Bhangra Fitness: The Workout That Jives

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Monday, 1 December 2008

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By:Hanu Nirukurti

Think India, and at once, a myriad of images comes to mind – its

intricate history and cultural diversity; the pageantry of Bollywood; variety

of spices; upbeat music; customer call centers and advanced information

technology. All these dance their way to our collective memory. Now,

add to these, the lively Bhangra dancing that is the trademark of

Indian films has emerged as the newest fitness craze. The Bhangra aerobic

dance has seeped into mainstream pop culture and has become the rage in

recent years.

Bhangra, actually, is a euphoric harvest dance from Punjab, India. It

is ordinarily accompanied by energetic singing and drum beating.

Originally, this dance is performed by farmers to celebrate an abundant

harvest season. The dance movements imitate farming activities like sowing

and reaping. In time, Bhangra has evolved and fused with other kinds

of music and dance such as hip hop, disco, reggae and techno. Since

then, Bhangra has been dominating the club scene internationally. Next,

comes its advent into the fitness world via the Bhangra aerobic dance.

The traditional Bhangra dance with its stomping feet,

shoulder-shrugging, hand-clapping, swinging arms all the while bouncing dance steps has

been modernized. Aerobic moves, hip hop and salsa have been

incorporated to the dance accompanied by modern Bhangra music and throbbing drum

beats. This is the much talked about Bhangra workout. It has enjoyed

a surge in popularity because it is easy to do and fun at the same

time. It has also provided a new dimension to the fitness industry because

of its positive results.

The Bhangra aerobic dance involves continuous, rhythmic body movements

designed to raise heart rate, strengthen the lungs and work out all the

major muscle groups in the body like the legs and buttocks. This

workout is done to music with pulsating beat to set the tempo. When one does

the Bhangra workout, the body muscles demand more oxygen-rich blood and

give off more carbon dioxide and other wastes. This makes the heart

beat faster to keep up. Overtime, with regular workout, the heart grows

stronger and can meet the muscles’ demands with little effort. The

Bhangra workout also helps one avoid chronic diseases such as heart

disease, hypertension, and stroke. It also lowers blood pressure, builds

strong bones and helps control weight. A 45-minute Bhangra aerobic dance

burns 500 calories. How’s that for motivation?

In a nutshell, the physiological benefits derived from a Bhangra

workout include improved overall cardiovascular functions, renewed physical

stamina, increased lung power, enhanced muscle tone and flexibility, and

weight loss. Psychologically, the Bhangra aerobic dance works like a

stress and tension buster. It improves one’s attitude and increase

personal confidence. If group activities appeal to you, join the Bhangra

workout. It fosters group camaraderie and builds new friendships.

What makes the Bhangra workout ideal is that it is a mild aerobic

exercise sans the boring part – rigid rules and routines. It is a fun and

pleasurable social affair. The workout takes place with an infectious

and upbeat music and everyone is in a happy mood. It is like having the

best of both worlds – healthy and happy.

Now that you’re enthused, stand up and get moving – do the Bhangra

workout. Dance to your heart’s delight!

A word of caution: Get a medical check-up before embarking on the

Bhangra workout or any fitness regimen, for that matter.

Article Source: http://www.dailynewarticles.com

To learn more about Bhangra fitness and why it is becoming so popular,
visit www.BhangraFitness.com. Balle balle, Hadippa!!
Hanu Nirukurti owns and runs the www.BhangraFitness.com website,
a site that gives extensive information on Bhangra and its many health
benefits.