Thread: the Fitness Pharaoh dvd

Hello all!

I was wondering your thoughts on the Core Training for Belly Dancers, by Gerson Kuhr, the Fitness Pharaoh dvd. I have it and have watched it but I wanted to know if any of you all have used it and see results in your dance.

I am gonna start the program :-)

I would love to hire Gerson as my personal trainer but he is just a bit to far away for me :-(

I guess the video is the next best thing. Your thoughts?

I have the dvd and really like it because the dancers are real ME dancers with real bodies and not models hired because of their 6 packs. The instructions are very complete and I like the way the routines are set up and the extra instruction booklet that you can refer to without the dvd.

Souzan

This is the review I wrote for NTMEDA and WAMEDA:

“Relax and Work Out at the Same Time”

Core Training for Belly Dancers
A Review of the Abdominal and Lower Back Workout DVD by Gerson E. Kuhr, “The Fitness Pharaoh”

Gerson E. Kuhr, aka “The Fitness Pharaoh”, has produced and created a one of a kind video that targets the crux of the belly dancers movements, her core. He clearly defines the core to be composed of four different abdominal muscle groups and the lower back.

This video is a fitness video, not a dance video, so it can be used by anyone looking to improve their abdominal strength. What is special about the video is that all the exercises are performed by consummate dancers from the Washington D.C. area. You see the ladies perform in full costume at the end, but they are wearing cute, matching workout clothes in the rest of the video. Also, all of the typesetting and graphics are Egyptian or Egyptian-looking, so it has an overall familiar and comfortable feel to it. The music used throughout the video is by Desert Wind which gives the video a relaxed, easy pace. The tranquil female voice over also adds to the overall soothing feel to the workout.

The video begins with an introduction to the stretches and exercises. Many of the movements are familiar and all of them are easy to learn. The beginning tutorial saves time during the actual exercise segments. There is also a beautifully illustrated booklet that explains most of the exercises and stretches. It is a handy reference when you need a brief clarification of a movement or you want to see a picture of which muscles are being worked. The booklet also indicates which dance movements will benefit from strengthening each specific muscle group.

The beginning workout takes about 12 or 19 minutes, depending on if the stretches are performed. For the stretches, you see all three of the dancers performing the movements from many different views. All stretches are timed for 30 seconds. The exercises are grouped into the core areas that Kuhr breaks down in the introduction. One dancer performs the exercises for each area. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, especially if the introduction was watched. I was able to complete the beginner section with no problems, but I could definitely tell that I had worked out my abs. Then I waited the 24 hours that Kuhr recommends.

Thank you. Gerson did say that results would come in about 2-3 months which I feel is acceptable and honest. He is such a nice guy and such a supporter of the dance. I really like having be a part of our community. I only wish he was just a few miles closer ;-)

Well - gonna begin working on this and stepping back into yoga. My core is so weak since the baby. never really strengthened it back up. Time to start now!!!

thanks, i was looking at it all weekend at spring caravan and contemplated, this clinches it!

second part:

The advanced workout takes 17 or 23 minutes, depending on if the stretches are performed. All of the stretches are the same as the beginning workout. The exercises are once again divided into the core areas and include the beginning exercises, adding more repetitions. There are also some new movements. I was definitely fatigued at the end of the V-Up segment in the third core area.

Kuhr includes several variations on some of the basic exercises. Some of these require a weighted ball or a Swiss ball. The weight made a major difference in the difficulty of the movements and the Swiss ball added in the need to keep your balance. The variations will add interest to the workout and keep it challenging.


Kuhr says that results can be seen after three months. I think he is giving himself some leeway. His definition of results include not only a slimmer waistline and tummy, but also a stronger core to allow the dancer better execute Middle Eastern dance movements.

In my personal observations about the video, I was happy to see an exercise video that did not have fitness models performing the movements. These ladies are beautiful with enviable figures, but they are realistic looking women. This adds legitimacy to the workout. The dancers were very serene throughout the program. At first I wanted the ladies to seem happier, but after a while, their demure expressions added to the calming effect of the video. The dancers’ performance at the end of the video is a little flat, but I think the focus was on their abdomens, based on the prevalent flutters and undulations. I have seen these ladies dance and they are stellar performers-they just looked uninspired on the video. Maybe they were tired from doing all the ab work. But this wasn’t a performance video and the ending dance sequence does let the viewer see that the ladies have lovely figures and can execute the dance movements perfectly.

Overall, I strongly recommend the “Core Training for Belly Dancers” video. I think the audience is greater than just Middle Eastern dancers because the exercises are not specific to them. The whole effect of the video, from the filming, to the music, to the voice over, is lovely and very relaxing. There is also a little comic relief in the introduction and conclusion with Kuhr in his Pharaoh get-up. It’s not everday you see a man with eyeliner and a headdress.

This DVD is $25 and can be ordered at The Fitness Pharaoh: Certified Personal Fitness Trainer for Belly Dancers. According to the website, shipping and handling is free if ordered by the end of the year. A google search also showed that it is for sale at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more, cleoscloset.com, and www.serpentine.org.

Originally Posted by SandraDances

second part:
This DVD is $25 and can be ordered at The Fitness Pharaoh: Certified Personal Fitness Trainer for Belly Dancers. According to the website, shipping and handling is free if ordered by the end of the year. A google search also showed that it is for sale at Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more, cleoscloset.com, and www.serpentine.org.

and Ravena Designs - tee hee hee!!!

I've done a "Abs of steel" video and I get no burn and am not a bit sore the next day, even after doing the advanced segment and "extra" at the end. So I gave up on that and seached elsewhere. I found I got more from 10 minutes of Denise Austin's Personal workout for abs on her workout dvd, more out of 20 minutes of Winsor pilates, then I got from that dang "Abs of Steel" video. LOL So, if this guy can really get my abs burning, then that's a statement. I know I'll never have flat abs or a really thin mid-section due to my past weight gain and 2 kids and etc., but my core is still strong, stronger than girls who are thinner and 13 to 16 years younger than me (I kid you not). I definitely would like to be stronger and see how far I could go though. Thanks for the review on this video.

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

and Ravena Designs - tee hee hee!!!

Coming to your website to order one right now!
x

Hoorah - bought it. Good, efficient website Ravena. A pleasure doing business with you (now get it in that jiffy bag quick!!!).

xx

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

and Ravena Designs - tee hee hee!!!

sorry!
I didn't read the review again.

Thank you Freddie! You will love it ;-)