How to Do Coin Rolls on Belly

Traditional belly dancing attire

Rolling coins across the belly is an old trick of belly dancers. Being able to control and contort their abdominal muscles the way they do, belly dancers can make it look extremely easy. In order to roll a coin across your stomach, you must train your abdominal muscles to move the way a belly dancer's moves. Once you get master this movement, you'll be rolling nine quarters down your belly like famous belly dancer Helena Vlahos in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Quarters

Instructions

1. Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart and bend slightly forward at the waist. Slowly and deliberately push out the top of your abdomen and then suck it in. Be careful not to push out your lower abdomen or belly; focus intently on working only the upper abdomen. Practice this over and over.

2. Again standing with legs shoulder-width apart and bent slightly at the waist, push out your lower abdomen and suck it back in. This should be a bit easier than pushing out you upper abdomen, but continue to practice this.

3. Practice the two movements together once you get the hang of them. Without worrying about the elegance of the roll, simply push out your upper abdomen and then lower, and slowly alternate. Practice this over and over. Once you get the hang of it, adding the finesse of the roll to it should come almost naturally. It's going to feel like you are drawing the letter "S" with your belly.

4. Add the coins. To roll a coin on your belly, sit on the ground, leaning way back and supporting your back with your arms on the ground. Place a quarter just below the center of your upper abdomen.

5. Perform the same basic "S" shape. Slowly push your upper abdomen out, the coin will start to slide down. Start to retract and the coin will fall into the crevice of your belly. Use your upper abdomen to force the coins to lean in the opposite direction toward the lower half of your body. Using that same "S" belly roll, slowly push the coin up and over to the lower abdomen so that it sits nicely on your belly.

6. Roll the coin back to its starting location once you get the hang of rolling it in one direction.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be easier for you to start the coin roll trick on your lower belly. In addition to being a neat trick, it's a great fitness routine to build a six pack.

• This is by no means an easy feat. It will take months of practice just to perfect the belly roll in some cases. Don't get discouraged; just think of how impressed everyone will be.

References

• Belly Dancing Central