent and all the moves are around hips/abdo/torso. The head and neck positions are similar too - and I know ballet invites 'ballon' or height and lightness which is a contrast to the earthiness of folkloric styles (although I did do this style in character dance).

Kharmine · 08-12-2007, 12:05 AM

Didn't mean to diss ballet or downplay its influence on what we call belly dance today. When raqs sharqi was developing in those Cairo cabarets from a fusion of Middle Eastern dance traditions, it was ballet that gave new importance to the arms and made those turns more dramatic.

I'm just saying there's such a contrast in how you carry your weight and position yourself in the two styles that they remain completely different forms, almost in opposition.

In ballet, you pull your weight up, off the hips, and center it between the shoulder blades. You're "turned out" from the inner thighs, and your arms are always in one of the five positions. The torso tends to be fixed. You're flexible, but it's the flexibility of a metal spring.

Belly dance has some style differences but the center of gravity is much lower, the knees are more relaxed, the posture is not as rigid, the arms not nearly so stylized. The torso is anything but fixed! The flexibility is more like Jell-O, IMHO.

And here's the kicker -- how many actively performing ballet dancers over 50 do you know as opposed to belly dancers of the same age or older? Ballet is a heckuva lot harder on the body.

08-08-2007, 08:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kharmine V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Foot of the Rocky Mountains Posts: 1,248	I've studied ballet, too, adiemus, and I know what you mean. Belly dancing is like the "anti-ballet" exercise in contrast! I would suggest getting deep-tissue massage such as Rolfing from an experienced and certified professional. I've found it helped greatly to "unstick" muscles that had tended to go wonky because of my moderate spine curvature. I've also found hatha yoga to be helpful to make the muscles more flexible. Both yoga and belly dance emphasize natural movement, which is a great counter against the unnatural strain imposed in ballet. __________________ What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

08-09-2007, 07:10 PM	#12 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	I agree that belly dance is totally 'antiballet'!!! I agree that deep tissue massage might help get 'unstuck' but if I don't have good muscle strength to retain the change, won't it just return to the habitual posture? I thought specific exercises might help to strengthen the muscles that are weak and lengthen ones that are too short and overused and rebalance my posture. Any physiotherapists or exercise therapists on the forum? __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

08-10-2007, 10:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
adiemus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 977	I think I mean that ballet 'makes' you lock your knees, pull upright and keep a still centre, while belly dance grounds you, you work with your knees bent and all the moves are around hips/abdo/torso. The head and neck positions are similar too - and I know ballet invites 'ballon' or height and lightness which is a contrast to the earthiness of folkloric styles (although I did do this style in character dance). __________________ He wahine, he taonga- Every woman is a treasure(Maori proverb)

08-12-2007, 12:05 AM	#17 (permalink)
Kharmine V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Foot of the Rocky Mountains Posts: 1,248	Didn't mean to diss ballet or downplay its influence on what we call belly dance today. When raqs sharqi was developing in those Cairo cabarets from a fusion of Middle Eastern dance traditions, it was ballet that gave new importance to the arms and made those turns more dramatic. I'm just saying there's such a contrast in how you carry your weight and position yourself in the two styles that they remain completely different forms, almost in opposition. In ballet, you pull your weight up, off the hips, and center it between the shoulder blades. You're "turned out" from the inner thighs, and your arms are always in one of the five positions. The torso tends to be fixed. You're flexible, but it's the flexibility of a metal spring. Belly dance has some style differences but the center of gravity is much lower, the knees are more relaxed, the posture is not as rigid, the arms not nearly so stylized. The torso is anything but fixed! The flexibility is more like Jell-O, IMHO. And here's the kicker -- how many actively performing ballet dancers over 50 do you know as opposed to belly dancers of the same age or older? Ballet is a heckuva lot harder on the body. __________________ What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about? Last edited by Kharmine; 08-12-2007 at 12:08 AM.

08-10-2007, 01:18 PM	#14 (permalink)
Moon V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 3,642	Hmm, I don't think bellydance is totally anti-ballet. It is very different, yes, but ballet had quite some influence on "classical" Egyptian style bellydance.