Thread: Power Belly?

Anyone here try Delilah's Power Belly yet? I've been trying to increase my stamina again and was wondering if you like using it during practice or if it helps with stamina, muscle building, or anything else?

Is it junk? Is it great? Is it just OK? I'd love to hear opinions!

Here's the website with the info: Visionary Belly Dance | Weight Belts

I'm also wondering if they've helped anyone lose weight by doing your regular routine. I've been trying to lose weight after a year of a horrible 50lb weight gain from a back injury.

Bump

i bought one of the belts years ago and my back hurt...i do have back issues and i'm sure that is why it didn't work for me. i would like to make something for myself that would be lighter overall to see if that helps. i do think a bit of weight around the hips can be beneficial.

I LOVE Delilah!!!!!

Hmmm... I have back issues too. Thanks for the comments!

If you want to customize the weight AND find a cheaper option...try a SCUBA shop! Divers wear weight belts to achieve the right level of buoyancy--the belt itself is just a series of zippered pockets that you put beanbag-like weights in, so the weight is totally customizable. It won't be pretty, but it will get the job done. :)

Thanks Genevieve!

I have a power belly belt I bought from a friend because she said it made her knees hurt. (She had knee issues already.) I think it really does strengthen my dancing when I use it regularly. Unfortunately, it's like any other type of exercise equipment - it only works if you use it.

So basically, my odd "home gym" consists of a power belly belt, a fit ball, hand weights, a veil, and a sword.

I was going to get a bunch of upholstery fringe for cheap and make a belt from it...it's heavy but has that nice swishy quality i love...i'll post photos when i've gotten it stitched up.

Originally Posted by Zamira

I have a power belly belt I bought from a friend because she said it made her knees hurt. (She had knee issues already.) I think it really does strengthen my dancing when I use it regularly. Unfortunately, it's like any other type of exercise equipment - it only works if you use it.

So basically, my odd "home gym" consists of a power belly belt, a fit ball, hand weights, a veil, and a sword.

Sounds like mine (sans the power belly belt and the sword)!

Maybe I'll post an ISO and see if someone else was disappointed and wants to sell one to me...

Originally Posted by lylagus

I was going to get a bunch of upholstery fringe for cheap and make a belt from it...it's heavy but has that nice swishy quality i love...i'll post photos when i've gotten it stitched up.

That's a great idea! I saw that you can customize the belt and do that when you order it, but I'm sure they charge a lot more for adding a bit of cover fabric and upholstery fringe!

Holy crap, that seems overpriced.

Originally Posted by ssipes

Holy crap, that seems overpriced.

That's what I thought!

They apparently won't make them cheaper even for wholesale, because they claim that they aren't making a profit on them at all. I think 90 bucks is quite a bit more than what they put into them... an 1/8th or maybe at most a 1/4 yd of fabric and weight bags with either iron scrap or sand in them.

That's kinda why I wanted a review... to see if it would be money well spent.

Yeah, there was something in one of her free sample power belly workouts about how that is the absolute lowest price they can sell them for and that they're hand-made by local dancers, not mass produced in China, etc. All that is probably valid.

I think it's worth it IF you're really going to practice with it on a regular basis.

She has some beautiful ones with fringe and other decorations for a lot more. Some people decorate their own. I am not that crafty, so my trick is to put on my basic black power belly belt and tie a stretchy coin wrap over it.

I had one and used it and hurt my hips, knees and lower back :-(

Originally Posted by lylagus

I was going to get a bunch of upholstery fringe for cheap and make a belt from it...it's heavy but has that nice swishy quality i love...i'll post photos when i've gotten it stitched up.

Oh please do!

The Power Belly belts have removable weights. the ones I have seen are very sturdy and well made. They are adjustable. I think if you are handy you could make this yourself with pockets for the weights. You could use ankle weights.

Originally Posted by Souzan

You could use ankle weights.

I wonder, could you just strap the ankle weights together?

I have a pair of Iron Wear ankle weights that can be strapped together for walking. Maybe they are cheaper?

We hear you concerns Ladies,

The Power Belly Weight Belt Belts™ are expensive, no doubt a hundred bucks is a big deal for most everyone I know.

Yes they are hand made in America, specifically designed for a belly dancer's training. The fabric the standard belts are made of is very expensive even at cost. Let's face it, they are heavy, shipping is a reality, if you come to Seattle we can hook you up with no shipping charge :-p

If one has back/knee/ankle/foot whatever pain they probably will make things worse. Please consult a medical expert if you have any doubt as to you physical needs/concerns. General rule is no pain means no pain :)
I don't want to go like a spam-ee commercial the product speaks for itself. Delilah made these to benefit dancers not to make a huge profit, granted she not in the money losing business either.

If you want a better price we can send 3-4 to the same address for 1 shipping charge. That saves one around $50. Call us 206.632.2353 What we sell them for retail is the absolute lowest price we can do .. hard as that may seem to believe it is true. Thank you for all that have supported Delilah and Visionary Dance we truly appreciate it!

cheers
erik
visionary dance productions
house of tarab

Dear Dancers

Delilah here.
Let me introduce myself. I am the original innovator of weight belts for belly dancers. I call them Power Belly Weight Belts. The positives you can find on my web site . Visionary Belly Dance | Discover the Art of Bellydancing | Seattle, WA USA

This post is about negative concerns voiced online from time to time.
It's long so there will be 4 separate post. This is 1 of 4 posts.

