Take dance classes if running or biking for miles on end to lose weight doesn't appeal to you. Dancing provides an effective aerobic workout that burns a significant amount of calories while keeping things interesting. Fitness studios often offer intense dance classes that get your heart pumping. You also can sign up for instructional dance classes that will help you shed pounds while learning new moves for the dance floor.
Hip-Hop
A number of fitness studios offer high-intensity hip-hop dance classes that keep the music pumping loud and fast. You can burn as many as 600 calories an hour doing hip-hop dance moves, according to the British newspaper "The Telegraph." Hip-hop incorporates a wide range of movements that includes lots of jumping, as well as exaggerated bending and twisting. These moves work your core and leg muscles and, depending on the music's tempo, develop your cardiovascular endurance. Warm up and stretch properly ahead of time before you do hip-hop dance moves so you're flexible enough to perform the moves.
Belly Dancing
Don't worry if you don't have six-pack abs. Belly dancing offers ideal moves if you lack definition around your midsection. Rarely do professional belly dancers have overly toned abdominal muscles -- they usually find the dance form more appealing when it's performed by someone who has curves. Nevertheless, belly dancing movements can help you slim down. The elegant maneuvers in belly dancing continuously work your midsection. The moves also consistently engage your arms and legs as you glide around the dance floor. More fitness studios are beginning to offer dance classes that incorporate belly dancing moves.
Salsa
Salsa dancing is perhaps one of the most effective aerobic dance forms. Salsa offers an intense workout for your legs and core. Many of salsa's moves involve rotating, stepping backward and to the sides, engaging your quadriceps, abdominals and obliques. The music's tempo can be quite fast at times, which helps you burn a high number of calories. In general, the woman is led by the man in salsa; she performs many of the twists and turns. Fitness studios may offer aerobic dance classes that incorporate salsa elements. Sign up for lessons to learn the fundamentals if you're new to salsa.
Ballet
Since ballet is a specialized dance form, it's best if you learn it through professional instruction. Ballet dance moves are physically demanding and require great flexibility. Though the tempo of ballet music may not always be fast-paced, the intricate maneuvers demand balance and control. Several ballet moves engage many smaller stabilizer muscles, in addition to your core, to help you maintain your posture. Ballet builds strength and burns calories. You should have some level of fitness conditioning before beginning ballet.
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