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Hip Hop Exercises

Mar 28, 2011 | By Dacia Rivers
Hip Hop Exercises
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Hip hop dancing is an important cultural practice with roots in Africa and Latin America. Dancing to hip hop beats can also be a fun way to get your body moving and burn calories. If you're a fan of rap music, practicing a hip hop exercise routine may help you stay motivated to meet your fitness goals.

Types

You can find plenty of hip hop dance classes designed to get your body toned and melt away fat while you move. Choose between workouts that combine hip hop with other forms of dance such as Latin Zumba. You can also pick out a specific body area you'd like to focus on. Some exercise programs focus on using hip hop moves to target the abdominal muscles or work toward overall cardiovascular fitness. Gyms and dance studios often offer hip hop workout classes. If you prefer to shake your booty in the privacy of your own home, choose a home hip hop workout video.

Benefits

In an article in "Fitness" magazine, Dave Van Daff, the senior director of education and development at Bally Total Fitness, lists the benefits of dance-based exercise routines. According to Van Daff, dancing is a high-intensity workout because it keeps your body constantly moving, burning loads of fat and calories. Van Duff credits hip hop's moves that involve jumping and hopping with helping you develop strength and flexibility and build endurance.

Hip Hop Abs

Try out this move from a hip hop workout that focus on building your abdominal muscles. Stand tall with your right foot slightly in front of your left foot. Hold your arms straight out to your sides at shoulder height. Raise your right leg off the ground so it is out in front of you and reach your arms in front of you as you draw in your abdominal muscles and reach toward your right foot. Return to standing and repeat this move eight to 15 times on each side of your body.

Hip Hop Side Crunch

Try a fat-busting dance move called the side crunch. Stand tall with your feet a bit wider than shoulder-distance apart. Hold your right arm out to your side with your elbow bent to a 90-degree angle and your hand balled into a fist next to your head. Place your left hand on your left hip. Bend your right knee and bring it up and out to your right side, until your leg forms a 90-degree angle. Tuck your torso in and down as you touch your right elbow to your right knee. Stand back up straight, then repeat on your left side.

References

Article reviewed by Julie Mendenhall Last updated on: Mar 28, 2011

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