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Dubai

Fitness

Testing Out: Hapi Power Yoga

Posted on April 4, 2017

A cool new hotspot has opened up in Al Serkal (where else) that incorporates two of my favourite things… food and yoga. Hapi is Dubai’s newest power-hangout that houses a mixture of smaller brands, designed to keep you sticking around for longer. With Parkour and a funky new restaurant hosted by local chef, Paul Frangie, to Urban Yoga‘s zen escape upstairs, there’s something for almost every industrial creative in the area.

Not an exaggeration either… though many consider it to be “gym yoga,” Power Yoga is a fitness-based vinyasa practice. An offshoot of Ashtanga Yoga, it has many of the same qualities and benefits, including building internal heat, increased stamina, strength and flexibility, as well as stress reduction.

Whilst all the postures move at a comfortable speed, there’s always room for improvement… with a variety of yogi levels in the class, we’re given options as to our flexibility, confidence and personal practices. Pushing yourself in yoga isn’t about how deep you can lunge, or how far you can bend backwards, it’s about being able to breathe in the postures, not holding your breathe and hoping for the best.

Fitness

Testing Out: Barry’s Bootcamp

Posted on March 24, 2017

Hailed as ‘the best bootcamp in the world’ (self-proclaimed of course) it’s going to raise some eyebrows. I’d personally not heard of the HIIT phenom that’s a London institution before it came to Dubai, but i was eager to check it out. Barry’s is a fusion class that combines a signature style of cardio which is all treadmill based and strength workouts which are floor based. It’s said to help burn up to 1,000 calories in just one hour, although you’ll have to work extra hard to accomplish that.

Barry’s is a great way to de-stress, burn off your lunch and generally get the heart pumping, with loud music, enthusiastic instructors and of course, plenty of muscle bound inspiration in the room too. I work out much better when i’m positioned in between other enthusiasts due to my slightly competitive nature ;).

The lights go out and a single instructor will guide a room of up to approx 50 gym-goers on two separate workouts, with half the room on the floor for 15 mins and the other half on the treadmill, swapping to ensure you’re keeping your heart rate up all the way through the class. It can get loud in there, but I found that the ear plugs at the door helped block out any distractions and allowed me to concentrate on my own workout better.

Barry’s pushed me but without me hating it half way through… granted I could have pushed a little bit harder on the treadmill (i’m not a runner), it was a happy sweat and a pat on the back rather than a shoulder strain and physical exhaustion that other bootcamps have had… the protein shake waiting for me on exit helped too!

Fitness

Testing Out: Aqua Biking

Posted on February 24, 2017

Ok so I have to admit, I thought this was going to be a bit like aqua-aerobics, you know, where your gran would go to the local community pool for a ‘workout’… I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is L’Atelier Aqua Biking a resistance training class, it’s also a great way to workout if you’ve got an injury. There’s 4 positions on the bike to master, as well as an off-bike section thrown in to keep you moving.

What exactly is it? Described as a mix of circuits and spinning, L’Atelier has specially designed bikes that live in the water itself. It’s not going to be an easy swim where you can keep your hair dry too, the water goes up to your chest and you get 45 mins of legs, arms and core all underwater, with LOTS of splashing about. Feeling strong? Added weights at the side will help increase the resistance, but trust me, as a first timer, it wasn’t a walk in the park.

Not only is it a fun way to workout, it’s an effective form of hydromassage, that is said to help flatten out cellulite. You’ll get less water retention with this workout and thanks to the water’s buoyancy, you’ll be supported by 50% of your body weight, so if you’re injured or over-stretched, this will reduce the risk of further injury.

It’s cold when you first get in… but after the warm up, you’ll be glad your body temperature is controlled by some cooler water. If you’re feeling particularly fit, try the more intense training or HIIT classes too where you’ll be subjected to an underwater trampoline exercise!

fashion Fitness

New Year, New Workout Gear

Posted on January 5, 2017

Ever feel like your workout wardrobe is better than your evening one? I certainly do… but that means it’s time for it to get a bit of a karmic cleanse too (I mean who wears neon to the gym anymore!?). I always wear my newest gym gear, because like everything, when it’s new, I feel confident in it. Admittedly there’s a few colour heavy/trendy pieces mixed in with the more classic black leggings, but all in all, I can honestly say I’d be happy to downward dog in just about everything in there.

Even though it’s my current favourite gym wear, it’s worth recycling the pile every so often. If you can’t work out what to throw out, turn the pile upside down and see if you go for those forgotten leggings next time you book a class or if you pull from within the pile itself!

