Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs [Paperback]

Rania Bossonis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

A how-to book featuring the timeless art of belly dancing. Bellydancing is not only beautiful and mysterious; itÆs also sexy and a serious workout! Rania will teach women the history and symbolism of bellydancing while helping them tone-up and dance their way to the body theyÆve always wanted. Simple at-home routines will address problem spots and shed a decidedly different light on how to effectively shake the pounds off and shimmy the muscle tone on. An instrumental CD completes the package.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rania Androniki Bossonis is an AFAA Certified Fitness Instructor and Professional Middle East Dance Soloist, Choreographer, and Master Teacher. She currently teaches Middle Eastern Dance for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. Rania has over 10 instructional, workout and performance videos currently available in stores and online, including the smash hit "Bellydance Divas" and her fitness series entitled "Bellydance for Weight Loss." She travels throughout the world teaching and performing Middle Eastern Dance. Her passion for this unique and beautiful art form is evident in both her instruction and performance.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159233086X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592330867
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Exercise & Fitness > Hip & Thigh Workouts

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just bought it yesterday, January 11, 2005

By 

LLM "dagoodnurse" (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs (Paperback)

I just bought this book yesterday. I am very happy with my purchase; more so with the purchase of her videos. What made me pick the book up off the shelf was the vivid color pictures on the front and back covers. That is was also made me buy it. Rania manages to overcome the hurdle of trying to teach dance moves from a book by having 3 or 4 serial shots of her performing some of the moves. She also demonstrates the importance of proper posture by showing several side views of herself performing.
What I also liked is the fact that she devotes a chapter to describing the aerobic benefits of Bellydance, then underneath the title of each move she demonstrates, she gives a brief description of what the benefits are for that particular move.
She also demonstrates the Khaleegy Head Toss and the Zar Head Roll, mentioning that that the head roll should only be done once or twice, lest you hurt your neck.
There is a short chapter on the history of Bellydance, her own introduction to the dance, layering movements for a routine, balancing and floor work, use of a veil, warm-ups, and a glossary of terms.
She lost one star because the included music CD was so-so (some of it was a repeat from the Bellydance Divas dvd), and the fact that she says in the book that she tells people all the time that Bellydance is her only workout; she does not lift weights. Then she mentions in another part of the book that she used to take gymnastics when she was younger. That gave me the impression that she was never overweight (like I am now). So I think that she has no knowledge of what it takes to "Shimmy away the fat"
However, I am happy that I bought this book.
CHALLENGE: I would like to challenge Rania or another certified fitness trainer/dancer to take an overweight person and slim them down and get them fit with bellydance and diet alone.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for all levels of bellydancing!!!, March 29, 2005

By 

Midwest Bellydancer "Jennifer" (Omaha, Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs (Paperback)

I have been bellydancing for over 2 years now and I own dozens upon dozens of bellydance DVDs and a few books. I absolutely love this book and the cd is just fantastic. I am constantly recommending this book and all of Rania DVDs to everyone I know who is interested in bellydance. Everything about this book is informative and encouraging! Because of her DVDs and book, I am so proud to say I bellydance!

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great intro to the world of bellydance, January 28, 2005

By 

E.Ragsdale "emrag" (Topeka, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bellydancing for Fitness: The Sexy Art That Tones Your Abs, Butt, and Thighs (Paperback)

This is a great book, with tons of gorgeous pictures and info about starting bellydance. Rania is also gorgeous, but not in an intimidating way, so you feel like you could be just as sexy as she is by bellydancing. This book and the one by Tamalyn Dallal definitely have a place on my bookshelf now, and the CD that comes with this book, which is full of great songs to get you started, has an almost permanent home in my CD player.