DUBAI: As exercise regimes go, this probably can be described as the height of fitness.
With innovation being the name of the game, a fitness studio in Dubai has put a new spin on indoor cycling and launched what it calls high altitude group classes that promise a series of health benefits.
The group cycling altitude studio at Talise Fitness, the Madinat Jumeirah gym, is the only facility of its kind in the Middle East.
Cedric Betis, group director of Talise Wellness, said the benefits of training at a high altitude are far greater than normal training. Unlike regular studios, this fitness room is designed to simulate being at altitude. “We achieve this altitude simulation by taking oxygen out of the air, which means there will be an inadequate supply of oxygen going to the respiring tissues (hypoxia). In the air we breathe at sea level, 20.9 per cent of it is made up of oxygen. In the altitude studio, we reduce this amount.”
Betis said altitude training has been used by elite athletes in the past, and a number of professional sports teams to improve their performance. “When training at altitude, our heart and breathing rates increase, meaning more blood gets pumped around the body and our muscles have to work harder, even though we are not going any faster.”
Overall fitness
As a result, doing a 45-minute cycling session is said to work the cardiovascular system in the same way as a 90-minute class with no altitude, providing increased benefits in weight loss, overall fitness, blood circulation and energy levels, Betis said.
Research suggests that a structured altitude training programme can help to improve exercise capacity, as the maximum amount of oxygen you can transport to your muscles improves, which in turn enables your body to compete at a higher intensity for longer.
More recently, evidence has shown that exercising at an altitude creates changes at the local muscle level, making them more efficient at extracting oxygen from the blood and becoming more tolerant of anaerobic exercise, speeding up recovery between bouts of exercise, he added. The amount of training that one wants to undertake depends on one’s objectives and workout goals. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
The expert trainers at Talise Fitness help guide on the training plan that best suits one’s needs and objectives.
This type of training is suitable from ages 16 and up, for all levels of fitness and ability, from seasoned pros to complete novices everyone will be able to find a level that works for them where they will be able to reap the benefits.
A group altitude cycling class costs Dh60 for members and Dh120 for non-members.
