Six weeks into lockdown – or thereabouts, because we have mostly lost count – and any novelty we felt at the beginning has well and truly worn off. We have watched all the good shows on Netflix, done the jigsaw puzzles, played the board games. Irritability levels are high and energy is low.
And to top it all, it’s Ramadan, although it’s unlike any Ramadan anyone can ever remember.
Time to reboot and refresh with Escape & Evolve, a virtual wellness session.
The two-hour webinar is a stripped down version of a full-day event that was to be held at Abu Dhabi Edition in March, but was cancelled due to Covid-19. It will be streamed this weekend via Zoom, on Saturday, May 9, with the same aim: to help participants feel regenerated in mind, body and spirit with guidance from expert coaches.
“There’s a definite sense after all this time in self-isolation that the general mood is changing,” said Faisal Assam, managing partner of Evolve Sports Solutions, a company that develops ways for brands to expand their market presence. “The work we usually do is on hold so we wanted to do something to promote a positive mindset.
“Everyone seems to be feeling a bit restless. People need to be both lifted up and calmed down.”
The session will be divided into three sections. After an introduction by Assam, the first 30 minutes will focus on mindfulness, encompassing meditation and positive reinforcement, led by Shereen Halbawi, co-founder of Spiritual Souffle. The company, which is based in Dubai, offers courses in how to avoid stress and burnout and maintain wellness.
Next is a 45-minute mobility workout, led by Tamara Khoury of Bespoke Ride, the Dubai-based endurance and functional fitness company.
“As we’re in Ramadan, there won’t be anything too strenuous. This will focus on correcting posture, strength support, flow of movement, with stretching and generally loosening and opening up the body,” said Assam. “I get asked a lot for tips on working out outdoors and I always stress that you can have a perfectly good workout inside your home.”
Part 3 of the virtual activation concentrates on the mind and how to introduce or reinforce good habits to help you achieve peak performance. Providing the advice and guidance on sleep, nutrition, mindset and how to avoid injury is Dr Tamara Ghazi of Diversified Integrated Sports Clinic (DISC), which has two branches in Dubai.
All three sessions in Escape & Evolve are not only led by women but by Arab women, which is no accident, said Assam.
“We have a very strong network of female leaders in the wellness sphere. It’s an area where women in this region have really shown great entrepreneurship and we really want to highlight that,” he said.
As the webinar is on Zoom, it concludes with an interactive Q & A session.
Essentially, though, Escape & Evolve day is about encouraging positivity in mind, body and spirit.
“There’s a certain restlessness around but we need to keep behaving responsibly,” said Assam. “There’s no reason we can’t feel good at the same time.”
- Escape & Evolve is on Zoom on Saturday, May 9 from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Cost Dh100. To sign up contact [email protected]
Anna Pukas
Anna Pukas has reported from all over the world as a foreign correspondent for British media. She is now an editor based in Abu Dhabi.
