Dubai residents get into fitness mode

Dubai - The 30-day city-wide fitness movement aims at enabling a positive social change for all.

It was an unusual sight for shoppers at the Dubai Festival City mall as the fountains sprung up during the day time to announce the official opening of the much-awaited Dubai Fitness Challenge 2018 on Friday at 3pm.
The opening weekend carnival at the mall got off to a roaring start, promising an incredible two days of fun activities, team and individual sports, stage acts and a host of events to keep all of Dubai fully energised and entertained.
The 30-day city-wide fitness movement, which is an initiative started by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, aims at enabling a positive social change for all and beckons people across all ages, fitness skills and physical abilities to get fired up on their #Dubai30X30 journey. It is targeting to involve around one million participants over the four weeks to commit to embracing a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Dubai resident Esther, a Kenyan national, was present with her two daughters at the opening carnival of the fitness challenge. Esther, who was seeing signing #Dubai30X30 make-a-pledge wall, said: "I am here to commit myself to the 30-minute challenge as I am a bit lazy and not very disciplined. And every time I feel lazy to get up and exercise, I will be reminded of my pledge I wrote on this wall."
Talking about what led her to join the fitness challenge, Esther said: "Just the thought that I am not doing this alone but hundreds of people are also doing it with me adds a competitive spirit to it and motivates me."
"I am here with my daughters Amina,11, and Rehema 10, to put a stamp on our participation. They love to eat good food after work out and here there are lots of fun activities, healthy food for kids and we are looking forward to bond over fitness today and tomorrow," she added.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a vast array of fitness sessions indoors as well as outdoors including dance workouts, Boxercise, JumpRope Fit, Bodyweight Bootcamp, HIIT and Zumba, provided by the city's top fitness studios. The pumping music belted out by live DJs along with some spectacular fireworks added to the fun factor.
Buddies Shehzad and Lucky, both in their 20s, came all the way from Sharjah to be part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. Dressed in typical gym wear, the duo said it was purely motivation and fun factor that pulled them to the challenge.
Flaunting his biceps, Shehzad said: "I am a fitness buff already but I love the idea behind this challenge which will involve more and more people into fitness and it is just so motivating to see so many people get into the fitness mode. And I am happy that a lot of people from Sharjah and Ajman are also here today to take up the fitness challenge.
Fitness influencer Manal Rostom, the first hijabi model featured in Nike advertisements who is one of the ambassadors of the DXB Fitness Challenge, said: "I am honoured to be one of the ambassadors here representing the Arab women. I am here to inspire all women, especially the Arab women, who think that we are not allowed to workout or do fitness activities outdoors. I am here to support such initiatives that are actually making things positive for women and encouraging them to come with their families," Rostom added.
Another crowd puller was the free YogaFest Dome hosted by YogaFest Dubai that took place on the Dubai Festival City helipad surrounded on all sides by water. Yogis can participate in 14 free master classes until today.
saman@khaleejtimes.com