In the Middle East, there are gyms and there are fitness facilities. Here in Dubai, there is a new terminus that has opened in the Circle Mall located at Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC) called Wellfit. The gym not only tests the traditional fitness business model, but leverages technology to create one of the most immersive free fitness experiences.
We sat down with Nikesh Naik, Managing Director of Wellfit JVC to understand how the gym stands apart from its UAE contenders.
What does someone starting their fitness journey need to know before starting?
Every person starting their fitness journey has their goals and aspirations. Some do it for health reasons, others for aesthetic reasons, and there are those who do it simply because they like the feeling of exercising.
While your goals and training styles may be different, it's essential to remember that people only need to be relentless because their goals support them in leading a more active lifestyle.
At Wellfit, our entire philosophy is geared towards “Enabling Active Living” and it's no accident. There is plenty of scientific data to show that when people actively engage in physical activity, their lives improve in just about every way.
Wellfit was created for this purpose, to engage people in an inclusive environment and advance their lives and the lives of their communities. We have a talented set of world-class trainers who can engage people personally to advance their lifestyle, for some it can mean increased productivity and for others it can mean better mental health.
How has technology become a part of fitness?
Technology has always and at all times played an essential role in sports, health and fitness for decades. From the evolution of gym machines to achieve the perfect range of motion to activity trackers that monitor progress, technology has and will continue to evolve to give people a more complete understanding of their health and fitness goals.
At Wellfit, we use technology to empower our users to take a more active role in their health and wellness. Our world-class facilities offer the latest state-of-the-art amenities supported by state-of-the-art software to give people a highly recommended and over-the-top immersive wellness experience.
On a hybrid planet, how can fitness bridge a home and a gym?
Technology has helped expand the immersive fitness experience. Take SPIVI as an example, a cycling experience where groups of people train and compete in a class located at Wellfit.
What makes SPIVI in Wellfit great is that it tracks and examines a multitude of performance attributes, including heart rate, power, cadence, speed, distance, energy burned, and more. Instructors can also start one of the ready-to-use structured trainings and get everyone up to speed.
Previously, SPIVI participants had to be in a gym to enjoy this experience. Soon, Wellfit members who have SPIVI bikes at home will be able to stream classes live or play recordings of classes held earlier in the day.
This has 2 purposes. The first is the auxiliary level of convenience offered to those who want to exercise at home. The second is for people who have a busy schedule and can't take the course with their friends. Auxiliary flexibility ensures members don't lose the momentum they've gained over the past few months and keeps them on track to achieve their respective goals in their quest for a more active lifestyle.
What training programs does WellFit offer and how is progress tracked?
Once a person has signed up to become a Wellfit member, they have access to our Wellfit app, which works with Sony's ADVAGYM. Strength machines and different areas of the facility that have ADVAGYM RFID pucks.
Members can simply touch this disc with their phone, after which the system logs a host of things, including distance traveled, reps completed and calories burned.
What's even more unique is that our app comes pre-loaded with workouts from among those that members can choose from and on top of this, our personal trainer can even develop workouts and share them with their respective members through the app.
Our ecosystem at Wellfit was developed and built for the sole purpose of giving our members a more complete view and understanding of their performance, tracking their incremental gains, and providing them with the insight and guidance to alter or progress their workouts. achieve the desired results.