Moderation

So Jessica has been doing a series on Body Image on her blog:
belly.life

And my health and fitness studio is starting it's next weight-loss challenge:
facebook.com/Melashealthandfitness

So of course, how we look and how we perceive ourselves has been on my mind a lot lately.
I'm currently reading Look Good, Feel Great by Joyce Meyer.
To all the shocked faces - yes I'm a Christian and yes I Belly dance!!!

That's a whole other blog, for dealing with why I feel there is no religious contradiction. (I'm going to have to start a list @ some point)

My stand as a health and fitness instructor is moderation, and making little changes to your everyday routine. Being healthy and fit is a lifestyle choice, fad diets and crazy workout regimes, get you quick, "unkeepable" results. Breaking bad habits and replacing them with new better one's takes time and commitment and trying to fix 3 or 4 at once is a recipe for failure.

I know there is some of you going, but I did it all at once - Awesome, but most of us fall in the trap of tomorrow, or just this once or time, kids, husbands, work, stress (come on you can think of a few more excuses I'm sure) For those of us with "mental blocks" on our will power, slower is better, slower is easier and easier makes it doable, when you are juggling, work, husbands, kids and trying to fit in me time and a social life!

In our family a popular eat out is "two for one burger special"
White bread, deep fried onion rings and chips (all so not great for a healthy eating plan)
My tip (it's what I do whenever we do go):
Hubby and I order the rib burger (it's a double patty) and replace my onion rings and chips with the veg of the evening.
I donate me bun to hubby and have yummy flame grilled delicious ribs with pumpkin and creamed spinach (I generally struggle to finish the portions).

Small changes, make a big difference!

I had a discussion just this morning about the coffee, fizzy drinks and how much water is enough debate.
I simply cannot get through a day without coffee, I also cannot have it after 3pm, unless I'm planning on staying up very late. I have about 3 (ok maybe 4) cups, between 6am and 2pm. Not ideal, but right now it's very last on my list of things to address....

Besides, the small changes in our eating habits. Carving out time to be active can be hard, there is always dishes to do, clothes to mend, washing, work projects!
Finding that thing that goes, "that's for me" takes time in itself. But once you have found it, finding the time for it becomes easy!

Obviously mine is dance - I love how I feel, when I'm moving around to music!
I've tried, running, walking, gardening, gym, yoga, Pilates and I eventually found an excuse for each of these activities. I have nothing against them, and I love to walk and do yoga, but not enough to get me out to do the activity on a regular enough basis!

Another option, is to grab a friend and try things together. But keep in mind, that you might mind find your thing before they find theirs...

Where to start on our history/cultural trip

So with the two most believed base theories out there (see my previous blog), how do we choose a country to start from?
Just east to west? How far East? How far West?

 

While I personally believe there's some Bellydance in everyone, every culture. I am somewhat of a purist, Indian Dance and Bollywood, Persian dance and folk all have their own rich histories. Even as ballet and contemporary have their own unique identities, so do the various styles that so often get heaped under the umbrella of belly dance!

 

I'm not sure if it's the same in other countries where the style has migrated too? But here in South Africa, we seem to be influenced by everyone....

 

That sounds terrible doesn't it! But its true, each base style talks to everyone, maybe at different times in their dance journey or maybe only for short stints....

 

So what do I consider a base style? I'd like to be able to say a style that has been in existence for more than a 100years, but that would be very untrue!

 

I think a base style is more than a craze or a fad - if we look at the newest form developed by Carolena Nericcio-Bohlman in the USA (American Tribal Style), it is now considered an alternative dance language. We were lucky enough to meet Kristine Adams in 2013, who is travelling around the world, meeting and teaching at all the various studio's who teach this style. Although we do not teach this style of dance, we love the concept of community it fosters. Going to any country any where in the world and being able to get up and improvise with dancer's you have only just met, because we speak the same dance language...

Read about Carolena's journey here:

http://fcbd.com/about/about-ats/

 

So back to our question of what is considered a base style, lets look at where the dance originated:

Egypt

Turkey

Lebanon

Morocco

 

I know there are more countries that can be listed as to where the style originated from, but then we would basically just be naming countries around the Mediterranean and Black sea.

While I am sure that each of those countries did contribute to the over all image that is seen today, I wanted to explore some origin stories. But I will definitely, get around to the various rich folk dance culture of those regions. 

I tend to lean to what I know more of (less research LOL) so Egypt or Morocco, would be a natural selection of a starting point, and as Morocco is on the opposite tip of Africa to me. Lets start there!

Well, we'll make a good a start as possible, considering the various influence's of peoples experiences.

Looking forward to Spring

With the end of winter looming, our spirits are lifting. Just thinking of the warm days to come!

Hoping that Spring will see us shed our winter insulation! Ready for summer, swimming and the ocean....

 

Our new beginners course starts with the start of spring, as well as Melanie's next weight-loss challenge!

 

Check out Mela's Health and Fitness studio on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/Melasheathandfitness/

 

With spring comes the planning for our year end show and the wrap up of level class training.

