Carlos Mendez Esquivel understands what it is to be a yoga skeptic. When his brother came back from college at age 18 expounding the virtues of the practice, he laughed off it off as just a way to meet girls. Fast forward two decades and Mendez is very much a convert. After going through a period of significant stress and anxiety in his life, his doctor in Mexico recommended he try yoga. That was 11...
The recent Dubai Ride provided a special moment for cycling in the UAE, as Sheikh Zayed Road was closed down for several hours to host those on two wheels. With more than 20,000 participants, it was the latest example of a sport that is booming in the country. Omar Nour knows that better than most. His always-beaming figure has become a familiar fixture at triathlon and cycling events in the UAE. The former professional triathlete...
For most people the Dubai Fitness Challenge has meant making simple changes to their daily exercise routine, maybe by upping their daily step count or working out for a little longer. But for Ghani Souleymane, it has been a little more gruelling. Since the DFC began on October 30, Souleymane has run 45km every day. Note that: Every. Day. After being inspired by the 2018 exploits of Marcus Smith, who ran a marathon a day...
The head of a Dubai hospital urology department says that while openness is increasing among men when it comes to cancer conversations, there still exists a reluctance among many to broach the subject of their health — either with friends or doctors. “Movember is a great opportunity for people to talk about men’s cancer, which is too often overlooked,” says Dr Hosam Al-Qudah, head of urology at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai. “Breast cancer awareness gets...
Every October the UAE, like many countries in the world, turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). From a blush pink Burj Khalifa to rose-tinted burger buns, approaches to BCAM have become increasingly creative. But just how authentic are the intentions of those companies running breast cancer awareness campaigns? For more than 30 years, BCAM has been dedicated to turning the spotlight on breast cancer and there has been much to celebrate in that...
It has been a rollercoaster year for Dubai-based explorer Max Calderan. In February, he became the first person to cross Saudi Arabia’s fabled ‘Empty Quarter’ on foot. In March, Calderan was joining the world in Covid-19 lockdown. After the freedom of the vast desert, he admits lockdown felt “like a prison sentence.” His Empty Quarter expedition was a rare journey of genuine exploration in today’s eminently more accessible, globalized world. Over 16 days, the Italian trekked...
From Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi to Al Mamzar in Dubai and Khor Fakkan in Sharjah, the UAE is blessed with an abundance of beautiful beaches. Visits to the seaside have become a weekend ritual for many residents looking to top up their Vitamin D and relax to the sound of waves lapping at their feet. Covid-19 took that away for much longer than anyone would have liked. Positive associations between exercise and mental health are...
Home confinement forced on us by the outbreak of Covid-19 has left the fitness industry in the UAE and the world over in a state of flux. Trainers and facilities have been responding by offering at-home workouts over social media and on new or existing platforms. The current situation, with most people staying in their homes, has required innovation and creativity in order to help people maintain their fitness, and businesses stay afloat. Digital delivery...
The relationship between prisoners and sport has featured prominently in popular culture, notably in movies such as Adam Sandler’s The Longest Yard and Denzel Washington’s He Got Game. In Dubai last month, life imitated art as the Dubai Police announced its intention to roll out improved sports facilities across the emirate’s police stations and prisons. Launched in conjunction with Dubai Sports Council, the initiative follows a successful six-month pilot scheme by Brigadier Yousef Al Adidi,...
UAE sporting events and gatherings are being cancelled in the wake of the global outbreak of coronavirus, with organisers, participants and spectators left counting the cost. The UAE Tour cycling race, the ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi and Al Ain Yogafest are among the events which have been called off over the past week as UAE authorities endeavor to keep the coronavirus (also known as Covid-19) at bay. The first major event to be cancelled was...
In July, long-time Dubai resident Nick Watson will take on the Challenge Roth Ironman in Germany. Any Ironman race is gruelling but for the 50-year-old, extra exertion is required because he will be swimming, cycling and running around the triathlon course with his 16-year-old son, Rio. Nick and Rio – known collectively as Team Angel Wolf – have become familiar faces on the UAE triathlon circuit in recent years, having competed together in more than...