From the bespoke to the budget…

Keen to get a head start on those healthy New Year’s resolutions?

From the HIIT class beloved by celebs to a brand new boxing workout, read our picks of the best new players on Dubai’s fitness scene…

F45 Training

In a nutshell: An innovative HIIT-training studio that promises serious results, this Australian import has a cult following

 What do Hugh Jackman, Ricky Martin, Joel Madden and Nicole Richie have in common? Not much, really…aside from F45, a Melbourne-born fitness trend that’s just landed in Dubai Marina, which boasts quite the celeb following. These 45-minute workouts are not for the faint of heart, with high intensity interval training (HIIT) circuits that will get your blood pumping and your heart hammering in your chest. The gym has lots of functional equipment and big screens demonstrating each move and counting down the seconds so you don’t have to. Best of all, they’re offering two-week free trials from now until the end of the year.

A parking tip – go to the P1 public parking space opposite the Le Royal Meridien Hotel and bring your chip with you to the studio for validation. Your first two hours are free.

Try: Sign up for ‘Brooklyn’, which mixes your HIIT moves with boxing and kicking drills. The Friday morning classes are fab too, with an energetic vibe thanks to a live DJ.

First floor, Trident Grand Residence, Dubai Marina, Dubai, Sun to Thur 6am to 8pm, Fri 9am to noon, closed Sat, Dhs1,000 for a pack of 10 sessions. Tel: (050) 1800354. Metro: DAMAC. f45training.ae

Fit Inc

In a nutshell: A budget friendly spot to take a class, see a PT or work out solo in the gym.

This brand new gym on Sheikh Zayed Road has a casual, welcoming vibe but with plenty of fancy touches, like valet parking, hair straighteners in the ladies changing rooms and a cracking sauna and steam room. There are three main workouts: WeTRAIN includes circuit training, kettlebells, parkour and calisthenics; WeSPIN is a dedicated spin studio; and WePLAY offers classes like yoga, Pilates, Zumba and aerobics. You can also sign up simply for the WeGYM membership and have access to free weights, cardio machines and resistance training facilities. Fit Inc is very budget-friendly by Dubai standards, with prices starting at just Dhs250 per month for an annual WeGYM membership.

Driving tip – it isn’t the easiest gym to find. Take the Sheikh Zayed Road slip road as though you’re driving to the Crown Plaza, take the second right turn after the hotel, then turn right again. You’ll see a paid parking area – drive through it, and you’ll find the valet parking for Fit Inc.

Try: We recommend the circuits class, which will put your through your paces in just 30 minutes, in a cool outdoor workout space overlooking the city.

Floor 6, City Tower 2 Car Park, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, daily 6am to 8pm, Dhs250 a month. Tel: (800) 348462. Metro: Dubai World Trade Centre. fitinc.ae

1Six8

In a nutshell: HIIT meets boxing and yoga, from the expert trainers that brought you BURN

Warehouse Gym regulars may already be familiar with 1Six8, who run daily HIIT-style classes called BURN 1six8 in the Al Quoz gym. Now, owners Brian and Linda have set up their own standalone studio in Jumeirah. There are currently two classes on offer – BURN, the 45-minute HIIT classes, which consist of high intensity intervals on a rowing machine, treadmill, TRX equipment and box; and PUNCH, a brand new 45-minute boxing workout. There are also plans to add BEND, a yoga class, to the studio timetable. Watch this space.

Try: We loved PUNCH, which combines boxing drills on the bag with strength and conditioning moves like burpees, mountain climbers and crunches. Boxing gloves are available for rent (free for your first PUNCH class, Dhs5 thereafter).

Jumeirah Terrace Building, Rooftop Level, Street 1, Jumeirah 1, Dubai, daily 6am to 9pm, Dhs110 per class. Tel: (04) 3254499. 1six8.net

6 Pillar Fitness

In a nutshell

A holistic approach to bespoke personal training. Go here if you want to change your lifestyle, not just your dress size.

The gym at 6 Pillar Fitness has a real sense of community. The space is buzzing, with people doing walking lunges across the astroturf, lifting in the free weights area and getting their cardio in on the bikes and treadmill, or simply chatting to their trainers. Six Pillars offers personal training exclusively, and the trainers here take a holistic approach to transforming your lifestyle. It’s not just about tweaking your exercise and nutrition to reveal that much-coveted six-pack – rather, they look at everything from your stress levels to your sleeping patterns.

Try: Personal training is available one on one, two to one or in small groups with a maximum of six participants, so there’s something for every budget.

Ground floor, Palladium Building, 4th Street, Al Quoz, Dubai, daily 6am to 8pm, Dhs400 per session. Tel: (04) 3251002. Metro: FGB. facebook.com/6pillarfitness

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