S.T.O.M.P. MINISTRIES

Belinda Haywood started S.T.O.M.P (Spiritual Treasures of Movement and Praise) Ministries in 2002. S.T.O.M.P is a faith-based fitness program, empowered by dance, praise and worship workouts to Gospel Music.  Ms. Haywood can be found teaching at community centers, churches, retreats, caribbean cruises, schools, festivals, businesses, conventions, fund-raisers, and children’ organizations.

Belinda brings years of experience to her training sessions and her group’s performances. She began studying dance and piano, and performing, as a pre-teen. She studied at the renowned Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Rainey Institute. She later began sharing her love of dance by giving lessons. Some of her most rewarding sessions have involved teaching visually impaired members of the Cleveland Sight Center to line dance.

In the year 2000, Belinda began to focus on Christian line dancing because  she notice that a most African American Churches were not exercising the way they should, they don't dance to secular music so their activity level was very low. Belinda began creating routine dances to popular Christian music because the music was changing from the traditional gospel songs to the more upbeat/dance type music.

S.T.O.M.P. teaches the importance of movement, dance, and workout to fit anyone's individual lifestyles. Every participant will be introduced to uplifting music that penetrates the soul.  Everyone will learn learn how to embrace their bodies while having fun.  S.T.O.M.P.'S Gospelcise Routines increases aerobic endurance.

S.T.O.M.P Ministries vision is to spread the Good News through dance, exercise, and music while providing spiritual uplifting and testimony to those who may not know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Let me raise the question and reason on why dancing is good for you. It is actually a good form of exercise. It not only involves your whole body to move but it also definitely improves your health. It is indeed a form of cardiovascular exercise. Dancing has become a part of my life since I was at a very young age. It actually became my job since I was very fond of the art.  I became a dance choreographer. Imagine learning ballet, jazz and all that eventually led me to a very successful career in the field of dancing. It has also helped me in a lot ways healthwise. I not only was enjoying it, it also has helped improve my health.

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Exercise and Physical Fitness

Learn the many benefits of our dance form of exercise.

Calories - Dancing can burn as many calories as walking, swimming or riding a bicycle.  During a half hour of sustained dancing you can burn between 200 and 400 calories.  One factor that determines how many calories you'll expend is distance.  In one study, researchers attached pedometers to square dancers and found each person covered nearly five miles in a single evening.

Cardiovascular conditioning - Regular exercise can lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and an improved cholesterol profile (see Medical Essay, June 1991).   Experts typically recommend 30 to 40 minutes of continuous activity three to four times a week.  Dancing may not provide all the conditioning you need, but it can help.  The degree of cardiovascular conditioning depends on how vigorously you dance, how long you dance continuously and how regularly you do it.

Strong bones - The side-to-side movements of many dances strengthen your weight bearing bones (tibia, fibula and femur) and can help prevent or slow loss of bone mass (osteoporosis).

Rehabilitation - If you're recovering from heart or knee surgery, movement may be part of your rehabilitation.  Dancing is a positive alternative to aerobic dance or jogging.

Sociability - Dancing contains a social component that solitary fitness endeavors don't.  It gives you an opportunity to develop strong social ties which contribute to self-esteem and a positive outlook (see Mayo Clinic Health Letter, February 1992)

Tomorrow night when you consider settling down for a little television, turn on the music instead.  After a few spins around the living room, you'll have so much fun you may forget you're exercising.

Warm up - Before starting to dance, spend a few minutes stretching.   Practice a few dance steps to prepare your muscles for activity. "Never stretch a cold muscle", muscles must be warmed up to prevent muscle pulls. 

Ease into the pace - Begin with slower, less demanding rhythms and build up to faster tempos.  Easing into activities lessens the chance of pulling or straining a muscle.

Know your limits - Take breaks from dancing if you feel undue fatigue or shortness of breath.  If necessary, sit out the next number.