UAE workouts you have to try – novel ways to test your limits

It's time to venture out of the comfort zone of cushy creature comforts at UAE's island retreats such as Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts. Siphon off the added weight that has been accumulating over an indulgent holiday with this high-intensity workout at Cobra Fitness. The routine is intended to burn fat and calories and tone the body through gruelling rounds of exercises. Sessions often vary with routines ranging from simple jump rope exercises and sprints, to the more challenging abdominal routines and can even include taking flights of steps with another person on your back.

A fun and bouncy workout technique enabled by a pair of unusual footgear that resembles skates, except the base of the shoe acts as a spring. Once past the initial difficulty of learning to balance, there are a number of jumps to execute for heart pumping results. Conducted at Tips & Toes in Khalifa City, the routines cover an hour of fun and intense core exercises such as squats. As an added benefit all that balancing builds concentration as well.

A workout routine of 50-minute body-sculpting intensity, it is a form of Pilates that will work up a sweat in just five minutes. Combining traditional Pilates and strength training, the latest reformer machine is made use of at the Mojo Body Fitness Sutdio for over 15 exercises that include energetic rounds of side-leg presses, planks and reverse pikes.

A regular round of cardio on the treadmill at fitness rooms such as the one at Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort might suffice for a light workout. But to ramp it up a notch try cycling underwater. At L'Atelier Aquafitness there are specially designed bikes suitable for use in water to deliver a combination of spinning and water aerobics. A 45-minute class with accompanying music is intended for muscle building and a cardio workout. Similarly, at the Balance Wellness Centre, the Spabike imparts an aquatic workout, coupling a biking system with a hydro-massage bath. While cycling within the contraption, jets of water massage the body resulting in a soothing workout devoid of any impact on joints and spine.

This involves a continuous flow of routines carried out on a mat uniting the fundamentals of Yoga, Pilates and dance. These exercises challenge all planes of movement to build balance, control, mobility and inner strength. The 60-minute class at Bodytree Studio is a demanding workout geared to sculpt the body, and includes regular postures such as downward and arabesque and core sessions to challenge limits

A zero impact bouncing workout, The Rebounder involves jumping on a small trampoline while carrying weights. The 60-minute workout at DanceFit not only promises fat burning results but other added benefits such as clearing lymph fluids, cleansing cells and bolstering the immune system as well, as a result of jumping up and down to the accompaniment of music.