Bellydance DVD Review: Rania's Fitness for Weight Loss Series

I purchased a copy of Rania Bossonis's Bellydance Fitness For Weight Loss DVD. She has many DVDs out on the market, and has since the late 1990's. She is a certified fitness instructor, and has blended her knowledge of fitness and aerobic exercises with the ancient art of bellydance, to create a unique workout. Her videos are thorough and to the point, though many traditional dancers resent her athletic style, saying the videos are an insult to the mysterious art of bellydance.

The DVD I purchased is the Daily Quickies workout. It has five ten minute workouts on it, each targeting a different muscle group. I found myself drawn to this disc again and again, because, after all, who doesn't have ten minutes in a day to devote to exercise? That, to me, is the beauty of her videos.

The first section consisted of Abdominal exercises, targeting muscles used specifically for bellydance. It featured traditional crunches and sit-ups, along with more tricky belly isolations and belly rolls. I found this ten minute workout very challenging, despite it's briefness! Any bellydancer would benefit from this, or anyone looking to firm up, as well.

The next section focused on the arms, back, and chest. Rania recommends using hand weights for the following exercises, if you have them, and I do, too. Though they're not necessary, they add a lot of resistance to the moves. A lot of women, in particular, could benefit from more upper body strength, and this section does not disappoint with Lateral Pull Downs, Shoulder Presses, Push-Ups, and Hyperextensions. Also snake arms and shoulder shimmies are weaved in alongside the more traditional moves to give it that bellydance flair.

She makes sure to cover the lower body with a section called, "Dancer's Legs and Butt." This section brought me back to my ballet days with "barre" work, using a chair, and inner and outer thigh exercises. The slow, controlled movements are great for sculpting while still being low-impact and suitable for all fitness levels. I certainly could feel the burn!

One Ab section just wasn't enough for this video, so she goes into another, more strictly bellydance segment after the Dancer section. In this waist sculpting part of the DVD, you learn figure eights, rib slides, and other isolated bellydance moves. These gently strengthen and tone, while giving you more control over the body. They are a great start for any aspiring dancer or a great review for a more intermediate dancer.

Lastly, she finishes the sessions with a flexibility training workout. This one is nice, as it combines traditional yoga moves with dance moves, all while working out the stresses of a long day. I found this one to be the most relaxing of all and the best one to just breathe and "get the kinks out". It is more general, and less focused on isolations or bellydance.

I have tried quite a few workout and bellydance videos, but through it all, I have always turned back to Rania's Fitness For Weight Loss Series. As you become more advanced in dance, some DVDs that just show individual moves lose their appeal, but her videos always provide a quick, effective workout. They're suitable for beginners, and don't have as much technique as some, but are loads of fun. This one, you can pick and choose which workout you want to do each day, or maybe even do two or three, if you're feeling up for a challenge. I would recommend it to anybody.