TimeOut Abu Dhabi – August 21, 2019

timeoutabudhabi.com August 21 – September 3 2019 31

Indoor workouts

F45 Training

This studio isn’t even a year old, but it’s

already got a legion of very loyal members.

You’ve probably heard people talking about

going to Varsity, Panthers, Romans and

Docklands and wondered what on earth they

are going on about, but they’re actually the

names of just some of the studio’s super-fun

circuit workouts. Each class lasts 45 minutes,

except for the hour-long Friday Hollywood

class, which is joined by a live DJ set from

the Outstanding Contribution winner at the

Time Out Abu Dhabi Music & Nightlife Awards

2019, Cliff Townley. The classes are easy to

follow and no two are exactly the same as the

moves are ever changing. Plus, with screens

around the room and helpful and supportive

instructors, there’s zero pressure and no

feeling that anyone else is watching you.

Once you start trying the cardio and strength

workouts (they alternate every day), you’ll

be totally hooked. Our personal favourite is

cardio session Bears, if we feel like punishing

ourselves after a particularly heavy brunch.

O Zayed Sports City, http://www.f45training.ae/

zayedsportscity (056 332 3113).

F45

Flo

This is by far the prettiest studio we’ve ever

been to. Housed in a villa in Al Bateen, we

wish we could move everything from the plush

carpets to the fancy changing rooms into our

own homes, but at least we get to come here

to join in with packed schedule of fabulous

classes. The ladies-only studio specialises

in every kind of yoga and Pilates class you

can think of, plus a few more. This includes

antigravity, TRX, reformer and jump-board,

all joined by the most pristine equipment

and expert instructors. The barre classes are

particularly killer, and we have a whole new

level of respect for those who practice it since

we tried the ‘Bend it like Barbie’ workout. But

with such gorgeous studios and a welcoming

and calming environment, coming here for a

workout won’t seem like a chore at all. You’ll

soon be making it part of your regular routine.

O Villa 34, Mileih Street, Al Bateen (02 644 6496).

Inspire Sports

This ladies-only gym is perhaps best known

for doing The Trip, the famous spinning class

by Les Mills. During these 40-minute sessions

you really do get to escape to another world,

as all the bikes are set up opposite a huge

screen showing a 3D landscape. The special

effects and soundtrack are brilliant, and each

session will see you travel through Egypt,

Santorini, Tokyo and many more amazing

settings. But this studio also offers excellent

classes in Pilates, body pump, body step,

Zumba and pound, which lets you unleash

your inner rock star and burn calories by

pretending to beat drums with Áorescent drum

sticks. It’s super fun.

O Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Al Bateen (050 157 5508).

Bodyism

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