Improve your core strength with these dance exercises
What's the story
African dance is a vibrant and dynamic form of expression that not only celebrates culture but also offers numerous physical benefits. Among these benefits is the enhancement of core stability, which is crucial for overall body strength and balance. By incorporating specific African dance moves into your routine, you can improve your core muscles' endurance and strength. Here are five African dance moves that can help enhance your core stability.
Move 1
The Gwara Gwara move
The Gwara Gwara move is a South African dance, which is basically a combination of fluid leg movements and upper body sways. The dance requires a lot of coordination between the lower and upper body, and it works out the abdominal muscles as well. If practiced regularly, this move can help in strengthening the obliques and improving your balance.
Move 2
Azonto groove
Azonto is a Ghanaian dance that is widely popular for its rhythmic footwork and expressive hand movements. The constant transfer of weight from one foot to another is a great way to engage the core. This move can help in improving flexibility while also working on stabilizing the torso, making it a great pick for core strengthening.
Move 3
Kizomba sway
Originating from Angola, Kizomba is known for its smooth, flowing movements that require great control of the dancer's center of gravity. Its slow-paced nature is crucial to stay postured while moving with grace. This dance form inherently works your core muscles, which are the most important to stay balanced and fluid. The focus on slow, deliberate movements makes it a great practice for core stability.
Move 4
Pantsula steps
Pantsula is a high-energy street dance from South Africa, known for its quick footwork and intricate steps. The fast-paced movement requires an exceptional level of agility and coordination, involving the abdominal muscles to a large extent to maintain speed without compromising form or balance. It takes a whole lot of physical exertion, making it an effective workout to improve core stability and strength.
Move 5
Soukous shimmy
Soukous hails from Central Africa and has its roots in Congolese rumba music. It involves fast-paced hip movements which require you to engage your lower back and abdomen muscles heavily to perform correctly. Regularly practicing Soukous can improve muscle tone around your waistline while also improving stability through controlled hip movements.