Page 61 - Time Out Abu Dhabi

Sport & Wellbeing Chirs Maxwell

Edited by
chris.maxwell
@itp.com

Ab fads

Find out how we will be
working out this year.

itness, like plenty of things in life,
is affected by trends. Sure, there
are certain classics that never go
F out of fashion. Exercises such as
the sit-up, press-up and a lap of a track
are the black suit or simple jeans and
T-shirt of the workout scene: perennial
favourites that never go away.
But each year, new styles, classes and
ab fads come along to change the way we
train. We look ahead to some of the more
interesting workout ideas to try this year.

VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING
This could be the year VR headsets tip
towards the mainstream. Expect the idea
of donning a headset to become big news Sport & Wellbeing
in the cinema (with Steven Spielberg’s
Ready Player One), in the world of gaming
(console VR headsets will enter homes in a
big way) and everything from education and
healthcare to the workplace.
The gym will be no different, while at
home, VR headsets such as the Oculus
Rift and Samsung VR Gear have activity
based games that immerse you in a It is a
physical activity in a virtual world. Think Zwift A virtual tour de force
of them as a more hi-tech version of social and
the otness games on a Nintendo Wii. trainers nodding their efforts will be huge this year as gyms look
More advanced, however, is an addictive heads in approval to make training more sociable. As classes
immersive VR exercise experience every time it is become more popular, look out for creative
such as Zwift. This exercise bike of workout mentioned. The idea off-shoots and niche interest groups to
the future is fast becoming a global is that workouts are appear. CEO Yoga? Reiki for rugby players?
phenomenon. As a virtual cycling shorter, but the effort Game of Thrones fans body combat? This
programme, it translates real-world effort is more intense. A typical HIIT session may is the year to ond a class that perfectly
into on-screen performance. In other words, be less than 30 minutes (ideal for time- suits your personality and interests and put
the faster you pedal on an indoor bike, the pressed Dhabians), but require you to go pressure on your gym to try something new.
faster a virtual cyclist moves on screen. pat out for the duration. Bursts of sprinting
The avatar can race against other users for 30 seconds and then jogging to recover MODIUS HEALTH
all around the world and there are many can be more beneocial than longer jogs at That all sound like too much effort? Then
famous rides installed on the software a slower place. Look out for classes and maybe the Modius headset is for you. This
meaning you can get an authentic workout. sessions at most gyms this year. gadget was one of the most-talked-about
It is heralded as a social and addictive way technologies at the recent CES exhibition
to work out and you can have a free test GROUP CLASSES in Las Vegas. Widely regarded as one of
ride right here in Abu Dhabi at Yas Cycles. It is time to embrace your social side in the the most important gadget shows in the
Daily. 11am-8pm. Yas Cycles, Al Raha Beach gym. One-on-one sessions can be pricey, world, CES showed visitors how to pop it on
area, www.yascycles.com (02 634 1084). but onding a trainer who is willing to tailor their heads, with the futuristic-looking tiara
a programme for three or four friends is a stimulating their vestibular nerves. This, the
HIIT IT HARD way to spread the cost and increase the bofons behind the device reckon, will zap
High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is motivation. As well as speaking to trainers the part of your brain that controls appetite.
not new for this year. It is, however, the about small-group sessions, let this be the Let’s say we’re cynical at this point, but
buzzword that refuses to go away. Expect year you step back into organised classes. we’re eyeing reviews of the Dhs1,850
it to be the talk of gyms and health clubs Zumba, body combat, spinning – it doesn’t gadget closely. See www.modiushealth.com
in the city for the rest of 2018 with personal matter what. Group classes and team for more details.
timeoutabudhabi.com January 31 – February 6 2018 61