Your workout routine doesn't have to be a bore. Rather than spending a half hour on the elliptical machine and calling it quits, inject some fun into your workout with dance. Whether you enjoy dancing to classical music or a thumping bass beat, you can find a dance workout that suits your style. If you don't feel up to a dance class, check out some online dance routines in the comfort of your home.
Belly Dancing
Belly dancing will help tone and strengthen the abdominal muscles, says belly-dancing teacher Rania Androniki Bossonis in the article "10-Minute Workout: Belly-Dance Away Ab Flab" in "Fitness" magazine. She recommends the rib slide to strengthen the abs, belly-dancing style. Stand up straight with your feet together and your hands on your hips. Isolate your ribs by moving them to the left, then to the center, and finally to the right. Continue moving only the ribs back and forth for about one-and-a-half minutes.
Hip Hop
Hip hop moves may help tighten the glutes, says Caitlin Moscatello of "Shape" magazine in the article "Dance the Weight Off." Try a hip hop move of your own by standing up straight with your legs about hip-width apart. Bend your left leg and move your right foot out to the side into a squat position and bend your elbows so your arms are in front of your chest. Jump out of the squat and put your weight on your right leg as you pull your arms down as if you were doing a pull-up with an imaginary bar. Squat with your left foot to the side and jump out of the squat with your weight on your left foot, pulling your arms down. Repeat, alternating sides, says Moscatello.
Ballet
Ballet helps strengthen any muscles in the body, including the abdominal muscles, according to "Fitness" magazine in the article "Our Top 10 Abs Exercises." Sit down on a towel or yoga mat and put your legs straight out in front of you. Press your legs together and lean back about 45 degrees, bending at the hips. Bringing both arms over your head making a circle, contract your abdominal muscles. Lower your right arm to the yoga mat as you twist your torso to the right. Hold for three breaths. Return to center and place both arms in a circle over your head, then lower the left arm and raise your right arm, twisting your torso to the left. Repeat eight times on each side, then rest and do another eight repetitions.
Salsa
Tone and strengthen your oblique muscles with salsa dancing, says Moscatello. To start your salsa workout, stand up straight with your feet together and your knees relaxed. Step to the left, landing on the ball of your left foot, then bring your foot back to center. Repeat with the right foot and repeat as you dance to the music.
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