For me though, a workout isn’t just in the gym! My swimwear also gets a refresh every January – to whittle out those few favoured bikinis that are turning a little see-through…

Check out my fave new pieces you can buy online in the U.A.E!
THE UPSIDE paddle suit from Sun & Sand Sports

DHARMA BUMS leggings from yApparel

BODY LANGUAGE capri leggings and crop top from Sun & Sand Sports

Recommended

Feeding Your Face with Elemis Superfood

Posted on November 17, 2016

If your diet includes less kale and more Krispy Kreme you’ll be very aware of the fact that when it comes to skin health, you are what you eat. Diet choices are directly linked to breakouts, dark circles and fine lines, so what’s a girl to do when she doesn’t want to sacrifice her burger habit for the sake of her beauty regime? Enter, the Elemis Superfood Range. With a line-up of ingredients that would have even the most obsessive clean-eating advocates standing to attention, this new launch from the spa-centric brand focuses on nourishing your face with the perfect balance of radiance-promoting superfoods.

Containing (deep breath) broccoli, poppy, cucumber, macadamia, rice bran, daikon radish, roseship, flax and meadowfoam seed oils (phew!), the cleansing wash and luxury oil contain every nutritional essential you need to fake your way to good genes. Flooding your complexion with omega rich extracts not only has an instant effect, giving your skin a fresh glow after the first application, but, applied twice daily, is clinically proven to reboot the texture of your epidermis and balance the pH level, leaving you with a fresh, glow-from-within radiance that will have everyone convinced you’ve never skipped your greens.

The Power of 9:

Broccoli Seed Oil
Poppy Seed Oil
Cucumber Seed Oil
Macadamia Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Daikon Radish Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Flax Seed Oil
Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Superfood facial oil: Dhs378 Available across a range of spas in the GCC.

Fitness Recommended

Want To Wake Surf In Dubai?

Posted on November 13, 2016

I’ve developed a very addictive (expensive) little surf hobby that’s been helping to keep me cool all summer. Wake surfing is Dubai’s latest water-sport to get passionate about. It’s a mixture of balance, confidence and co-ordination, but paired with a beautiful sunset and Dubai’s much cooler weather now, it really doesn’t matter how many times you fall off.

It’s not to be confused with wake-boarding, where your feet are strapped into a board and are pulled behind the boat on a rope, it’s essentially a mini-surf board (like a skim board) that you ride on the wake of a boat, only using the rope to pull you up into standing position, very close to the back of the boat itself. Each hour is roughly between 400-550aed depending on where you go and what day of the week it is. 1 hour is great for two people, but 3-4 people all wanting a go – plan for 2!

There’s lots of people around who are keen to give it a go, as it’s a lot less dangerous than wake boarding… the boat is going a lot slower for one thing and your feet aren’t strapped to a board so when you do fall in, you can land as naturally as possible. So here’s a round up of my TOP 3 wake-surf boats about town.

1) Xtreme Wake
Setting off from just outside Spinney’s in the Marina, they have two boats available – one is better for wake surfing than the other one so be specific when you book. They specialise in more intermediate skim boards, with a brand new one available now too, that’s lighter and great for playing around on the wave with. They also have a boat that runs in Ghantoot and a gorgeous seaside taverna called La Cala that just opened up too, so you can now wine & wake (although I wouldn’t recommend that at the same time!)

2) Sea Riders
Boasting two bright red boats based just opposite Bistro Des Arts at Marina Mall, Sea Riders have a great team behind them, the guys are very hands-on and beginner friendly. They came highly recommended and did not disappoint, great for group bookings too. They are also the first to foray into the famous Dubai Creek, so if you’re after a bit more of a scenic background, they’ve got you covered.

3) Fahrenheit Beach-sports
A brand new hotspot on the beach down by the flag, they have a great new boat, with a beautiful long wave either side and zero traffic on the water, so you’re less likely to get knocked off your game with other waves around. The boards are a little more buoyant than i’m used too, but it meant for a bit more playing around on the wave. With a cool set up down at the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, they have valet too and a bar, so get settled in for a sunset ride and a few cocktails afterwards too.

All in all, getting in some vitamin sea with wake surfing is an awesome way to wake up and start your day, so book an early morning session wherever you choose for the best water conditions and least traffic!

Hotspot Recommended

A Seafood ‘Shellebration’ at Pier Chic!

Posted on August 18, 2016

Pier Chic is one of my favourite seafood restaurants in Dubai. It really is the epitome of fine-dining with its beautiful location out on the water at the end of the Al Qasr jetty. This (so special it should be saved for anniversaries only) hotspot is becoming more and more open and accessible too, with a whole host of delicious dining influences popping up. I jumped at the chance to check out their new six week seafood programme aptly named a ‘shellebration’ of the sea!

Chef Paul Lupton is the man behind this summer-curated concept, which is available from the 22nd of July –> the 4th of September. It boasts a weekly change in Pier Chic’s food focus, where you can expect to be taken on a journey through European coastal regions, enjoying all the fruit de la mar you could ever want. There’s a piece of the sea for everyone, with culinary themes such as; Marseilles Seafood Market, Valencian Seafood Paella and the Feast of St Antony, it’s a slice of (real) summertime.

