Any excuse to prevent a workout from feeling like work, we’ve got to give kudos to InnerFight for last month launching a series of “club nights” at their funky fitness facility.
Thursday Therapy invites you to kick off the Dubai weekend with a DJ-led, buttkicking WOD in a party atmosphere. Come with an open mind and a willingness to sweat because you’ll be partying with the club’s craziest fitness fanatics.
“I have never been to anything like it, it doesn’t exist,” said InnerFight founder Marcus Smith, following the inaugural party. “I had a think about the idea, after it was suggested by a friend, and literally ten minutes later started planning it.”
For the first event, InnerFight went all out teaming up with Red Bull, decking the place out with strobe lights and loud music provided by a host of live DJs – all playing their part in pumping up the crowd of eager exercisers, who themselves came dressed in their flashiest fitness gear.
“It was unreal,” says Smith. “Red Bull put up some amazing lights and we had their truck DJ booth in the gym so the sound was pumping. We kicked off with an hour of display workouts by our coaches against some member teams, and then in the second hour all the members did a huge workout.
“We made a workout that was super inclusive so we had all abilities work out together in a nightclub feel. The energy was awesome.”
Team effort: There is an inspirational spirit at InnerFight.
A big fan with CrossFit purists, InnerFight was once, to the outside eye, regarded as the no-nonsense go-to gym for those trying to make it to the Games or eyeing a PB in an endurance race; but over the years the brand has increasingly catered to the Average Joe and Jane hoping for a lifestyle overhaul through a variety of comprehensive programmes.
It’s become a real community initiative – a safe space for everyone from kids to obese adults to explore the outer limits of health and fitness.
Needless to say, in order to keep things fun, fresh and all-inclusive, they regularly host one-off events, challenges and activities. These include a ‘Climb the Burj Khalifa’ rope climbing challenge and last year’s Million Metres in May, which challenged running enthusiasts to clock 1,000,000m by the end of the month.
Like those, Thursday Therapy nights were designed to keep members coming back for more once they see how fun and inventive fitness can really be. Who needs nightclubs? There’s just as much energy, movement and adrenaline to be found right on the gym floor.
Flashing lights: An unique setting has been created.
“We just want to offer people a different Thursday night out,” says Smith. “We wanted to create the feeling of a night club but combine it with fitness opposed to the notso-good things that people often put into their body in night clubs. “It was meant to be fun but we also know that when people work out the endorphins are a massive, natural high so we wanted to create that and we did.”
“We are planning one later on that we are going to open up to a wider audience and have a few more special display workouts, but also a bit more the guests themselves working out for longer. It was a great atmosphere and everyone just wanted to keep working out.”
What: InnerFight’s Thursday Therapy
Where: 4th Street, Al Quoz, behind Audi Dubai
Contact: Call 04 321 2899 or write to winning@innerfight.com for more details
Verdict: The endorphins will be flowing as you kick-off the weekend with this high-energy workout