You don’t need any equipment to work out at home, just a TV, computer or phone, decent wifi and some motivation. Roll out of bed and on to your fitness mat for these super home workouts that you can access anywhere. And if you’re a member of a UAE gym and missing your classes, many fitness centres are posting workouts online – click here for a full list. Looking for something more gentle? We’ve rounded up the best mindfulness and meditation apps right here.
7 Minute Workout
It’s… well… fairly self-explanatory really, isn’t it? This tidy app houses more than 200 different at-home, bodyweight workouts that will help you diversify your exercise regime to achieve your goals. Want to burn fat and work on your core? There’s a plan for that. What about if you need to work out late at night, and don’t want to wake the neighbours? There are also some silent-mode workouts that will make sure you keep it super quiet in the unsociable hours. Upgrade your workout with a subscription option, but the free option isn’t half bad.
Available on the App Store and Google App Store.
FITLOV
This home-grown app helps connect people who want at-home personal training, with personal trainers who will train clients in their own house. There are hundreds of trainers to choose from across the UAE, private PT sessions start from Dhs190, and trainers thoroughly clean and disinfect all of their equipment before and after every session.
Visit fitlov.com for more information.
Kayla Itsines
The founder of BBG (Bikini Body Guide) Itsines is famous worldwide. In 2015 she became the first personal trainer to train more than 30,000 women in person, while Kayla and the BBG community broke five Guinness World Records in Australia in 2016. She has a massive fan base and posts a range of workouts for whatever you’re looking for. Itsines visited Dubai in December, here’s what she had to say to Time Out.
www.kaylaitsines.com, www.youtube.com/user/kaylaitsines
Les Mills On Demand
The global fitness brand that delivers coaching, training, equipment and programmes to gyms around the world is helping people stuck at home by making some of its on-demand content completely free of charge. Content will be passed through to its partner gyms and trainers to pass on to customers for free, but you can also get a free trial of its On Demand platform to watch a tonne of workout videos tailored for athletes of various abilities. There’s no commitment to a long-term contract and you can cancel at any time.
Visit watch.lesmillsondemand.com/free-content for more information.
Nike Running Club
A classic app for those who are looking to keep running and feeling the cardio gains, while getting some fresh air. Slap on your trainers, download the app from the App Store or Google App Store, and start tracking your runs. You’ll get GPS-based location data on how your run unfolded, where you were fastest, where you could improve, your average speeds and how you compare against your mates, if you’re the competitive type. You’ll also get achievements as you log runs so you get that warm, fuzzy feeling for keeping fit.
Available on the App Store and Google App Store.
Pamela Reif
With easy-to-follow workouts, clear instructions, advice on technique and helpful audio and visual prompts and timers, these workouts are sure to get the blood pumping on this fitness YouTube channel.
Head to Youtube.com/PamelaRf1
SELF
Healthy eating tips, sweat-inducing workouts, challenges, body positivity, mental health awareness and a healthy bit of irreverence too, Self is exactly what the name suggests, and it’s brilliant.
Head to Youtube.com/selfmagazine
Strong Lifts 5×5
Budding weightlifter? If you have access to a private gym or a set of weights at home, this weight-lifting app has got a range of programmes to not only help you develop your lifting technique and skills, but it’s also got a range of goals for you to aim for. Targets for strength, muscle gain and more in three 45-minute workouts every week.
Available on the App Store and Google App Store.
The Body Coach
Having been in Dubai at the end of last year, Joe Wicks (AKA The Body Coach) has a library of quick workouts you can do at home. Five-minute workouts, home fat-burning sessions, seven-day challenges, the works. Just don’t forget to hit stop, otherwise you’ll be working out on autoplay, and nobody has the energy for that.
Head to Youtube.com/thebodycoachtv
For more sport and wellbeing in Dubai click here. For Abu Dhabi, click here, and for Sharjah, click here.
