Welcome to the first Love Your Body Link-Up! I’m so thrilled to kick this off with Rachel and all of you, but before we jump in, I just want to say THANK YOU! To everyone who has supported the Love Your Body Resolution series, to everyone who virtually cheered on Jenn, Eileen and I as we prepared for the Shamrock Shuffle 8K yesterday (my very first race), to everyone who’s reading this right now…your encouragement is appreciated more than you know. I feel like the internet has been a huge lovebomb recently and I hope we’ll be adding even more positivity today.
Today you can find my post on the imperfect nature of self-love on Tossing the Script, and I’m honored to have Rachel here, sharing how bellydancing has made a huge impact on how she loves her body. After her post post, you can link up your own love your body post–and the link-up will be open all week, so feel free to jump from now until Sunday!
Hi there! I’m Rachel, blogger at Tossing the Script. I’ve been blogging about Cultivating Self-Love this year, so I was really excited when Alicia approached me about swapping posts as part of her Love Your Body Resolution, in conjunction with my series on Cultivating Self-Love for the body in March.
Today I’m going to share with you one of the biggest factors that has helped me to accept and love my body: bellydance. No other form of movement has helped me to feel so at home in my body as bellydance.
Before bellydance, I had taken all kinds of dance classes. When I went to my first bellydance class, I just thought it would be another dance I’d learn, I’d have fun, and that would be it. In fact, my very first class was held in an empty bar on Wednesday nights in Besancon, France, so I really didn’t expect to go to more than one class.
I’m not sure what sucked me in first- the swaying of my hips, or learning the camel step, but I was hooked. I hadn’t known it before, but through all of the dance classes I had previously taken, this was the movement my body had been searching for. My body felt completely at home in the dance, and I was desperate to learn more.
Before I go any further, I need to share an important piece of background information. When I began bellydancing, I wore roughly a size 14 jean (I had lost probably 10-15 lbs since moving to France, and since they’re not quite plus-size friendly there, new pants were hard to come by). I’d struggled with my weight since I was 10, and had big boobs, a jiggly belly, and wide hips. I was very buxom indeed, to put it nicely. In every other form of dance I’d tried, I felt cumbersome because of my weight, though I knew I possessed some grace (and rhythm). My body just always felt in the way.
When I found bellydance, I began to see my body differently. It was no longer my enemy. Quite the opposite, actually. My body was vital to the dance. I needed those breasts, that belly, those hips. And I used them in a way I didn’t know I could. I learned to isolate my muscles in such a way as to lift and release my chest quickly and on beat. I learned belly rolls, which, though they are not my strongest point (I blame scar tissue for this), this is a movement that I thought I would never be able to do. And as for my hips, shaking them is about one of the most joyous and liberating movements I have found (not to mention, a great way to warm up when standing out in the cold). For me, bellydance is like a celebration of my body, as it is.
At the same time that I began bellydancing, I took up running. I bring this up because it is an important piece of my body-loving puzzle. As a teenager, and even in college, the only way I enjoyed moving my body was through dance. I hated working out. Lifting weights was boring and too macho for me. I hate competition, so sports were my worst nightmare. I flirted with yoga and pilates from time to time, but classes tended to be expensive, and finding the time was hard (I took dance classes for credit). I even used to hate running, but when I lived in Besancon, it was such a beautiful town, that I enjoyed getting out for a walk/jog to enjoy the greenery.
I’ve tried some other physical activities through the years, but I return to bellydance, running, and yoga. Something important that I learned from bellydance is that when you find the movement that suits your body, you stick with it. My body is built for dance, as is my attitude. I love that dance is not just a workout, but a form of expression. I’ve always found it hard not to move when listening to music, so dance suits me perfectly. Running is good conditioning for dance because it gets my heart rate up- something I need for the drum solo aspect of my dance when I shimmy for nearly 3 minutes straight (seriously, you want a short but intense workout? shimmy your hips for 3 minutes straight- you’ll be sweating and gasping for water). And the yoga stretches and soothes all of the muscles that I worked in my dance.
Beyond the physical aspects of the dance, the bellydance community provides a safe space for all bodies to feel welcome. I’ve heard so many times of people feeling uncomfortable in a gym because they don’t see their body type represented there, but I can say that in any given bellydance class, you will find all body types. And in some classes, you’ll even see a wide range of ages. Bellydance is a woman’s dance, and there is nothing else that even comes close to making me feel so proud of my womanly body.
Rachel believes in the power of connection, which she expresses through such creative outlets as writing, dancing, and belting out tunes at karaoke. On her blog, Tossing the Script, she writes about living a positive life from a place of vulnerability, and finds true connection with her readers.
LOVE YOUR BODY LINK-UP
Share your stories of strength and self-love all week in the first Love Your Body Link-Up. To participate, write a post about what makes you love your body (a few prompts here) and add a link back to this post or use the button below. After you link up, spread the love–make sure to visit the two bloggers ahead of you and comment on their LYB posts!
