How to Cool Down in Egyptian Belly Dancing

Belly dancing, like any other exercise, can be hard on the muscles if you don't properly cool down afterward. After a belly-dancing session, you need to devote at least 10 to 15 minutes to letting your body cool down and your heart rate drop back to a resting state. Cooling down in Egyptian belly dancing gives you another opportunity to stretch those muscle groups that are important to belly dancing.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Take it slow. All of your movements during the cool-down period should be slow and methodical. The key is to get your heart rate back into a more comfortable zone by slowing the pace. Many dancers find it beneficial to repeat the warm-up routine again at the end of the session, as a way to slow things down.

2. Focus on the torso area. The torso is one of the most worked parts of the body in belly dancing, so you should spend the majority of your time focusing on stretching out these core muscle groups. Side bends are great for working out stiff muscles as well as forward and back rolls.

3. Cool down the thighs. Your thighs can also get a workout with a good belly dancing routine, so you should do exercises like slow lunges and bends to make sure that you properly stretch the area after belly dancing.

4. Isolate muscle groups. Think back to the beginning of your belly dancing training. You can cool down after a routine by isolating muscle groups just like you did when you first started learning the moves. Do slow figure eights and rib-cage isolations to work the tension out of the muscles.