Gyms, fitness brands count on tech to keep residents fit

Gyms and fitness companies across the UAE are increasingly relying on technology to reach their customers and ensure that they are keeping fit, as they practice the social distancing measures that have been implemented across the country.
With gyms and fitness centres closed to curb the spread of the Covid-19, many residents have turned to the social media pages of their respective fitness brands to continue with their daily workout routines. Many others have also turned to mobile applications to get in touch with licensed fitness trainers and various exercise routines that can be done from the safety and comfort of their homes.
Zena Hamdan, co-founder of FITLOV, a fitness app that brings together qualified personal trainers on an easy to use platform, spoke to Khaleej Times about how residents are adapting to the change in their usual exercise routines. "With the COVID-19 outbreak, FITLOV has shifted the delivery of personal training sessions from human presence to digital participation," Hamdan said.
"Sessions are currently delivered through real-time link between trainers and clients via phone, laptop and TV, thus fully complying with WHO guidelines of social distancing. Users can get access to over 30 disciplines and 50 qualified trainers."
Hamdan added: "Exercising improves your overall fitness, helps boost your immune system, maintain your physical and mental wellbeing and you don't need a gym to do that. FITLOV provides qualified trainers that will design a program around your unique needs and will monitor your requirements to stay fit and healthy through those unstable times. With FITLOV, you will have a strong engagement with your personal trainers, higher than the generic online courses. This interaction is a major motivating factor. Signing up with a FITLOV personal trainer increases your commitment to reach a specific fitness goal, since it pins you down to a specific time where you can't procrastinate."
George Flooks, CEO of Fitness First Middle East, also said that the health and wellbeing of residents remain the company's highest priority. "Fitness First is determined and committed to help our members and the wider community to stay fit while at home. We have embraced this opportunity to support our members online and launched several social media activities, which we are proud of," he said.
Among the initiatives by Fitness First, that residents can follow to stay active during quarantine, are daily home workouts and tips that personal trainers are uploading via the brand's social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Fitness First goes live on Instagram conducting four GX classes every day. If residents miss them, then they shouldn't worry, as these are saved on IGTV and as a video post on Facebook. In addition, 30-minute long GX classes are also uploaded on Fitness First Middle East's YouTube channel to provide everyone with an ideal workout session with professional guidance.
Members also have the option to get active with Les Mills by visiting their website and following a variety of workouts including HIIT, dance, cardio, and flexibility exercises that are scientifically designed to ensure only the best results. Fitness First is also hosting a MYZONE challenge where all members and staff are encouraged to participate in the comfort of their own homes. They can join the challenge by training at home and earn required MEPS to receive weekly prizes. Bespoke Personal Training Programmes are also available on request for all Fitness First members.
Asked about how the current gym memberships are being managed, Flooks said that members need not worry about their current memberships. "All memberships under Fitness First Middle East clubs are on hold with no extra charge until the gyms re-open. This has been communicated to all members on all our marketing channels and has been very well received."
Faraz Mehdi, regional sales head at Anker Innovations MEA, noted that staying inactive at home during self-isolation with the fridge full of food easily accessible may lead to unhealthy eating habits. Towards this end, Anker Innovations has unveiled the new eufy Smart Scale C1.
"For the health conscious, the eufy Smart Scale helps keep a tab on your weight and health with 12 essential body measurements such as Weight, Body Fat, BMI, Bone Mass, Muscle Mass," he said. "The eufy Smart Scale is available online and via Jumbo Electronics and Sharaf DG stores. The Eufy app supporting the product is designed to show health data with the time and date of previous measurements so users can monitor their health over a set period of term and stay focused on their health goals. In addition, eufy Smart Scale C1 can connect up to 16 users and is intelligent enough to match measurements to the correct user profile, automatically."
rohma@khaleejtimes.com