As the weather turns warmer, it’s time to put away those bulky winter clothes and bring out your lighter summer things. However, when you try them on, you find your swimsuit and shorts fit a bit too snug around your tummy. There’s still time to flatten your stomach before summer. You could do multiple sit-ups and abdomen crunches, but why not try some belly dancing moves as exercises? These exercises will sculpt your abdomen into a feminine, curvy shape, with a graceful carriage as an added bonus.
Step 1
Stretch and warm up your stomach muscles. Stand in beginning position; standing straight, with chest lifted, bottom tucked, feet hip-width apart. Breathe in and lift right arm straight up, slowly, bringing the elbow next to your ear. Then bend towards the left, making sure that you do not bend forward, until you feel the stretch in your side. Hold for a count of five. Lower your arm. Stretch in the other direction. This completes one set. Repeat full set 25 times.
Step 2
Do abdomen rolls. Stand in beginning position, with knees slightly bent. Tighten the lower portion of your abdomen while relaxing the upper portion. Then tighten the upper portion and relax the bottom portion. Continue alternating tightening and relaxing the two halves of your abdomen. Then gradually smooth the moves into a continuous upward abdomen roll for twenty five times. Reverse and roll the abdomen down for 25 times.
Step 3
Do figure eights. Stand in beginning position, with knees slightly bent. Keep chest facing forward and move left hip towards the front; then shift weight from left front to right back. Then move right hip towards the front, forming the figure eight. Gradually smooth into a continuous move for 25 times.
Step 4
Do upward figure eights. Stand in beginning position, with knees deeply bent. Straighten right knee, pushing the right hip straight up. Simultaneously relax the right knee as you straighten the left knee, pushing left hip up. Move into a smooth continuous move for 25 times.
Step 5
Do M&Ms. Stand in beginning position, with knees slightly bent. Lift left hip up and forward in an inverted curve, drawing a hump with your hip bone. Then draw a curve up and back to the center and then curve it towards the back. These three moves create the “m.” Then shift and do an M&M with the right hip. Repeat doing M&Ms for 25 times on both sides.
Step 6
Repeat all these exercises for 30 minutes every day.
