I had begun a new journey into dance: Samba. Samba came to Brazil via African slaves.  The meaning of the word Samba is an ongoing debate whether it means belly button, pleasing, enchanting, honoring, or revering.  What I am sure is that Samba comes from the African word Semba and this very erotic dance is highly known around the world as synonymous of Brazil.  When we think of Brazil we think of Samba and beautiful women.

Three Saturdays ago, I took my first class of Samba.  A friend and I enrolled together in this energetic and fun class.  We went to Rasheda studio expecting to find a few students, but we were very please that this is a full class.  The instructor, Elizabeth, is from Sao Paulo, and she came ready to teach the most basic step in Samba.  Elizabeth told us to relax and have fun with this dance.  Samba has not steps with specific meaning like in ballet.  It is a more free spirit dance where you can make it as sexy and erotic as you like, or you can just do a nice dance.  To Sambas is about feeling free and use your body to express this feeling.  Samba is using your femininity and saying without words how happy you are.

The basic step is about stepping back with one foot while you touch with the heel of that foot you moved the side of the arch of the foot that didn´t move.  You do a three step movement while going back and once you manage to do the step, a lot easier than it sounds, you can focus on do some movement with your upper body.  We spend a full hour doing this basic step at different speed, and I didn’t really found the femininity and free part she explained. It was pleasing enough, but I guess it will take a lot of practice for me.

Last week Elizabeth was out of town.  So Kira, a belly, samba, and salsa dancer, was there to substitute for Elizabeth.  I thought we were going to be doing the same basic step in Samba and I didn’t know better cause I missed a class the week before.  Boy, it was nothing like that.  Kira puts on a full hour of nonstop aerobic exercise.  We were moving, dancing, jumping, and all this while on our toes.  It felt great to be shaking the booty and finally experiencing the free I was looking for.  Kira is a very good dancer and she showed us three new steps in Samba:  Side to side jumping-shaking thing that I can’t really explain, going forward with pelvis circles, and down to the floor with pelvic circles.  Also she took the basic step to the next level making us do it very fast and incorporating twist and drops with the hips and the use of the arms.

Kira explained to use that she learn just watching her instructor, without any instruction about how to do the steps.  She basically stood there in her class and followed the instructor.  Good thing for us, she is very patience and explained each step very well.

At the end, we have all this great feelings around us from the enchanting dancing. It was exhausting and exhilarating, but I am definitely waiting for Saturday for the next class.

What’s next?  Stay tune!

Joining a gym where you go to work out several times a week to lose weight or stay in shape, can be ideal for some people.  However, some others need a little more stimuli and fun in order to keep motivate in their quest for a better body.  Are you looking for a workout that doesn’t feel like you are working out?  Do you want to keep your hard beat up while looking fabulous?  Why not you think outside the box and join in a dance class!

Dance exercise is suitable for people of all ages and sizes.  It is also a fun way to burn calories and unwind after long days of work or studies.  Dance will help improve your posture, which translate in a slimmer, tonner core area, gives you a cardio work out that will keep your heart beating in shape, increases stamina, and is a pleasurable way to meet new people.

  Some of the most popular dance workouts are:

Belly Dance:

Belly dance is a sexy low impact cardio workout.  I would help you tone and define your muscles, while using sensual, graceful, and rhythmic movements.  Belly dance will give you flexibility at the same time that it works out your thigh, legs, arms and stomach.  It is a full body workout where you learn to isolate and control your body.

Salsa Lessons:  Salsa lessons are another refreshing replacement for conventional workouts.  Learning the basic steps of Salsa can strength your body while steadily you burn calories.  With Salsa dancing you can burn up to 10 calories per minute!

Hip-Hop:

 Hip-hop is design with combinations that are fun and easy to master.  Learn sexy dance movements that not only gets you in shape, but you can use to impress your friends at the dance club.  No better way burn the belly fat!

Exotic Dance Workouts:  Women of all ages are embracing the crazy generated by Exotic dances like striptease, pole dancing, and even lap dances.  Get in touch with your inner diva while getting in the best shape of your life!  Not only you get confidence but it can also be an incentive to lose weight and spice up your love life.  Exotic Dance Workouts can be liberating for the erotic woman inside you!  While striptease and lap dances can be done by women of any fitness level, pole dancing requires a good upper and core body strength.

Samba:  Sensual and steamy, Samba is ideal way to sweat while you have fun.  It is especially good for toning and straightens your legs and hips.  Not only you would have strongest limbs but they will also look longer and slimmer. 

Don’t be afraid to join a beginner dance class.  You will be missing a great opportunity to improve your health. Think of dance as the most natural workout.   The rhythm of the music will help you get in to the groove and get inspired to achieve a better you.  You will make new friends and increase your fitness and confidence level, all in one exercise.