Polina Kutukova — Brand Manager
— Do you do sports here and if so, which ones?
— Yes, I try to stay active because otherwise, it is easy to lose your mind here. I really enjoy boxing, and I like to mix it with Pilates and some stretching. If I have any free time, I also walk on the treadmill — since the lifestyle here in Dubai can be pretty sedentary.
I also surf, and Dubai has plenty of spots where you can catch a wave — like wake surfing and places with artificial waves. Oh, and hiking... There are a lot of spots for that too!
— Can you say you started doing sports here more frequently?
— Absolutely, yes. Honestly, it feels like you cannot completely avoid exercise here. There are gyms and pools in almost every building, which makes it much easier to stay active. When I lived in Moscow, it was not like that at all. I probably worked out only once or twice a month.
— Do you need to push yourself?
Yes, I often have to push myself to work out because, honestly, I have never had a solid routine when I consistently do sports two or three times a week. I am working on building that now. What really helps is planning ahead and scheduling workouts in my calendar so I can not skip them. I also found some sort of financial motivation — I am using the app called ClassPass, and the fact that cancelling classes costs money gives me extra push to show up.
But honestly, living in a place with so many conveniences, like deliveries and overall comfort, makes it hard to stay active. You really have to push yourself.
— When do you usually exercise? In the morning/evening, on weekends/weekdays?
— I usually try to work out either early in the morning or late in the evening since that is the only free time I have. I prefer morning workouts because they give me energy for the day, and it is just easier to exercise when your body is not weighed down by food or the day’s stress yet. But if my trainer is not available or there are not any morning classes I like, I will do something in the evening. (Though, I have noticed it is tougher to exercise in the evenings in Dubai, since there is always so much going on).
Lately, I have also started waking up early on weekends to work out. These Saturday and Sunday workouts make the weekends feel much more productive and fulfilling.
Missing out on the coolest events in Dubai? We know where you’ll be in November: The Crowd Test Festival — the very first Art and Music Festival by The Sandy Times.
The lineup is incredible: Mainline Magic Orchestra from Spain, Eden Burns from New Zealand, and a lot of your favourite DJs like Hani J, Hassan Alwan, Bazzzuk, and more.
Mark your calendar, snag your tickets, and get ready: November 16, 2024, from 5 PM to 3 AM at Monkey Bar, Dubai.
Tickets are available
here
