Can you do hip-hop? Of course you can, with a little tutorial. What make it more like exercise are the sharpness with which the steps are done, and the poses. Holding moves (isometric exercise) engages the muscles to build stronger fibers.

The center of your body is your abdominal region and back. Balance is important when you do these moves so the abs gets a lot of work to keep them lean and strong. At first the moves will seem foreign but as you practice, your body will become more fluid and the moves second nature.

Hip-hop moves are done with both upper and lower body. When learning moves like the slide or jumps get the lower body movements first and then add the upper body. It’s easier to learn that way. Lower body moves will always engage the abs, which actually prevents a lot of injury.

Steps are done to the beat of the music. Whichever moves you put together will flow using the music as a guide.

Take a hip-hop choreography class for beginners to learn the most popular moves right now. As you get better, more complicated hip-hop styles like crimping (similar to an urban form of slam dancing) will be next on your list of things to try.

And with that hip and hop and hurray the beautiful new you!