Beyond the Studio: How Bellydance Shifts Your Self-Perception
One of the most profound changes I noticed after committing to bellydance was how I began to speak to myself. Before, I would look in the mirror and catalog flaws: too soft here, too wide there. Bellydance taught me to see my body as a collection of moving parts that work together, each one valuable. When I practice a chest lift, I'm not thinking about whether my stomach looks flat; I'm focused on the articulation of my ribcage. That shift in attention—from appearance to function—was transformative.
Over time, I realized that bellydance is not just about learning steps; it's about reclaiming your body as your own. In a world that constantly tells us our bodies are wrong, this dance says: your body is enough, exactly as it is. You don't need to lose weight to bellydance. You don't need to be flexible or young or have a certain shape. You just need to move and let the music guide you.
I often hear from women who say, "I could never do that—I'm not coordinated," or "I'm too self-conscious." But that's exactly why you should try it. Bellydance meets you where you are. The movements are low-impact, and you can modify almost everything. It's not about perfection; it's about exploration. The more you practice, the more you discover what your body is capable of, and that discovery breeds confidence that spills over into every other area of life.
Getting Started: Practical Tips for the Bellydance Curious
If you're intrigued, here are a few ways to dip your toes in without feeling overwhelmed:
- Find a beginner-friendly class. Many community centers and dance studios offer introductory courses. Look for a teacher who emphasizes body positivity and technique over performance.
- Try online tutorials. There are countless free resources on YouTube. Just search for "beginner bellydance basics" and follow along at home. You can pause, rewind, and practice in your living room without an audience.
- Invest in a hip scarf. The jingling coins or beads not only add to the fun but also help you hear when your hips are moving correctly. It's a small, inexpensive tool that makes a big difference in motivation.
- Practice isolations daily. Even five minutes of chest lifts, hip drops, and figure eights while watching TV can build muscle memory and body awareness.
Remember, you don't need to buy special clothing or lose weight before starting. Wear something comfortable that allows you to see your midsection—a fitted tank top and leggings work perfectly. The goal is to observe your movements, not hide them.
Bellydance and Running: An Unexpected Pairing
I mentioned earlier that I took up running around the same time I started bellydancing. At first, they seemed like opposites: one is solitary and meditative, the other is social and expressive. But they complement each other beautifully. Running builds cardiovascular endurance, which is essential for the high-energy drum solos in bellydance. When I shimmy for three minutes straight, I need that stamina.
Conversely, bellydance improves my posture and core strength, which makes me a more efficient runner. The isolated hip movements loosen my lower back and hips, reducing the tightness that often comes from pounding the pavement. It's a symbiotic relationship that keeps my body balanced and injury-free.
If you're a runner who is curious about cross-training, I highly recommend adding bellydance to your routine. It's gentle on the joints but deeply strengthening. And if you're a dancer looking to improve your stamina, consider adding short, easy runs a couple of times a week. You don't have to be fast; just get your heart rate up for 20-30 minutes.
Overcoming Body Shame Through Movement
For years, I believed that my body was something to be fixed. I tried every diet, every punishing workout, every trick to shrink myself. Nothing worked long-term because the underlying belief—that I was wrong—never changed. Bellydance didn't just give me a new hobby; it gave me a new lens. When I saw my belly roll and jiggle and undulate in the mirror, I didn't see a flaw. I saw a woman who was fully alive in her body.
That experience taught me that body love isn't about waking up one day and magically thinking you're beautiful. It's a practice, like dancing itself. Some days I still struggle with negative thoughts, but now I have a tool to counter them. When I catch myself criticizing my stomach, I do a quick belly roll or a hip circle, and I remember what my body can do. Movement becomes a rebuttal to the inner critic.
Bellydance is not about being pretty; it's about being present.
If you're on a journey to love your body, I encourage you to find a form of movement that makes you feel powerful, not punished. For some, that's yoga or swimming or weightlifting. For me, it's bellydance. The key is to listen to your body and choose activities that celebrate what it can do, rather than focusing on what it looks like.
Creating a Body-Loving Movement Routine
Over the years, I've settled into a rhythm that works for me. Here's what a typical week might look like:
- Monday: 30-minute bellydance practice focusing on isolations and slow movements.
- Tuesday: 20-minute easy run followed by gentle yoga stretches.
- Wednesday: Rest day, but I'll do a few hip circles while cooking dinner.
- Thursday: 45-minute bellydance class (in-person or online) with a focus on choreography.
- Friday: 25-minute interval run or brisk walk.
- Saturday: Longer yoga session, maybe 45-60 minutes, to deeply stretch and recover.
- Sunday: Free movement—put on music and dance however I feel, no structure.
The beauty of this routine is its flexibility. If I'm tired or stressed, I can swap a run for a walk or replace a structured dance practice with a freestyle jam. The goal is consistency without rigidity. Movement should be a joy, not a chore.
I also recommend checking out other posts in the Fitness category here on Jaybird Blog. Alicia has shared some wonderful insights, like 8 Hours, Or Else! and A Different Type of Cleanse, which tie perfectly into this body-loving journey. And if you're looking for a little encouragement to dress the part, check out Dress the Part (Karina Dresses Giveaway).