The Accident
I was driving back home from work on a Wednesday evening. I was stopped near an intersection because there was traffic ahead of me. I looked in the dashboard mirror and saw the car behind me was coming really fast. It was certain they were going to hit me and they did. Luckily, I wasn’t injured and only my body jerked forward. We exchanged numbers and insurance information and I headed home. (Don’t ever do this! At least contact the police or your insurance notifying them you were involved in a car accident so there is a formal report.) I was pretty bummed about my car being damaged from the accident. I was going through a tough time and still recovering from another accident two years prior. I didn’t realize until a month later that this accident would also cause me to go back to many doctor visits from seeing chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, anesthesiologists, and massage therapists. I struggled with neck, shoulder, and arm pain for about two years after the accident.
My First Belly Dance Class
My friend, Krizia, contacted me that same day and asked if I wanted to try out a free belly dance class. I told her about my car incident and she said she would drive me. I hesitated because I knew money was tight. At the same time, I just needed to get away from my problems so I told her I’d try it out with her.
I’ve always loved listening to Arabic music and have seen a few belly dance performances. They were always so mesmerizing to see. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I figured I’d give it a try.
We took our first belly dance class with Yame along with many other new students. We learned some basic movements like shimmies and hip hits. I remember us being really shy in class so we tried to stay in the back of the class. Yame was very welcoming and patient with us.
The Results
At the end of the class, we decided whether or not to sign up for class. While I enjoyed the class, I wasn’t sure if it was something I’d end up doing for a long time. In the end, I signed up and here I am over four years later. Belly dancing is a low impact exercise that anyone can do. In fact, my massage therapist even recommended I continue taking the classes because she could see how my body was benefiting from the movements. Over time, my range of motion began to increase and I was able to see a lot of improvement in my overall well-being. I was more confident in myself, spent time on self-care (which I never really practiced), and began doing things for myself rather than for others.
Have you taken belly dance or any other dance class before? What made you start?
