The Mindful Migraine

OK – so if the combination of migraines and dancing sounds completely counterintuitive – you’re probably right. And yet… now that my head is feeling a bit better, I’ve been looking for ways to increase the amount of movement in my life and belly dancing is one of the things that I have started to incorporate into my fitness routine… and I really enjoy it!

‘Belly dancing’ has a rich, and complex history, too expansive to cover here, but Raqs sharqi, as it was originally known, is a form of ‘oriental dancing’ which originated in Egypt. From what I can tell, it was considered a classical dance, until more recently, when concerns about modesty were raised.

Given that I have not a single Egyptian bone in my body, taking up belly dancing is potentially one of those ‘cultural misappropriation’ moments we accidentally stumble into. (I was roughed up a bit online a while back by someone who felt my approach to Tai Chi did not adequately acknowledge traditional principles – which is true – but I can only do what I can do – and as I explained in an interview (here), healing is my priority).

Accepting that, I came to the practice of belly dancing with an open mind and open heart and since I only practice dancing in the privacy of my own home, culturally insensitive or not, I intend to continue.

So why belly dancing?

A while back, I wrote about gaining weight over the last few years (due to illness, covid lockdown and a sedentary lifestyle studying for my PhD) – and I also mentioned that I wanted to lose that weight: “7 minutes of movement 7 day challenge“. If I was really honest about the weight gain, the thing I was most unhappy about was my belly.

Now, as part of my 2026 ‘project positivity‘, I wondered, was there a way to turn my body-negativity around?

I could keep repeating “I love you big belly” as I gave it a cuddle, but I knew that wouldn’t resonate as true in my soul. Alternatively, I could start workouts that focused on belly-reduction, and I did try this for a while, but they emphasized that my belly was a ‘problem’ which needed to be fixed, and therefore, the workouts focused on a negative (like the attitude I raised in my post “don’t hit the pole” that ends in a car accident).

In a weird Eureka moment, I suddenly hit upon the idea of trying something that placed a positive emphasis on bellies, regardless of their size: belly dancing.

Most of you (like me) probably hear the words ‘belly dancing’ and think of lovely lean ladies jiggling away in a bikini top and sarong. There is some truth to that, but there are also plenty of people out there who are wrapping a scarf around their waist, over their t-shirt and leggings, and enjoying a creative workout to some fabulous music.

Here’s the lady that I have been using as my digital dance teacher: Miss Portia from Miami’s Belly Motions: Learn to Belly Dance for fun and fitness! She has a video channel with classes that are typically 30 mins long with students (of all ages and abilities) following along in the background – such as this one:

[Source: 30 Min BEGINNER BELLY DANCE Class]

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This is an activity that I’m going to put into the ‘Difficult‘ section of my suggestions – because it requires a fair amount of co-ordination (that I don’t really have) to follow her moves (although she is very patient and repetitive at setting up the dance routines) – but mainly because the wiggly-jiggly moves can accidentally put pressure on your joints (neck, hips, knees and shoulders are all iffy for me).

[A note on the tabs: you might not have noticed, but most of my blog posts that include mindfulness activities are tabbed with a rank – ‘Easy‘, ‘Moderate‘ or ‘Difficult‘ – so that you can chose from a range of things that match your ability to participate, dependent on your health status (no judgment is intended – I just know that I was so disabled by my chronic migraine, I could barely get out of bed, let alone belly dance – but with luck, your turn to dance will come too)].

In terms of being a migraine-person, belly dancing is not an overly easy activity – BUT – there are a lot of positive points. For example, you stay upright, in pretty much the same place, for the entirety of the dance. There’s no folding over (putting pressure on nauseous tummies) or throwing your head around (putting pressure on your neck) or travelling all over the floor (so you don’t need a lot of space and you don’t have to be too worried about losing your balance).

[Disclaimer – we are all you-nique – so what feels safe for one person might feel risky for another – be sure to talk to your healthcare professional before making any significant changes in your exercise routines to make sure this is a suitable activity for you.]

Has belly dancing worked?

Yep.

I’m not going to pretend that weight fell off, or I suddenly have a six-pack / washboard stomach – but what I DO have is tummy muscles that are getting firmer, a core that is becoming stronger, and I now move through my days with better posture and a bit of a shimmy.

[My youngest daughter called me “too cute” last time she arrived in the kitchen and caught me swaying in front of the kitchen sink.]

More importantly, I have a new enthusiasm for movement and the awareness that my body is not as ugly or useless as I imagined.

Hooray for body-positivity!

Having spent more than a year being in bed all day due to chronic migraine, and then another 2 years of being generally unwell – I AM NOT FIT.

So, this is all a work in progress.

But my ‘get fit’ endeavors are focused on a gradual shift to increase my energy and ability to engage in life, more than any interest in weight loss or aesthetics… movement matters!

My advice if you chose to have a go at these videos (and I hope you do) is to start small – just do the first five to ten minutes and see if you feel safe. Then slowly make your sessions longer and longer.

Secondly; if this video is not for you, don’t give up – try another channel with other teachers. I quite like Ms Portia referring to our golden hips and her dislike of ‘twerking’, but you might not, so go explore – there’s a wide world of musical options out there!

Take care carefully, and musically!

Linda xox

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PS – another YouTube Channel I have just started experimenting with is BellyFIT with Leilah Isaac (she has some short videos that are good to get you started).

PPS – if belly dancing feels too foreign for you, consider other forms of international dance styles such as Salsa, Flamenco, Zumba, Bharatanatyam, Hawaiian Hula, or more…

Or simply shimmy-shake around your bedroom to music that makes your foot tap, shoulders shrug and hips wiggle – here’s one of my favorite options (that often brings tears to my eyes because I love the ideas it expresses so much!) – enjoy:

[Source: 🌊⁠⁠⁠⁠ Moana – We Know the Way]