You are so right about the stomach........and the need for core strength............I really notice my own need to work on that in the pictures of myself at the last competition...............I would have had nice lines if only I had consistantly tightened the abdominal muscles and not arched my back as much as I did........oh well, each photo is a learning tool!

5lisamarie. Do not arch your spine at all Latin or Standard. If you have even the slightest sway back that's more than enough.

Yes.........I do have a bit of a sway to my back.........it's an unfornutate lifelone habit of arching that I am trying to break........believe me, I was dismayed by that in my pictures. I have been working with a personal trainer to build more core strength and also more awareness of the arching....I want it gone!

5lisamarie. Try to draw you naval back to your spine. Lay on the floor and try to get all of your back on the floor. That is where it is supposed to be.

serendipity....WOW...that is really difficult....but I'm going to try that exercise every day.......until it gets into my muscle memory.

how many days and times do you suggest to do this excerise for your stomach?

The laying on the floor could be substituted by standing against a door. The floor or the door is to let you know what a straight back is. On the floor is a Pilatus excercise. Do it as often as you like. Against a door can have an added advantage. You can raise and lower through the feet and knees. In one bar, which is three beats of a Waltz, you will raise and lower twice. In one minute there are about 28 bars of music. It doesn't take much to work out how many time you will lower and rise in one minute thirty seconds in a competition. Good Luck.