Belly Dance With Trisnasari - Exercise Three Hip Figure Eight

Most people think that belly dancing evolved purely as a dance where women entertain men. There is no doubt that it celebrates the female form, making the most of voluptuous shape. But in some cultures, it was a ritualised dance, performed by women for women as a fertility rite or to prepare a woman for marriage. Some of the moves are designed to prepare the female body for childbirth - and help it to recover afterwards. This week's move strengthens the hips and pelvic floor.

Beer And Birth Plans

Holding information sessions about childbirth in a pub is proving popular with blokes, reports Ben Wyld.