In an ideal world, getting your cardio in and burning a bazillion calories would not get your palms sweating in anticipation and intimidation, but it does – generally speaking, ‘no pain, no gain’ is still the fitness mantra of our time.
However, the Bodylines Spa at Yas Island Rotana aims to please and have introduced a more easeful, cutting-edge fitness solution to staying strong and slender, in the form of the Spabike.
It is, yes, much like the aquabiking class concept – static cycling while submerged in water and wearing a swimsuit – but catering for one, as in one bike in a half podlike enclosure.
And no, it’s not just a bike in a bath, but an innovative way to work out much more effectively and efficiently.
As busy and no-nonsense as I am when it comes to fitness, one great incentive to try out this wacky aquatic workout was that a session only lasts 40 minutes; but it is when in there, pedaling away on your own in your own little space that you realise just how long 40 minutes can be.
That said, they were generous enough to have the room fitted with cable TV, and with my upper body above water I was able to just manage with my iPod.
While some people value their privacy while working out, personally, a lack of guidance in the form of an instructor, or the support from other suffering faces, would have been welcome, even if the intelligent dashboard was keeping track of everything I did (it even flashed red when I was under the ‘speed limit’ it had wanted me to be at every other minute).
That said, there is only so much bossing around a computer can do and even with a chart on the wall submerged in exercise showing me various suggestions for a more efficient spin, I really had to mentally push myself to do some standing sets in order to make it to a whopping 700 calories burned – a typical session loses you 600-800 calories.
Comparing this to how long, and how much pain, it would take me to torch that many calories on a regular static RPM bike was the real eye-opener here because in the water you feel close to doing no strenuous activity at all, sweat far less and tire much slower (which is personally what I aim for to feel like I’ve really worked).
Yet you’re secretly working quite hard (actually harder) against a ton of water pressure and resistance in there.
Science says due to viscosity, drag forces and frontal resistance, water provides a resistance which is proportional to the effort exerted against it. Resistance in water ranges between four and 42 times greater than in air – depending on the speed of movement.
This makes water a natural and instantly adjustable weight-training machine. Unlike most land-based exercise, water also provides resistance to the movement in all directions, which allows all of these directions to be used in the strengthening process.
Water’s resistance too can be increased with speed and/or surface area, and the resistance is proportional to the effort required to move against it.
If you feel like you’re not getting enough out of your workout, the bike is built with the ability to up the ante through various customised programmes too, storing and monitoring your data and successes for future visits.
And the management is all too happy to deliver the assistance of a coach to push you on if you wanted.
But you’ve come to a spa, a haven of relaxation, and maybe you don’t care about all that, which is fine too – this thing is called a spabike for a reason, and the icing on the cake is 36 jets surround and massage the lower body throughout the workout, also increasing circulation and therefore working to tackle the effects of cellulite, an angle the ladies in the off-the-island neighbourhoods seem to be loving.
Colour therapy too comes in the form of soft coloured lights fading in and out underwater.
“Another good thing is people who have injuries or problems with their joints can also use it safely whereas gym and land-based machines and exercises like treadmill work involve a lot of high impact, while here the water takes the weight off,” says Director of Recreation Sherif Nahass.
“I am positive that very soon UAE hospitals will introduce these bikes as part of their rehabilitation offerings.”
WHAT: Spabike
WHERE: Bodylines, Yas Island Rotana
WHEN: Available 08:00-21:30 (last booking) Price: Dh185 for 40 minutes. Seven, 15 and 25-minute packages are also available with additional free bike time part of the deal.
CONTACT & INFO: 02 656 4000; [email protected]
