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!
Can you link up to a link-up? Doing it, right here, with Treasure Tromp’s weekly Treat Yo’ Self Thursday–because what better way to treat yourself than to love your body?
How Bellydance Transformed My Self-Image
Beyond the physical benefits, bellydance reshaped the way I viewed my body on a deeper level. When I first started, I was used to criticizing every roll and curve, but the dance forced me to use those very features as instruments of expression. My hips, which I had always tried to hide, became the center of power and grace. My belly, which I had sucked in for years, learned to undulate with freedom. Slowly, the negative self-talk quieted, replaced by a new appreciation for what my body could do rather than how it looked.
This shift didn’t happen overnight. It took months of practice, of watching myself in the mirror—not to judge, but to understand the movement. I began to see my body as a collaborator, not an obstacle. Bellydance taught me that every body is a bellydance body, and that movement is not about conforming to a standard but about celebrating your unique shape.
Practical Tips for Getting Started
If you’re curious about bellydance, know that you don’t need any special equipment or a particular body type. All you need is a willingness to move and an open mind. Many people start with online videos or local classes, and it’s perfectly fine to learn in the privacy of your own home. The key is to start slow and be patient with yourself.
- Find a beginner-friendly class or video series. Look for instructors who emphasize technique over choreography at first, and who create a welcoming, body-positive environment.
- Wear comfortable clothing. You don’t need a costume; just something that allows you to see your hips and belly, like leggings and a fitted top, so you can check your alignment.
- Don’t worry about getting it “right.” Bellydance is about feeling the music and letting your body respond. Mistakes are part of the journey.
- Practice regularly, even for short periods. Ten to fifteen minutes a few times a week can build muscle memory and confidence.
Bellydance as a Form of Body Love Activism
In a world that constantly tells us our bodies are wrong, bellydance feels like a quiet rebellion. It’s a dance form that historically celebrates curves, softness, and the power of the feminine. When I shimmy, I am not just moving—I am reclaiming space, joy, and self-acceptance. That’s why I believe it pairs so perfectly with the Love Your Body Resolution. Both are about rejecting the idea that we need to change to be worthy.
I’ve seen women of all shapes, sizes, and ages find freedom in this dance. They walk into their first class hesitant and self-conscious, and within weeks they’re laughing, shaking, and glowing. There’s something magical about moving your body in a way that feels good and not caring who’s watching.
Join the Love Your Body Link-Up
Now it’s your turn to share your story. Whether you’ve tried bellydance, found another form of movement you love, or are simply on the path to self-acceptance, we want to hear from you. The Love Your Body Resolution link-up is open all week, so you have plenty of time to write a post and add it to the collection.
If you’re not a blogger, you can still participate by leaving a comment below or sharing your thoughts on social media using the hashtag #LoveYourBodyResolution. Every voice matters, and together we can create a wave of body positivity that reaches far beyond this page.