STORY TELLERS
Each week, we’d like you to share your thoughts, anecdotes, views or stories. Last week we asked: What’s your favourite workout?
A page for readers to share their views, thoughts and stories.
Mine is cleaning my house. Sweeping from one end of the house to the other, dusting the balcony walls, cleaning the AC vents, mopping the house with occasional dance moves and stretches in between not only makes this otherwise mundane chore fun, but also gives satisfaction of having done the workout of the day! Jumana Abdul Majid
Walking outside – I don’t have a treadmill – is my favourite workout. But having two little kids, it’s not easy for me. So I opted for zumba as workout. I’m very shy to do these kind of activities in front of others, so I decided to practice at home with the help of Youtube. For the last six months, I have been doing zumba 30-45 minutes almost every day and I’ve lost 10kg. It’s a very good exercise and refreshes your body and mind. Sometimes my little ones also join in. I recommend zumba for those who cannot leave their house to go to the gym. Rasmina Abdul Jaleel
Everyone thinks of health and even I desire the same. Most of us have no facilities for exercise – me too. So I walk for one hour early in the morning. Ravi Pulijala
While many would say yoga and gym, my favourite workout is all the exercise I do in my little garden. With no requirement for special gear, my gardening activity starts very early in the morning: Squatting, lifting, tugging at the hose, stretching and bending, all done while tending to the little saplings or huge and hardy bushes. The result is not only a toned body but also a beautiful, manicured space and of course, a lot of fresh air. The smell of soil in the hand is definitely worth the sweat. Bala Sadasivan
Psychologists say that the best way to complete tasks is the promise of a reward. My favourite workout does just that. Inspired by the one and only Queen Bey [Beyonce], I strap on my five-inch heels and take the metro down to Dubai Mall. Once I disembark I make my way to The Cheesecake Factory, where I reward myself and power up for the second set of my workout. As I step off my stilts, I’ve managed to rack up over 10,000 steps on my pedometer and have calves that can surely “Run the world”. Sayana Sherif
From the time my brother used me for target practice, kicking a football has been my favourite thing to do. I was an overweight kid, never into sports, but I’ll be forever grateful to my brother for getting me started. It provides a full-body workout – it lowers our body fat and tones our muscles, increases our cardiovascular health and – bonus! – sharpens our mind, helping us to think on our feet. I play football at least 5-6 times a week, and hopefully, someday, it won’t be just a ‘fun workout’, but the field will be my office. Tanya Lalwani
#fridayfitUAE
Walk, walk and only walk. A good 45 minutes of jogging or walking for at least five days a week is the best workout for me. You just need to find a good open area near your house. Plug in your headphones with some fastpaced music or bring along a friend or your neighbour to give you company so that you don’t get bored. The benefits? An overall body workout that can be done any time of day, and the best part is, it’s absolutely free. Hema Lalwani
Being an entrepreneur and a mum to a fouryear-child, it was very hard for me to find time for myself with a busy schedule starting at 5am and ending at 9pm. After a long work day, I pick up my son from school, prepare lunch and do homework. He loves to spend his entertainment time in our building’s pool. It used to be stressful and tiring for me watching him, sitting under the sky in that hot weather. I decided to make this time my entertainment time too, by working out: Doing stretches and dancing in the pool while listening to my favourite music. I decided to make the best use of my child’s entertainment time and make it enjoyable for both of us. It has really made a big difference. Suzy Sobhi
After trying out (and gorging on) the best food from all over the world, we really need to work out to stay in shape. Dubai residents have a lot of options from running to cycling in a swimming pool. I love zumba and spinning classes now and then, but my favourite workout remains the basics – swimming and cycling. I enjoy them the most as they are outdoor activities and are a lot of fun with friends around. The joy of riding your bike too fast and having competitions with friends in the swimming pool is unparalleled to any class I can take. Shivangi Gupta
Doing yoga is my favourite workout. After a tedious day, doing pranayam relaxes me and rejuvenates my whole being. I am able to have a sound sleep and rise early with full energy. Sheena Vadakkepat