Customer Reviews

Bellydance for Beginners: Arms & Abs [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you just sit and watch this video you may think, "So what? That's not so hard." But spend 25 minutes or so with these sisters and you'll feel it the next day. The movements in this video are geared to bellydancing. The layering of movements [such as ribcage circles with egyptian arms]is key in proper bellydancing. The slow methodic movements of arms, ribcage and hips on this video help tone the upper body and gain control of torso muscles. The floorwork is a little tricky and you may have to work up to it. Not an aerobic workout, but definitely a muscle toner, especially for the upper arms and shoulders. Not a bad little abs section added, focusing on more traditional ab exercises needed to round out the workout on the video. Adds a nice variety to any home based exercise program.

I use belly dance as low impact fitness. The entire series is geared for fitness. The women are excellent dancers and the routines are all fun. You get a great half an hour workout without hurting yourself! This is not a set of tapes directed at "pro" belly dancers to pick up or improve movements, be a smart shopper and keep that in mind. The secondary advantage to the tapes is of course the HHF (Happy Husband Factor) If you actually keep up on the series you end up with a solid dance routine that helps you get your way more often, and far fewer back, neck, shoulder and leg pains. This has been great for this 37yo with injury arthritis. Give it a try. Enjoy your life!

I own this video and I love it! This is one great workout, ladies! It's great for the beginner, like me and Veena and Neena are EXCELLENT in teaching you the movements, slowly and presicely!
I broke my wrist last summer and doing the "wrist circles" on this tape has really helped with improving my flexability in my wrist and relieves the stiffness!
I find myself using this tape more and more every week! I also own "Basic Moves" and it's even better! I can't wait to get the "Belly Dance Essentials" gift set for Christmas!
I'm hooked on bellydancing now!

This tape is intense, but it's also a joy. The first time I worked out to it I realized how weak my arms were. There's a good stretching warmup, and then the twins get right into the arm workout. They do the moves with a bit of dancers' flair, which keeps you distracted if you're finding out what a wuss you are. Everything will get worked, from biceps to triceps to your forearms. The best thing, however, is you feel strong and feminine while doing it. I don't want to feel like I can kick butt, just stronger and more graceful after I do a workout, and this one does the trick (along with the other twins' videos). Once the arms get the business the twins start working the midriff with rib slides and circles, which feel very sensual and wonderful on the spine and ribs as everything gets warmed up and stretched out. After a few minutes you're on the floor working the abs with fun and challenging moves. Cooldown incorporates some wonderful yoga moves (cobra, etc) that feel like heaven. It's probably the toughest tape in the series, but it's worth it. If this tape were ever to melt down or break it'd be right up there on my shopping list with milk and bread.

When I first played this tape, I had to stop it several times because the twins go from on move to the next with out a stop. However, this tape produced results beyond belief. I would say that I had to get through some fat (haha like most people), but after playing and excersising to this tape for 4 months, I now have abs that I never would have expected. I reaccomend this tape, but also buy another one to learn some authetic moves.

In defense to what the Cincinatti woman had stated, this is a FITNESS tape - read the label! I am Egyptian, and I think I know better about belly dancing than a woman who has studied for only 8 mos. The twins are BEAUTIFUL dancers, some of the best I've ever seen! It is better to buy the full set of videos, rather than just one. I prefer the Basic moves but my sister loves this one!

This video set is fantasic... I received them this morning and tried them out. The videos are low impact but really put you though the motions. After each video I was sweaty and feeling good. Neena and Veena show the basics and then at the end of each video there is a small dance. I would buy these for anyone.

This is an *Exercise* video first and foremost. "Bellydance Fitness for Beginners: Arms & Abs" provides a great alternative fitness routine for those who want to sculpt their arms and abs. This video is NOT instructional and NOT designed to teach the beginner how to belly dance. However, Neena and Veena DO demonstrate how you can incorporate the exercises into a bellydance routine with their brief performance and graceful entrance. I was able to learn some of the veil work that they demonstrate--just by pausing and re-watching the tape. It is so much fun!

This is my favorite video in the "Bellydance Fitness for Beginners" boxed set. My collar bone broke in a car accident years ago, and has since healed, but my neck and shoulders are always stiff. The exercises in this video has increased my range of motion and eased tension in my neck. The fluid and flowing movements are a sensual and an effective way to shape your arms. The ab exercises include traditional crunches and belly rolls (ribcage rolls or undulations). Most of the exercises are isolated belly dance movements choreographed to make this most enjoyable exercise routine.

I would highly recommend this tape for bellydancers who want to refresh their technique or work on isolated moevments, and for people looking for an alternative fitness routine. Unlike aerobics, bellydancing is a fun way to stay in shape. I also suggest that you buy the boxed set and save yourself some money! Enjoy and have fun!

Bellydance Fitness Arms and Abs is designed to tone your upper body using bellydance-inspired movements. In the first half of the workout, you will do a variety of arm movements, most of which require you to hold the arms at shoulder level or above. Although the voiceover instruction suggests that these moves will tone your biceps and triceps, I felt them mostly in my shoulders, which quickly became fatigued. Eventually, you move on to working the chest and ribs, mainly through isolation movements. The final ten minutes of this workout are performed on the floor. You'll start with several non-traditional abs exercises--eg, leg lifts while propped on your elbows--and then you'll work on more traditional crunches. The workout finishes with several yoga-inspired stretches, and the total time comes in at about 28 minutes.

Overall, I found this to be an okay light toning routine. However, because the workout concentrates on the upper body, there is no footwork, which removes the fun factor (as well as the cardio work) that exists in other videos of this series (eg, Basic Moves). If you're interested in toning the arms and abs and are looking for something a bit different, this workout might be for you, but if you want to experiment with some fun bellydance moves, you'll probably want to try one of the other videos in the Bellydance for Fitness series.

I loved this video because, like many other women my age, I have gotten a little out of shape. Neena and Veena have developed moves that even less coordinated people can follow. It's a great way to firm up your muscles and learn sensual moves you can use in your life. Although some moves will take some time to perfect, the fun of the video is to keep working towards looking like the twins do!