|
 |
All women stepping into the birthing arena freely need vital information on how to experience a safe and natural birth. Book Review - By Peter Abu JabirBIRTHLIGHT IN UKDance of the Womb: The Essential Guide to Belly Dance for Pregnancy and Birth Maha Al Musa June 2008 ISBN 978-0-646-48705-2 I wanted to look at pregnancy and birthing in a non-western culture and with having family links to the Middle East I was keen to see if there was any deeply rooted practices from this part of the world. I was very pleased to find out that the belly dance has a strong involvement in birth preparation and labour for many Arab women. This has been used over the generations and passed from mother to daughter. The circling, spiraling and hip rolling elements of the dance are perfect movements in pregnancy and are used in the same way as many more familiar pregnancy exercises are used to prepare the mother for birth during pregnancy and throughout labour. The book explains various exercises and foundation movements for belly dance that can be used by women. Maha provides guidance over warming up through to various dance elements. The book suggests that the exercises can be performed in a straightforward collection of movements or otherwise blended to create an individual interpretation of the dance that can be combined to music to allow a free expression for the woman. Certainly this is encouraged by Maha and you really get the feeling of her enthusiasm for the belly dance through the book. There is a strong holistic thread running through Mahaʼs work. While there are the obvious physical benefits of the dance Maha also shows a more spiritual side as well with the rhythm of the movement and the free expression that dance allows. This brings about a natural link to yoga and mirrors the thrust of what is trying to be achieved in Birthlight AquaYoga classes. Many of the exercises are similar to those used in AquaYoga and include hip circles and figure of eight hip movements. Maha is also clear in the importance of correct spinal alignment, effective breathing, the relaxed jaw and pelvic floor toning. As well as the technical aspect of the book - teaching and explaining the practices, the book is broken up well with insights into Mahaʼs life - her discovery of belly dance, dealing with her own personal journeys and her experiences of pregnancy, birthing and motherhood. Maha recalls her experiences of developing relationships with lost family members in Lebanon and Jordan as well as discovering more about life here and learning about cultural practices. I found this most interesting and it was also interesting to read how she personally found her own path in reconciling her physical upbringing in Australia with her spiritual blood ties to the Middle East. As the book is written in such a way that each chapter is interspersed with these personal accounts is makes for easy reading. I believe many AquaYoga teachers and students would enjoy reading Dance of the Womb. For those with an interest in dance it is great and for those less inclined in this area it does at the very least give a good insight into the experiences one woman has had in developing her own approach to birth preparation through teaching to western women a traditional dance and combining it with elements of yoga which I am sure will appeal to most involved in Birthlight.
Read a Testimonial from Mother and Doula from Australia, who bought 'Dance of the Womb'
Hi Maha, I have finished reading your book and I must say it is much more than I ever expected! The history, the stories, the depth is amazing. The emotional journey that you take the reader on is so powerful. Brilliant so so brilliant. Now a question when is the dvd coming out? For those poor souls like me who are not blessed to be in attendance to any of your classes. You would do so well teaching us there is nothing else like it on the market and believe me i have searched and searched and searched again. We recently found out that we are expecting again and having had what I consider a very medical and traumatic labour first time around I am so eagerly gathering as much info as I can on belly dancing specifically for birth.This time I want my journey to be emotional and spiritual not a medical journey. Anyway if that's not on the cards I may have to save my rainy day money and come up to take a class or 20. Thank You Thank you for empowering women and educating them, but most of all thank you for inspiring us to birth from within. Nicky
Read a sample of Maha's writings from the ebook:
|
MAHA'S BOOK WON A GOLD AWARD IN THE LIVING NOW INDEPENDENT BOOK PUBLISHERS AWARDS
Australian Buyers Only |
Countries Outside Australia |
A percentage of all sales of 'Dance of the Womb' will go to helping Palestinian women and children in refugee camps.