There’s nothing I love more than a good fish & chips, so I was not going to miss sampling Pier Chic’s take on this British staple… and let me tell you – it was DELICIOUS! I may be biased because I love the venue, but honestly, that was the most chic fish & chips I’ve ever tried! Don’t let my snapchat fool you – I couldn’t put my fork down long enough to do it justice photographically.

Check out the schedule here:
Week 1: Marseilles Seafood Market
Week 2: Valencian Seafood Paella
Week 3: Feast of St Antony, Portugal’s Sardine Festival
Week 4: Posh Fish & Chic
Week 5: Amalfi Coast
Week 6: Galician Octopus Fiesta

fashion Recommended

BaemBu: The Dubai Based Eco-Brand

Posted on July 21, 2016

It’s said that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the next best time is today. The Earth is in need of our help and there’s no better time to really be living authentic and organic!

Fashion is an industry that’s producing TONNES of waste, besides that you should also be conscious about where your clothes come from, who made them and what material they are being made with! (After all, you don’t really want your clothes to live longer than you do).

The key to being a conscious consumer is to look for that guarantee. One of my close friends started her ethical journey a couple of years ago now and is helping to persuade the region into adopting a more sustainable style. Did you know that 80% of the environmental impact of clothing occurs post-purchase, so it’s a great reminder to cool wash our clothes and hang dry!

BaemBu is her collection of unique blended T shirts and hoodies, comprising of 70% bamboo viscose & 30% organic cotton. Completely organically grown, sourced and made under fair trade regulations, Aimee Changco and her partner Matthew King ensure that even the printing on them uses organic water based ink.

Having received accreditations that include ‘Fair Wear Foundation’, ‘Soil Association’ and ‘Confidence In Textiles’, we can be sure that BaemBu is nothing but eco-friendly. They have some amazing natural properties too, such as being; hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, UV protection, moisture wicking as well as insulating, so you can literally take them everywhere!

You can get your BaemBu T’s here or spot Aimee and Matt around the UAE from Cocktail Kitchen to Market OTB, The Change Initiative and in a variety of cool pop-ups across the city. Not only do they help promote a more sustainably sourced future for Dubai’s fashion landscape, they also run the ‘Shoebox Love’ campaign during Ramadan so make sure you follow them for more ethical initiatives coming up!

Fitness Recommended

Core Pilates Review

Posted on June 22, 2016

It was my first time trying Real Pilates and it’s a full class…

The instructor joins and starts us off with some fairly easy, low level warm up stretches. So far so good. I’m quite competitive so I’m automatically looking for someone in the room to vibe off, someone who’s going to make me push myself harder. The instructor was great, not what I expected I have to admit (I’m used to young lululemon branded ladies whose abs are my fitspo goals), but don’t worry about not feeling ‘worked out’ he was incredibly welcoming and very attentive to posture (which is what I need).

The core pilates session was a complete mix of nationality and age (all women in my class), so I didn’t really expect to be the first to struggle… he made everything look so easy!
Although the work out is slow in pace and simple in understanding, the difference in posture, alignment and pulse made me sweat. From the spiderman – esque plank formation (which I collapsed in even though my normal planks are strong), to the squat workout that still stings now… it was a great class.

I’ve realised (with the full range of aching muscles) that there’s no benefit to doing just one workout over and over, you need to change it up constantly to work all the muscles… Here’s to the next challenge 🙂

Fitness

⌚️ Dare to BARE: Tag Heuer Black Workout ⌚️

Posted on June 7, 2016

I wouldn’t consider myself weak. I mean I work out 3-4 times a week, wake surf every weekend and cycle around the autodrome occasionally too. So when Tag Heuer contacted us to see if we wanted to take their ‘Black Workout,’ I was excited to say the least.

Never before have I been so out of my depth.

#DontCrackUnderPressure is their mantra and Oh My GOD they put you to the test. My physical pain-preferences are Flybarre, yoga and anything aquatic that help keep me in shape. And let me tell you, Flybarre isn’t ballet, nor is it a walk in the park… you will exhaust each muscle group slowly, painfully and until you can’t pulse any longer. But this was a whole new world!

My body definitely isn’t used to cardio based workouts, I’m slowly getting dragged into that world but I’m looking for an easy way in and there just isn’t one…

Right, so the Black workout at BARE gym, a self-professed ‘non-gym’ in Business Bay – looks innocent enough. It’s got cool black floors, a TRX jungle gym outside and a fairly empty room with a stage in the front, and a Tag Heuer clock handsomely projected to the right of it on the wall. We were warned that their social workout has a warm up that involves actually leaving the gym (it’s midday by this time FYI), so after a quick lap (!) we came back in to get set up for their 1000 calorie cross-training workout.

From caterpillars, to upside down bugs, creepy crawlies (not sure why it’s all creature related) and of course the dreaded burpee, the next 40 minutes near enough wiped me out.

“Blissful endorphin high” it is not. It’s hot, sweaty and will push you past your limit… which is a stretch. But if it’s an ass-kicking you want… this is it.

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