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First fitness DVD aimed at Muslim women

You won’t find any butt-skimming shorts or crop tops here. Personal trainer Nadine Abu Jubara is set to give the fitness DVD genre a more modest makeover, announcing her plans to release a home exercise video later this month that caters to Muslim women.

The US-based instructor, who produced the video, says that the star of the video wears a hijab and exposes only her face and hands. She also utters an Islamic phrase at the beginning of the workout meaning “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful”.

“From an Islamic standpoint we have different rules and regulations about what you can and can't see,” Nadine told reporters. “We wanted her [the instructor] to be covered but we wanted to show she had a six-pack and guns. You can tell she's an expert in her field. That's what we want people to strive to emulate.”

“We're trying to say it's not about how you look, it's about how you feel and why you're doing it,” she elaborates.

Nadine decided to create the DVD after losing weight and discovering that there were few resources to help her. “Our cultures revolve around food and there's no help for anyone trying to better their lifestyle. I'm of Palestinian Arab descent and we love our couscous and biryani.”

Nadine, who is producing the videos, says all women are welcome to use the DVD.

“We're not saying we're inferior or superior [because of hijab]. It's all about the inner.”

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