Burlesque: mind, body and sex appeal!

It’s the start of a new year and the world is going mad for every kind of body-blitzing and stomach-slimming solution out there. But is it really worth the pain? Surely the main thing is finding something you enjoy, and ultimately, something that helps you learn to love your body?

With this positive thinking, I’ve come up with something slightly more out of the ordinary to try… Burlesque dancing! Now I know what you’re thinking, perhaps a little out of your comfort zone? But let me reassure you, all you need is a large helping of courage, the ability to laugh at yourself and a couple of racy numbers to help you feel the part. You can even get your friends involved and have a Burlesque party or even hens’ night.  But before you do, Burlesque Dolls is a good place to find inspiration.

Still not convinced? Here are some reasons why Burlesque is best!

1. Rediscover your sex appeal: It’s practically unheard of for a woman to say she felt sexy until after finishing a workout, but a burlesque class is the exception. When was the last time you pulled out stockings, corsets and all things frilly for a work out? Teasing a pretend audience with sensual dancing and a modest display of flesh; it’s no wonder this devilishly entertaining class has become such a hit.

2. Confidence:Coaches of the class pride themselves on teaching people how to exude sexiness and channel their moods and feelings into movement. Carefully crafted Burlesque routines and techniques improve balance, stability and posture, teaching how to glide around gracefully. Not only does this makes you look good, but it does wonders for body awareness and confidence and can even help you lose weight.

3. Bums and balance: Burlesque moves are incredibly seductive and sensual, but also give your core, glutes and leg muscles a mean work out in the process. So while you are busy prancing and dancing, you’ll actually be contributing to improved muscle definition and all over toning. The best bit? It targets all the most problematic areas for women: arms, abs, thighs and bums. With companies such as WeightWatchers promoting burlesque as an excellent way to tone up.

 

4. Exercise: Similar to many other forms of dance, Burlesque gives an intense cardiovascular workout. By repeatedly raising your heart rate and lowering it again, you’re guaranteed to burn fat… whilst managing to look sexy! As if flexing your limbs and rehearsing dance routines wasn’t exercise enough, balancing in heels is an art form in itself, and is guaranteed to get you hot and sweaty.

5. Time to play: Amidst the hectic day-to-day, it’s easy to forget to take time out to just have fun. Whether using a fan, stockings, animal or balloons, Burlesque is all about playful gimmicks. These cheeky little extras are all part of the act, being used to captivate the audience. Throughout sessions, you will learn all the fundamentals of burlesque dance from a wink and a gasp, to the shimmy, shake, bump and jiggle. Twirl, swirl, smile and flirt your way to mastering the art of tease with gloves, boas and chairs – it’s every girl’s dress-up dream!

This article was written by Amanda Walters, an experienced freelance writer and regular contributor to Huffington Post. Follow her here: @Amanda_W84