How to work out safely at gyms in Dubai

Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do to improve your physical and mental health.

The only thing worse than seeing an ex-athlete with a string of old injuries is seeing somebody who never trained, whose body has collapsed around them and whose lack of musculature and bone density is set to cripple them in old age: injuries from regular exercise are pretty much inevitable, and running the risk is completely worth it in order to avoid this fate.

This being said, there are things that we can all do to keep ourselves safe as we exercise.

There are some universal tips and tricks we can employ to keep injury at bay, and there are some specific things we need to do to keep safe when training in hot climates- like going to the gym in Mirdif.

Ways to stay safe in gyms in Dubai

1. Get a check-up before training and continue to get check-ups throughout. Your doctor will know your medical history and will be able to advise you on what you can and can’t, and should and shouldn’t, do.
   
   
2. Stay physically mindful. Your doctor will be a great deal of help in keeping you safe. However, you also need to put in the mental effort. Stay tuned in and ask yourself how each exercise feels, whether there are any unduly sore spots in your body, and how your exercise regime is affecting your overall health and wellbeing.
   
   
3. Warm up and cool down properly. Keeping mobile, stretching often, and opening up your joints will lead to longer lasting physical health. It will also significantly reduce your risk of injury. It will prime your body for training, fill your muscles and soft tissue with blood, and reduce post-exercise soreness.
   
   
4. Don’t overdo it. You want to push yourself in the gym. Every so often, you want to really push
   yourself- two to three times per month, you want to put in maximum effort. However, healthy exercise is a balancing act. Your body needs time to rest, so take a couple of days off per week as a minimum. Doing so will bring you back fresher than ever and will significantly reduce your risk of injury. In addition, try going for a variety of different exercise style to reduce your risk of overtraining- lift weights three days per week, go swimming once, and go for a good walk every other day, for instance.
   
   
5. Use wraps and straps. We all have old injuries or trouble spots in our bodies, whether it be a weak ankle or a spot tennis elbow. If any joints are aching, or are prone to injury, use a strap or wrap to reinforce them. If you’re putting any joints under significant load- hitting those heavy reps in the weight room, for example- it may also be worth considering using wraps and straps.
   
   
6. Keep yourself hydrated. This is general to everybody but is absolutely vital in hot climates. If you’re going to the gym in Motor City, take a water bottle and make sure to drink throughout your workout. For intense exercise, it may even be worth using isotonic drinks or mixes. In addition, take it slightly easier in hotter weather and make sure to always wear loose, comfortable clothing.

If you do all of these and stay mindful of your own physical wellbeing at all times, you should be able to get the results you want out of every gym visit. You will hopefully only get stronger over time and should remain injury free and completely safe.

Even if you’re getting regular check-ups, still consult your medical professional as and when you suffer any anxiety over your physical health, think you might be at risk of injury, or are having any adverse side effects from exercise.