Bellydance

Uplifting, confidence-boosting and exhilarating, bellydancing is an exercise that is reported to not only tone and sculpt the body, but also to improve coordination and stimulate circulation. The no-impact exercise can be practiced barefoot in one's own home to the sounds of traditional Moroccan drums, heavy metal or the Beatles. Although this beginner's guide may work best when used in conjunction with a video or DVD, it's nonetheless a helpful and inspiring primer. Dolphina, a professional bellydancer with a studio in Los Angeles, lays out a brief history of bellydancing-she says it's ""perhaps the oldest form of dance"" with roots that go back to ancient Indian and Middle Eastern cultures-and then gets into the details. She covers three levels of bellydancing, and for each level she explains basic movements (snake arms, chest lift and drop, hip sway, etc.) and then instructs readers on how to incorporate these moves into a dance routine. Happily, most of the models in the book don't have abs of steel, and Dolphina's tone throughout is empowering and easygoing.