Dance of the Womb – The Essential Guide to Belly Dance for Pregnancy and Birth
by Al Musa, Maha
Learn easy belly dance exercises for pregnancy and birth. Dance of the Womb – A Beginner’s Introduction to the Ancient Arabic Art of Belly Dance as a Prenatal and Birthing Tool is an AWARD WINNING (Living Now Book Awards – Won Gold in the Exercise/Fitness Category), WORLD’S FIRST, must-read resource for every expectant mother to explore the physical, emotional and spiritual benefits of belly dance as a prenatal exercise and process during pregnancy and labour.
Dance can help us to “self-discover” and embody our “authentic nature” which is essential for birthing. Middle Eastern dance (or belly dance), specifically for birthing, at its core is a traditional dance of the feminine, hence I like to call it the Dance of the Womb.
It is not the cabaret style dance or dancing for an audience that, so many are familiar with! It is about taking the Earthy, grounded and feminine language of belly dancing and mindfully transforming it, to be a way to guide you into opening and surrendering through childbirth.
Come, dance with me as I guide you through my personal journey toward motherhood through the eyes of an East-West cultural perspective interwoven with the teaching of simple, practical prenatal belly dance moves.
“Birth unites women in the power of oneness; the extraordinary gift we deeply share as mothers. Belly dance for birth reflects this very same essence of life and love.” – Maha Al Musa
“Maha Al Musa’s writing is rooted in her personal observation and understanding of Arab birth culture, for whom birth traditionally is a powerful dance, and in which women work with the pain. She interprets it to help women in childbirth. Maha, I love the way you write. It is so personal yet has universal significance.” – Sheila Kitzinger, author, anthropologist, natural birth advocator and mother of five
“I read Maha’s book whilst in Rio during the carnivale. What a unique opportunity to realise that dance is the most archaic form of art! No wonder that Maha can associate belly dancing with an event that involves the most archaic structures of the human brain!” – Dr. Michel Odent, MD, author and internationally renowned obstetrician working extensively in the area of childbirth research, water birth and natural birth since the 1960s.
