What to expect as Dubai gyms reopen under strict guidelines
As gyms across Dubai reopen, they have to follow a list of conditions from the government. The National finds out what members can expect when working out in public again.
How will group classes work?
Facilities will have their own way of doing these, but people must keep the recommended two-metre distance between each other at all times, and only one person at a time can use equipment.
This can be tricky for group circuit classes, but gyms are working to set up individual areas for clients. For instance, The Den DXB in Motor City has limited classes to nine members and one instructor, and cordoned off specific areas with the necessary equipment for each person. There are mandatory cleaning supplies that members must use after their session.
Yoga studios are taking similar measures. Yoga House at The Greens and InterContinental Dubai Marina, for example, asks attendees to bring their own mat and towel (blocks are provided and sanitised between use). Space on the floor is marked for yogis to place their mats on.
Many gyms are not offering group classes at all at the moment.
Can I still do online workouts?
Yes. Several gyms will continue hosting live-streamed workout sessions.
During the closures, fitness facilities found that members really took to the idea of virtual workouts, and so many are looking to incorporate this option into their services in the long run. For example, GymNation, which has branches in Al Quoz and Bur Dubai, has struck up a partnership with Les Mills whereby members and non-members could do free online classes. It was a huge success, says chief executive Loren Holland.
“We have over 10,000 downloads of the new Les Mills On Demand and expect our members to continue using this platform.”
Are barriers compulsory?
No. Rules state that partitions or separators must be used between equipment where required. The main focus is that everyone maintains a strict two-metre radius, and so every gym will manage this in different ways.
Alserkal Avenue’s boutique spinning studio Crank has introduced partitions.
When do I have to wear a mask while working out?
Government guidelines state that people should wear masks during “light to moderate” exercise, but they can remove them while undertaking anything more “strenuous”.
“Anything that is leaving you out of breath and increasing your heart rate significantly I would consider rigorous,” says gym owner Michael Sole of The Den DXB. “Also worth considering is the climate you are exercising in.
“Extreme conditions – hot or cold – are going to intensify the exercise you are doing, and thus categorised as rigorous in my opinion.”
Light to moderate workouts would include a walk or a casual cycle to the shops, for example, Sole says.
It’s a similar story in yoga studios, says instructor Dina Ghandour. She says some facilities may ask class attendees to keep their masks on during the warm-up, but then they have the option to remove as it gets more intense. The same rule applies for instructors, who may wear their masks unless demonstrating more strenuous moves, she says.
Who cleans the equipment?
No two people can use equipment at the same time, and it must be sanitised for use by the next person. A number of gyms are asking members to wipe down equipment after use, while the operators will also do another sterilisation sweep in between users or classes. “During these times it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure we all maintain the highest standards of hygiene,” says Holland.
Are employees regularly tested for Covid-19?
This is not a mandatory requirement, but some facilities have opted to do so anyway.
Are residential gyms and swimming pools open?
Gyms in residential buildings were allowed to operate from May 31 but at only 50 per cent capacity. They are also required to follow strict measures: sanitise equipment before and after use; distance of at least two metres; face mask at all times; a one-hour workout limit; children under the age of 12 and adults above 60 are prohibited from using the facilities; and no personal trainers. Swimming pools remain closed for now.