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gym

Fitness

Testing Out: Tabata at Motion Fitness

Posted on April 24, 2017

You’ve probably heard the word thrown around and if you’re like me, you’ve assumed rather incorrectly that it was a form of either yoga, meditation or some sort of martial arts. Little did I know walking into one of Motion Fitness‘s classes last week, Tabata is actually a HIIT workout.

Discovered by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata and his team from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo. It all started as a science experiment with two groups of athletes. The first group trained at a moderate intensity level, while the second group trained at a high-intensity level. The moderate intensity group worked out five days a week for a total of six weeks; each workout lasted one hour. The high-intensity group worked out four days a week for six weeks; each workout lasted four minutes and 20 seconds (with 10 seconds of rest in between each set).

The results; Group 1 had increased their aerobic system (cardiovascular), but showed little or no results for their anaerobic system (muscle). Group 2 showed much more increase in their aerobic system than Group 1, and increased their anaerobic system by 28%! So all in all, soup two faired much better out of their seemingly smaller workouts.

I can vouch for the intensity level completely, what started as a normal kettle bell class turned into a sweaty circuit course that was honestly exhausting. From burpees to lunges, squat jumps and of course weights, it kept us moving and yet also gave us a bit of a break too, so naturally, i’m now hooked!

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

⌚️ 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.

Fitness yoga

The 6 Week FlyBarre Challenge

Posted on June 10, 2015

Yoga has always been my favourite way to keep fit, whilst helping me to maintain normal stress levels in this busy city, it also has little ways of toning your body. I’ve been an avid yogalates fan in particular, from daring balances to core exercises, there’s always something to sweat about.

And then there was FlyBarre…

Opening in the Gold & Diamond Park, it was a stones throw from work, so I popped in to check it out. One class led to another and very soon was buying packages. Hooked on the sweaty muscle exhausting sessions, it quickly became my favourite after-work haunt. Especially due to their instructors – they have to be some of THE nicest, most encouraging fitness professionals i’ve come across.

FlyBarre provides a revolutionary form of body sculpting. It’s a complete mixture of exercises, taking elements from yoga to dance, pilates and of course ballet. I’ve never been a Zumba fan (i’m particularly un-coordinated when it comes to following choreographed anything), so I was worried at the beginning about the one dynamic arms track in the hour-long loop.

I was offered the opportunity to join the FlyBarre Challenge at the beginning of May – a 6 week course, where you have to complete 4 classes a week, including 3 workshops. I jumped at the chance and with Reebok kindly offering to keep me cool in their latest studio and crossfit gear, I was all set.

It’s the final week now and i’m HONESTLY signing up again next month. It’s been a great way of ensuring I get regular exercise, (I hate the gym) and also it’s kept me off the couch in the evenings! I’ve even been trying out the protein shakes, and made it to the odd early class or two. I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a social and dynamic way of toning, losing a couple of inches and building strength.

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