Abu Dhabi is a great place to live and if you’re one of the lucky residents here you’ll know just how much this city has to offer. You’ll also know how the high temperatures can curtail some of your usual healthy routine. Fear not though, we’ve come up with a fitness plan that will keep you slim and trim while beating the summer heat.
Boot camps
Original Fitness Company
Through a combination of cardiovascular, flexibility, resistance and agility exercises this boot camp will seriously test even the fittest of you. More along the lines of a traditional military and alternative fitness-style workout, expect a lot of sit-ups, push-ups and squats as well as various group challenges in a friendly environment. All trainers are fully qualified and experienced fitness professionals. It’s a tough mental workout too, so you’ll be healthier in body and mind.
www.originalfitness.com (02 406 9404).
Premium Fitness
Organised and lead by Australian aerobic and body building expert Wolfgang Tresize these classes run in a couple of different areas of the city, including Al Reef. There are two different sets of sessions that run on alternate nights (see the website for details) with a focus on technique, weight loss and sculpting the body. Wolfgang also runs some classes that are primarily aimed at ladies.
www.premiumfitnessuae.com (050 329 3703).
Haddins Primal Boot Camp
A circuit training routine that takes place at Yas Marina Circuit and is all based around ‘functional movements’. Basically this means there’ll be a lot of picking things up, carrying them, dragging, pushing, pulling, climbing, jumping and throwing, so come prepared to work hard with the aim being to get you in serious physical shape. It’s also unisex and open to anybody over the age of 12, so the whole family can get involved.
www.haddins.com (02 403 4233).
Ultimate Fitness Services
Taking place at Khalifa Park between 7pm and 8pm (there are no morning sessions) this boot camp runs every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. The UFS boot camp is another tough one but if you want to get
in shape for summer you’re going to have put some serious hard graft in.
www.ufs.ae (04 222 2059).
Martial arts classes
Abu Dhabi Combat Club
The Combat Club and the competition ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships were the idea and creation of Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The goal is to generally promote a healthy lifestyle by educating members in nutrition and to train people in all aspects of self defense. At ADCC you’ll find world class instructors teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, judo and wrestling among other disciplines. It is a fantastic way to stay fit and healthy.
www.adcombat.com (02 443 0022).
Muay Thai & Capoeira Sports Club
Although the sport of MMA is not everybody’s cup of tea it is widely accepted that the training is some of the toughest around. So if you want to get your body really cut you can do a lot worse than head here and take part in some of the routines. Muay Thai is the traditional form of Thai boxing while capoeira is the rather hypnotic Brazilian mish-mash of martial arts and dancing.
www.abudhabimuaythai.com (02 676 9658).
Fitness classes
Yoga
A long-time favourite of everyone from footballers to Hollywood megastars, yoga is still a firm favourite with the city’s fitness freaks. If you don’t fancy building up a sweat lifting weights, running or sitting on a bike that doesn’t actually go anywhere then this could well be the answer. Aside from anything else, an intense yoga workout has a reputation for being one of the most fulfilling ways of staying in shape. It’s all about movement and breathing techniques.
www.bodytreestudio.com (02 443 4448).
Various
At Fit Studio in Al Mamoura you can choose from a wide range of fitness classes that keep your heart pumping. From high quality ladies only and mixed group exercise classes such as RPM, Bodypump, TRX, pilates, yoga, through to the likes of Bodyattack, Bodycombat and Bodystep in a boutique studio setting. Classes are Dhs50 each.
www.fitstudio.ae (02 445 3395).
Fit4Two
For all those mums-to-be who want to stay in shape Fit4Two offer the perfect solution. A range of classes are available that can help with everything from improving posture to building stamina.
www.fit4two.ca (050 123 9256).
At-a-glance gym guide
The Armed Forces Officers’ Club & Hotel
Rates: Dhs6,000 annual membership for men or women; includes access to the swimming pool.
Opening hours: 10am-1am.
Khaleej al Arabi street (02 4415 900).
Bodylines at Beach Rotana
Rates: Annual membership costs Dhs12,000 for men and Dhs8,400 for women, plus a Dhs950 joining fee.
Opening hours: 6am-11pm.
Tourist Club Area (02 697 9000).
Bodylines at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana
Rates: Off-peak (silver) annual membership costs Dhs5,500 for women and Dhs7,500 for men.
Opening hours: 6am-10pm.
Corniche Road West (02 657 0000).
Lifeline Gym
Rates: Dhs4,400 for single annual membership.
Opening hours: 7.30am-4pm women-only, 4pm-midnight men-only.
Middle East Specialised Medical Centre Clinic Building, Muroor Road (02 445 9542).
Hiltonia Health Club
Rates: An annual Dhs11,000 for men, Dhs7,700 for women.
Opening hours: 6am-11pm.
Opposite Hilton Abu Dhabi (02 681 1900).
Rock Gym
Rates: Annual membership costs Dhs2,500 for men, Dhs3,800 for women.
Opening hours: 9am-12pm.
Corner of Hamdan and Najda Street (02 677 1010).
World Gym
Rates: Dhs3,950 includes sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room and discounts for fitness classes.
Opening hours: 6am-midnight.
Khalidiyah Road (02 667 5779).
Cristal Salam Figure 8 Health Club
Rates: Single membership Dhs4,500 annual or Dhs650 monthly (includes use of sauna, steam room, etc) – it’s also well worth looking into their off-peak membership rates too.
Opening hours: 6am-11pm.
Salaam Street (02 659 7741).
Personal trainers
One of the biggest problems most people face when trying to keep themselves fit and healthy is finding the motivation. One solution to this problem is to hire a personal trainer. We spoke to Florin Prioteasa, one of the personal trainers at the Hiltonia Beach Club, who pinpointed five of the main reasons people struggle so much and what a personal trainer can do to help.
Problem: You’re not seeing results.
Solution: A personal trainer can look at your current programme and eating habits and help you see where you could make changes to create more effective workouts.
Problem: Where to start?
Solution: A personal trainer can help you maximise your time while keeping you within your own limits so you don’t overdo it. A trainer can also help you set goals and a specific schedule so you know when, how and where you’ll fit in your workouts.
Problem: You’re bored.
Solution: A trainer can bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to challenge both your body and your mind. A trainer can also introduce new ways to exercise, different methods of strength training and different types of equipment you’ve never tried before.
Problem: You need a challenge.
Solution: A trainer can motivate you to push past those self-imposed limits, encouraging you to lift heavier, go longer and challenge yourself more than you would on your own. You’ll find it’s very hard to slack off with someone standing over you, telling you to do just… one… more… rep!
Problem: You want to learn how to exercise on your own.
Solution: Hiring a trainer for a few sessions can be of great benefit for learning the right way to exercise. This is especially true if you want to learn more about the muscles in your body, the exercises that target those muscles and how to do those exercises with great form.
Hiltonia Health Club (02 692 4324).
