Ramadan is known to be a month full of kindness and gratitude, as well as to detox and reflect. From my experience with Muslim clients, many continue to work out throughout the Holy Month, even while they are fasting. However, everyone reacts to fasting differently, particularly the first few days or workouts. That is why it is important to take it easy, see how you feel, and not be too hard on yourself. If working out while you are...
Fasting has been around for centuries, adopted by many cultures and religions as a spiritual act designed to purify and heal the mind, body and soul. In recent times a variety of fasting diets have been touted not only as a popular mechanism for weight loss, but a route to overall better health, too. There are some key differences between fasting during Ramadan and intermittent fasting, however. Ramadan fasting periods are specified by the sun...
There is no better time to set personal fitness goals than during the Holy Month, which is all about setting aside time to reflect, rejuvenate, break old habits and start new ones. Here’s how I managed to lose weight and build muscle last Ramadan. Dedication Ramadan is the most sacred month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink, among other pleasures (particularly the guilty ones) but also...
A new fitness destination has opened in Abu Dhabi, which is combining state-of-the-art gym technology with cutting-edge treatments, environmentally friendly products, and thought-provoking workshops to deliver the ultimate wellbeing experience. The Bridge, which is situated near the capital’s National Aquarium in Al Qana, consists of seven different areas, which the location calls ‘tracks’. These tracks combine to make a holistic hub which aims to transform its members with treatments and classes that are backed by...
“Ramadan and fasting is a great time to hit the ‘reset’ button and give our bodies a fighting chance to have a stronger immune system, reduce inflammation, and introduce new eating habits”, says Amna Al Haddad. We chat with her and other fitness enthusiasts about the changes they plan to make during the holy month. Amna Al Haddad Amna Al Haddad is a weightlifting athlete. She is best known for breaking barriers as the...
Rhythmic, performance, spin cycling – Frequency, the new Saadiyat based cycling studio, has a class for everyone.
We checked out some of the most-hyped about indoor cycling classes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
So many Ramadan articles in the fitness arena focus on how to work out while fasting. But the reality for many people is that that it becomes harder and harder to get to those workouts as the Holy Month progresses. So rather than risking a slow decline in activity, why not make a resolution for daily walking? The same goes for non-fasters, who had high hopes for workouts galore during reduced office hours, but find...
Whether it’s the guilt of having missed a workout session or dragging yourself out of bed for an early morning jog even if you aren’t at all up for it, the concept that exercise can be an addiction is becoming more of a concern among fitness experts and health specialists. Without knowing the individual circumstances surrounding each person, it can be difficult to determine how much exercise is too much. The addiction specialists from the private rehab...
A year ago, it was fairly easy to count all the padel courts in the UAE. These days, it’s virtually impossible to keep up with them all. New ones are popping up across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and into the northern emirates at an incredible rate, including at hotels, sports centers and purpose-built new padel clubs. A kind of cross between tennis and squash that is easier to play (and arguably more fun), many in the...
Metabolic flexibility — a buzz phrase of late — describes the body’s ability to switch between using carbs and fat for energy, depending on availability. Improving this metabolic flexibility is being touted as the key to healthier living, through losing or maintaining weight naturally, promoting a better immune system, increasing your ability to build lean muscle, feeling more energized, feeling fuller for longer, improving performance and avoiding blood sugar spikes. So how can we improve...
