qataris beat the summer heat thanks to aspire active
Record Numbers Stay Active All Summer Long in Doha
ASPIRE, Doha’s academy for sporting excellence, welcomed record numbers of visitors who avoided summertime passivity by sampling the range of healthy exercise options on offer, as part of the Academy’s ASPIRE ACTIVE program.
As Doha sweltered in extreme summer temperatures, the Academy was hosting a broad range of fitness-boosting activities in its award-winning indoor sports facilities.
Building on past experience, ASPIRE fitness instructors devised a program of training for local people. The busy schedule of activity was designed along group lines, to meet the needs of different sectors of the population, according to gender and age. Participants could also sign up for classes based on the specific outcome they were seeking (muscle toning versus general keep fit programs, for instance).
Mrs. Gisela Hackfort, head of ASPIRE ACTIVE said: “The health and social benefits of regular exercise and fitness activity are well-known ASPIRE is proud to be encouraging fitness activities for its community and we hope to achieve long lasting attendances as a byproduct of our programs.
The tailoring of designated activities for specific groups of people is indicative of the professionalism of the fitness coaching on offer. For women, the available activities include muscle-toning exercises, body conditioning through light cardiovascular workouts and strengthening core stability using a special ‘fit ball’ The emphasis for the men’s program was more in strengthening and conditioning or games like soccer.
The ASPIRE ACTIVE Kid’s Motor Learning Centre offered a wide range of classes, making the most of key ASPIRE resources such as the Indoor Football Field and Indoor Volleyball Arena. Teachers and their assistants took children of different ages through the ‘Motor Adventure Park’ a range of basic physical activities – climbing, jumping, balancing and sliding – before organizing them into teams for developing creativity in handling equipment like balls, hoops and ropes for more competitive games.
Strategic partners, such as Qatar National Health Authority – organizers of “Healthy Summer Camp” – and the Qatari Student Network see working closely with ASPIRE as a unique opportunity. They have the chance to observe how children and Teenies taking part in the programs have grown in confidence and ability over the summer months. They emerge from their courses combining new skills with a positive mental attitude.
A new range of sporting activities will be launched with the start of the new term in September. Prospective participants can register now.