Me first:
I personally leaned to belly dance with them, so thats 40 years of use. The weight belt helped me learn faster and be more solidly balanced from the beginning. I was dancing professionally in 1 years time. I was winning contests and for the first time in my life I could eat anything I wanted. This was because I was really dancing at top cardiovascular potential on stage and off.
The weight belt was my little secret. Or should I say my heavy duty secret.
I shared my secret with my students in my classes all along but belts were hard to find and niavely they didn’t really understand what a difference they could make until they start working out with them. Thus, not many of my students pursued working with the weight belt until in the late 90’s when I started offering them for sale. Making it easy to give them a try. Dancers all over the world started using them and seeing results..

It’s 2012:[/B]
Women of all ages have been using them for over a decade. We have learned a lot about their benefits and abuses. The benefits are massive; bone density, weight loss, core strength, cardio fitness. . .
As fore mentioned see my web site .
see post #2 for negative concerns

Love your body!
Delilah
206-632-2353

Post #2 of 4

ABOUT THE NEGATIVE CONCERNS OF BELLY DANCE AND WEIGHT BELTS;
Dancers worry; “Won’t it be too hard on my knees, hips and back?”
Many things are hard on knees and backs. We stand on cement all day, We sit at computers for too many hours. Reminder: Not using our knees, backs and hips is devastating. There are many mindful isometric and weight use therapies for strengthening.

#1. Beware; the weight belt is not that heavy, but keep in mind the idea is not; more weight is better. Only one pound weights evenly distributed. A large is 12 pound, a medium is 10 pounds. They are worn close to the core on hips where women are the most powerful. Think interval use, rather than adding weight.

#2. DO Not Over Use; The idea is not to use it 24/7. The purpose is to challenge your muscles and core body balance Actually, if you over use it, it will cease to be a physical challenge for you. Your mind/body will begin to incorporate it into your bodies accepted idea of your daily weight. They may be used in conjunction with other activities like Zumba, Nia, walking, climbing . . . . Even sitting.
The goal is to use it as a physical challenge during a work out ( I recommend 2-3 times a week) or to help your muscle memory retain the concepts when learning a new move during a training class or workshop. They help with memorizing choreographies too.. Our muscles don’t really have memory. What happens is we created neural pathways in the brain that incorporate a new pattern of movement into our acceptance of learned techniques.
See Post 3 of 4 of more negative concerns . . .

Love your Body!
Delilah 206 632-2353

Post 3 of 4.

Concerns about Belly Dancing with Weight Belts;


#3.Osteoporosis:
This is something we all need to be aware of early in life. Women who are loosing their balance may already have begun to have the on set of osteoporosis or osteopenia. This is a serious condition that can be caused by lack of calcium, vitamin D low estrogen, use of medications and lack of exercise. Bones become very brittle. Ironically it’s weights that keep your bones healthy so it means you needed a weight belt yesterday! They did studies on exercise and hip replacements and found Tai Chi helps bone density in hips. This is because of the swaying action out to the sides of hips increasing weight and resistance that triggers bone manufacturing. So we can feel confident that belly dance is good for our hips. It's not rocket science to see that if you are healthy adding a little weight can't be bad. Just don't over do it. All things in moderation is a good way to live.
I’m 57 and use the weight belt 2-3 times a week. I dance circles around the younger gals. I have a healthy knees, back, neck, hips. Actually better than in my teens and early 20’s which I was plagued with neck and lower back problems before I started using the weight belt. (I better knock on wood)
#4. Be Aware of Your Personal Situations: You are ultimately responsible for your own body. If you have a knee, or back problem consult a doctor ( or two) about your situation. However, know that often weight use are recommended as therapy. Resistance through the use of weights builds bone. Thats how human kind has evolved the skeletal system we have today. We use our internal energy to resist the constant draw of gravity. This causes a current in the body to trigger bone building. All professional calibre dancers have mastered the lift from within. The weight belts can be a tool for discovering this internal lift . Often non dancers or a person who hasn’t been physically active for years may have a hard time finding their internal lift. The importance of good bone health included a good diet with plenty of calcium (unfortunately ballet dancers and models often miss this important point). It should start early; in teens and 20’s but the answer for older women is not to stop moving or using your body. No no no! The goal will always be to make the muscles, ligaments and core body stronger for stability and support.

More on concerns see post 4. . .
Delilah
206 632-2353
3 of 4 posts.

Post #4 of 4. Concerns about Weight Belts for belly dancers.

#4. WARNING:
I have been teaching for over 30 years. I had to re learn belly dance in my early 20’s because at first I was not using the basic alignment principals in a healthy way. This dilemma made me a good teacher however. I really feel I understand the body dynamics. I find dancers in workshops who have been dancing for years that do not understand basic alignment. Their teachers didn’t know or didn’t correct them. Happily I have been able to help them. The lack of understanding and applying a solid home base for your body can lead to stress and strain on lower back, knees and neck. If someone thinks the weight belt is harming them, they should double check their basic alignment. Just as new techniques are learned faster bad form can get ingrained as well. Study with a qualified instructor.

#5 THE COST:
Let me just say. They are a pain in the ass to lug around as a business owner. Can you imagine 10 of them can weight 200 pounds. They are made in the USA not in China. I have to have an assistant. When vending festivals they have to be shipped or driven. There are many hidden costs. Thus we don't do a lot of vending. We sell them on line.
Support the arts; We are a very good company to buy from and support. My company “Visionary Dance Productions” has been in business since 1985. I have devoted my life to belly dance and the personal benefits it brings to women body, mind and soul. Anyone who buys a belt can call me up and personally get coaching on their use and applications. I love to be of service. You can make your own belt if you want, but mine are really efficient, pretty and already made. They fit well and are made with special materials that make them easy to use.

Enjoy your body!
May you maintain healthy bones for the rest of your life!
Yours in Dance
Delilah 206 632-2353