A belly dance class is a total body workout, but if you're in a hurry to gain flat abs, a slim waist and tight buns, a general class isn't enough - you'll need to take specific belly dance exercises to the next level.

Belly Dancing to Exercise Abs

It's often assumed that belly dancing is a great abs workout because of that word "belly". In fact, most of the basic moves in belly dance are driven by the legs, not by the abs (to see an example, read my Hub on How to Shimmy).

Go to the average beginners' bellydance class, and the teacher will scarcely mention abs. It's only in the more advanced classes that you'll start doing undulations and belly rolls.

Even then, don't expect belly dancing to give you a six pack! Personally I find the smooth contour of a belly dancer's stomach much more attractive and feminine than a rigid washboard, and you'll eventually be able to flip coins with your tummy muscles - guaranteed to fascinate the man in your life...

Luckily these days, you don't have to wait to graduate to advanced class to develop your abs - there are belly dance DVD's which teach and drill the belly exercises so you can work on them in your own time.

This is another misconception - some belly dance classes will do nothing for your glutes whatsoever. Once again, you have to approach belly dancing the right way, if tight buns are your goal.

Some belly dancers use their glutes in hip movements, but many don't. You can see the difference in their dancing - if they use their glutes, the movement is generally sharper and tighter. Suhaila is a "glute user" and she's also a champion of using belly dancing to tighten and define your glutes. Just take a look at her bottom in this clip from her belly dance DVD, and you can see it obviously works!

If you're not very fit, an ordinary belly dance class is enough of a fat burning workout. But increasingly, you'll find classes and DVD's offering belly dance workouts which are as aerobic and challenging as a gym class.

Many people assume that because belly dancing is so gentle on the body, these cardio belly dance workouts are very safe. Not so! When you do belly dance hip movements at speed, it's hard to maintain good technique. Most beginners will begin sticking their butt out, or twisting at the knee. That can be very damaging for your back and your knees.

So before you start doing these fast belly dance exercises, you must be sure you have your form right - i.e., please ensure you understand exactly what the movements are and that you're able to copy them exactly. Even more so if you're considering Powerbelly, as in the video clip below.

All text copyright Marisa Wright

Photo courtesy of Alaskan Dude on Flickr.com