The organizer in me is starting to stress, our only plan to date is that it will be an awareness evening or afternoon.
3rd December while still 3months away, tends to arrive way too fast for my liking! I am sooo not a mad rush kind of girl, so if you see me, you know I'm going to be asking about your outfit for the show!

I popped into our Elementary Class (1st years) last night and asked the dreaded question. I was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic response. It's not compulsory to dance at the student show case, but it is a requirement if you would like to move onto the next level. We have structured our Elementary Class so that you can remain in that class indefinitely.

On the other hand, performing for the first time, really sticks to you, its wonderfully empowering and quite addictive!

 

Then of course we had planned to do something for Halloween! Murder Mystery maybe? Or some fun and a little scary Trivia....
Any opinions?

 

Where did our dance style come from?

I thought I would take some time and do a series on where our favourite dance style came from and how it looks in various countries.

Now depending on which path your teacher took, the version may vary.
We all agree the base style is very old. Passed on from mother to daughter, each movement having a specific purpose.

So wether you believe the style originated with the gypsy and their exodus from India in 6th century or more recently, we all agree that it's wonderfully empowering and immensely helpful to each and every one of us.

Each region and every country has its own form of the dance, along with folkloric style.
Now if you follow the gypsy theory, then you believe that the similarities are due to the Gypsy's migration through the various regions. It is believed that they would arrive in an area and learn the folk dance and then mix it with their own style, the men worked as labourers and the women danced at festivals.
When they left, they left behind this new dance style.

For the next few weeks, I thought it would be fun (for me) and informative (for you) to cover the various styles danced and what history I've been able to gather. I don't claim to be an expert, I'm not a University graduate. My everyday job, you know the one that pays the bills, has little (ok nothing) to do with my passion!
I do love the dance style and everything it encompasses, the community that is built around it. Mostly I love who I am when I'm engrossed in a dance related project. A few blog posts ago, I asked the question what nurtures you? This is my answer, a small project I can work on during down time in the office and quiet moments at home, when everyone else is napping!

Getting us online

So for the last few weeks, Jessica and I have been brainstorming about incomes and how to go about getting funding.

We learnt, the hard way that fundraising is hard work and that most people don't care too much about an adults dream for wholeness.

We learnt, that of all things, we do care about wholeness, about completeness and working with the women in our circle to help them meet those dreams!

Last year, we did a "lay" counselling course. Our aim was not to become counsellors, much to the relieve of the man in charge! But to better understand ourselves and curb "for me, my fix it" philosophy. My first instinct is always, how do we fix this, where most of the time I just need to be still and listen. Offer a hug!

You will laugh, I really struggle to offer that hug! My love language is touch, but because I was severely hurt in this area, I don't like people I don't know in my personal space. (A blog all on its own, and maybe something I'll be brave and do sometime soon - seeing as Alison has been brave enough to make a movie of her ordeal!)

With, our small dance studio getting smaller. A norm in winter for us, we have started to pursue various online avenue's, a little scary.
But with the help of our wonderful guru, you can check her out as well - foxandowlmedia.co.za
We have managed to work up the nerve...

If you have not yet started following Jessica @ belly.life then you are missing out!

We are also launching a YouTube channel, super exciting and super scary as well.

Other fun things that are happening at the moment, include putting together our annual year end show. Always a charity awareness or fundraiser - we have the ladies brainstorming charity choice's and venue options and oh my gosh the ever dreaded first time performance....

Nurture

How do we nurture ourselves?

This is something, I've felt very challenged by these passed few weeks!
If the question had been how do we nurture our kids, our husbands or our students - I have quick easy answers right and ready for you.

How do you nurture one's self?

Now I'm not so much a girlie girl. I'm not into make-up and hair and nails and quite frankly those kind of things cost money, which is pretty tight at the moment!

So, when asked recently how I nurtured myself, I was quite blank - UM?
What had I done recently that nurtured me?

I dance, but can I call it nurturing at the moment, when every minute is spent working on a new project. I recently started working in the mornings again and all that free time (45min to 2hours) I had while my daughter napped is gone. By the time I get home after work and errands, her nap is usually done and she is ready for her mommy and me time, before we start supper and I get ready for evening classes.

I do have a lovely long bath, where I read and add hot water till I'm all wrinkly. (Don't judge, I'm aware of the lying in your own filth thing!) But currently those books are not easy readers, as in my spiritual walk, I've been really challenged by what I'm reading.

I've not picked up a sewing needle to do any quilting (my current skill I'm learning), my knitting is happening on the rare occasion I do get to sit still and watch some TV, I've not had time to practice any of the new stitches I've learnt recently. Sewing - well other than some alterations I've not sat down to do any of that either...

Yes, I'm totally the crafter - I love to work with my hands and see things grow and it helps with my very impatient nature, as making a blanket takes time and effort!

So, how do you nurture yourself?
Somewhere, I need to find the time to get back to my projects, so that I can nurture me, while I create fun stuff for family and friends.