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Sunday, March 9, 2008

A Lively Little Jig for Ya!



I'm an aerobics NUT! I'm always out here trying to find the next thing aerobic. Aerobic striptease, aerobic tennis, gospel aerobics, jail house aerobics, aerobic cooking, aerobic dog sledding....Hey, what 'cha got? I'll try it at least once!

I stumbled across this cute little video of aerobic Irish dancing, and just in time for St. Patrick's Day! How about that?! It's definitely a few minutes of fun, and you WILL break a sweat from the jumping. I ran it and did it twice in a row. Do it 3 times and you've got a good little bit of cardio in for the day, for sure.

I do, however, have a question. Anybody... What is the deal with the non movement of the arms in Irish dancing? I actually started to add my own arm movements to the routine, because I'm so used to moving ALL of my body when dancing or exercising. So... What's the legend, rule, tradition, reason, etc, for keeping your arms stiffly down by your sides when doing this type of dance? Come on, you smarties, I know one of you knows...! Clue a diva in!

In the meantime, enjoy!






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5 comments:

durano lawayan a.k.a. brad spit said...

Hi Fitness Diva,

I can't do all of this. I guess this is not for a 57 year old despite looking fit and trim.

Age is a factor in agility. :-) --Durano, done!

Anonymous said...

I've always wondered about the arms myself. I went to a dance site and this is what was said:

Why don't Irish dancers move their arms?
In modern Irish step dancing, arms and hands are held rigid against the sides of the body. Restricting the arms makes it easier for the dancers to execute the fast and intricate footwork. Some historians suggest that the absence of arm movement may also be the result of influence from parish priests, who thought that keeping the arms stiff was less "provocative".

The Fitness Diva said...

Hmmmm....thanks, Urban! I knew there was something prohibitive or restrictive about it!
They felt that arm movement was provocative, huh? Lol. Well, those priests would fall the heck out if they saw all the booty shaking that goes on THESE days! Arms are the least of the evils! ;)

Hey, Durano, don't feel bad! Jumping can wear you out even when you're 20. You should see some of the people in their 20s and 30s that come and take my jump rope class for the first time. It's a rude awakening!
The first time always kicks their butts! But if they have the stones to come back and try again, they eventually build the endurance to do the entire class without crying. lol
Give it another go, I say! ;)

durano lawayan a.k.a. brad spit said...

Hi Fitness Diva,

Ok, if you say so. I guess it would be nice to kick some 20 year old butt... he he he :-)--Durano, done!

Anonymous said...

The lack of arm movement had something to do with oppression by the English, who banned native dance by the Irish, and defined "dance" as having movement of all four limbs. So the Irish created dances with zero arm motion. Or so I've heard, might not be accurate. Here's a discussion on the topic: http://tinyurl.com/3fy6hz

 
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