Dubai Fitness Challenge: How to embrace fitness in your 9-5 life

Is your 9-5 hustle getting in the way of achieving that dream physique? In a city like Dubai, that's common. The bustling city tends to keep everyone busy, and juggling fitness with other commitments can be a real struggle. But there's a way out.

World-renowned fitness trainer Kayla Itsines, who is currently in the city for Dubai Active, has given a piece of her mind for those who want to implement fitness in their lives albeit busy routines.

Her first advice? "Move your body whenever it works for you," she said. "Don’t worry about the 'perfect' time to work out - the perfect time is whenever you can fit it in!"

Kayla, who hails from Australia, has been at the forefront of revolutionising the women's fitness sector since introducing her initial high-intensity program tailored for women and co-establishing the Sweat app in 2015.

Fuelled by her dedication to community and women's well-being, Kayla has successfully developed one of the most extensive online female fitness communities globally, impacting millions of women through her distinctive programs.

Known for her straightforward and motivating approach, Kayla is on a mission to empower women to experience the positive impact of exercise and equip them with the tools and confidence needed to transform their lives, both physically and mentally.

Kayla is set to make an appearance at the region's largest fitness and wellness exhibition, which is scheduled to run this weekend from November 24 to 26 at Dubai World Trade Centre. We caught up her to discuss what visitors can expect from her at the event, how women have embraced fitness, and implementing fitness in a busy life.

What are you looking forward to the most at Dubai Active, and what can visitors expect from your session at the event?

I’m most looking forward to meeting all of my Sweat Community members in person! I haven’t been to Dubai since 2019 and I couldn’t be more excited to be here again. Sweat has always championed the power of community and it’s such an amazing feeling when like-minded women come together in person for an experience like Dubai Active. On Sunday I’ll be running an OG Kayla Bootcamp and I can’t WAIT - it’s going to be epic.

My OG Kayla Bootcamp will be high in energy and intensity, so prepare to get sweaty and have a lot of fun. All of my bootcamps are bodyweight workouts with modifications available and you can take things at your own pace, so I’d love to see you there no matter your fitness level. Everyone is welcome!

Tell us about a fitness myth that you are strongly against.

People often believe that you need a huge amount of time, space or equipment to have a good workout and see results, but thousands of women, including the ones in my community, are living proof that you can lead an active lifestyle and achieve your goals even if all you’ve got is 20 minutes and a yoga mat. That’s why so many women still love my OG Kayla program - it’s a tough workout that can be completed in only 28 minutes.

People tend to believe 'losing weight' is of utmost importance in their fitness journeys. Is it true?

Losing weight is a goal for many people and it can be a powerful source of motivation when you want to see a change, but you need to have more than that driving you. Time and time again, I’ve seen people quickly lose motivation when they start to see physical change and their primary reason for working out isn’t so strong any more. This is why I want to empower women to focus on how working out makes you feel and how much it’s adding to your life, rather than just how you look.

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