Dance Your Way to a Great Body :

Having a great body is not an easy task. It takes hard work, commitment and a burning desire to be in good shape. But like any worthwhile venture, the benefits truly outweigh the process. If you’re out of shape and consider watching Dancing with the Stars your only form of workout (handling the remote has not been found to help firm up fat), take note.

We got the scoop from dancers who make the stage their home. They keep in shape as a means of keeping their careers on track. Their currency is their body, so it has to be agile, swift and precise. We also noticed that most professional dancers have a zest and enthusiasm for the art of dance and for keeping in top-notch shape. If the process is as important as the goal, then you can’t lose by doing any of their prescribed movements.

The dancers from La Femme (a dance revue at the MGM Grand hotel in Las Vegas) have some tried-and-true ways of keeping in shape. For example, Marianne’s advice for keeping fit is to find a form of activity that you love. "Dance is the perfect way for me to stay in shape because I never get tired of dancing. Most gyms offer jazz or hip-hop dance classes. If you do not feel comfortable in these classes, look for salsa, belly dancing, tap dance, etc."

La Femme dancer Becky advises an apple a day (it increases metabolism) as well as holding in your belly at all times. "It works your muscles so you don’t have to do abdominal exercises as much. Another tip is to use exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups and dips instead of free weights or machines. This will tone your body without giving you big muscles."Cza Cza suggests yoga. "The best thing about yoga is anybody can do it. You don’t have to be athletic. Yoga is just stretching, and it gives you a great sense of progress when you can do certain poses easier or hold them for a longer time."

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