What Women Wear To Workout In the Middle East

I suppose I’m in a phase. Ah well, let the phase continue. A friend of mine just informed me about this…

Burkini

This is a burkini. This is always what a lot of Middle Eastern women wear to swim or go to the beach… and also what some wear to workout. You know…in case you were wondering.

Women, Working Out &… The Middle East? II

How do women work out in the Middle East?

Working out can be difficult in the Middle East for women especially, if you are looking for options reminiscent of the West  (ie running outside in a sports bra and some daisy dukes.) But it doesn’t have to be. Inspired by the previous post, I decided to educate myself a little more about what women (and men) do in the Middle East to stay fit, and I discovered overwhelming similarities between the two cultures.

Reebok’s brand ambassador Zena Habi, creator of numerous fitness programs AND a trainer for a Middle Eastern version of BIGGEST LOSER had this to say about health in her part of the world:

“There are two main things that need to change: we need to stop smoking (shisha counts) and start eating healthier. When I say eat healthy, it does not mean you have to be on some sort of diet, but just be aware of what you are putting inside your body. Most importantly, people have to stop planning to exercise as if it is out of the ordinary. Just make it part of your routine and let it be a part of your life.”

Words to live by. To read more from her interview (she talks about her passion for fitness, her connection with Reebok, and her experience working with contestants on her hit Big-Brother-esque show) check the link here.

Reebok Brand Ambassador to the Middle East and Fitness Guru Zena Habi

Women, Working Out & … the Middle East?

Working out ain’t always fun or easy. Factor in a hijab and a few strict laws about what women can do in public, and kiss your spandex-clad run through the park goodbye. Or so I here. I’m always interested to learn about the different methods people utilize to get the heart rate up and get in a little fitness. I love walking and jogging when I can but have recently grown a bit bored of if and am considering joining a gym or a few dance classes at an area studio.

But what do you do if you are in the Middle East? How do women work out in the Middle Eeast?

A really good friend of mine is currently interning with an organization in Palestine called Tomorrow’s Youth Organization that “works in disadvantaged areas of the Middle East, enabling children, youth and parents to realize their potential as healthy, active and responsible family and community members.” Of the many things we’ve discussed, including the amazing landscape, people and culture, she let it slip that she found it very hard, as a women, to work out (as a runner) there. Being the proactive person that she is, she, along with another intern, have actually formed a dance/fitness class for some of the women that they work with. (Yes, that ended with a preposition.) Check out one of the fave routines and her experiences here. Now, if she can manage to workout over there… I certainly can.

PS. After I did a little digging, I found that Reebok is doing some work to target fitness for women in the Middle East.