It’s time to get that New Year body with Frequency Cycling Studio.
The pounding of your heart; kaleidoscopic, flashing lights; and pumping music to get you moving; you’re not in a night club; you’re at Frequency Cycling Studio.
The stylish cycling boutique at NYU Abu Dhabi is whipping Abu Dhabians’ bodies into shape for the New Year while having a lot fun doing so.
Team Yalla decided to test our stamina at one of the boutique studio’s rhythmic sessions and we absolutely loved it (even if our thighs and calves didn’t).
Enter through glass doors where you are greeted with a sparkling clean reception and changing area. Select your post workout protein shake (chocolate obviously) and collect your cycling shoes before getting on your lycra in the changing rooms.
Coming into being after co-founder Mariam Al Sayegh wanted to develop a private styled, one-on-one class in a group environment, the studio is an intimate setting with calming, mood lighting and iPad-controlled sound system which would fool you into believing that this is an area to chill out if it wasn’t for the seven hi-tech, top of the range spin bikes spaced around the room. But we aren’t to relax; we are here to workout.
Co-Founder and instructor, Noura Dalle, is our fitspiration leader/tormentor on the lead bike this evening and once clipped into the bike and comfortable and 1lb wrist-weights are attached, the session begins.
Noura, who started out on the bike herself when business partner, Mariam, brought her along to a few spin classes, starts the class with a gentle warmup to get the juices flowing.
As the rhythm is found, the music cranks up as does the resistance and RPM of the bike and the dance moves are introduced.
Team Yalla can admit that our balance and coordination is all over the place as we attempt press-ups, keep our core tight and cycle to the encouraging shouts of Noura over the booming tracks but as we power forward we start to find our pace.
It’s a wonderful rush as the adrenaline courses through our bodies as we go faster and faster as we hit top speed and then Noura shouts; “Faster! I want you to go flat out!” – well, she did say beforehand she is demanding.
As we cycling as fast as we can, Team Yalla, thinks to take the foot off the pedal (pun intended) but nothing escapes Noura as she states: “I can see all your speeds and resistances. Let’s take it back up. Resistance between 40. RPM over 140.”
The time has arrived to incorporate the arms and those 1lb weights start to feel like 100lb as swim and punch through the air. Talk about feeling the burn.
As the class comes to the end, we stretch out the crying muscles to the sound of calming music as the studio returns to a chilled-out zone.
We head for a refreshing protein shake which seems so much heavier that it should be; sign of a great workout; and Noura, seemingly ready for another 10 sessions; offers words of encouragement to the students.
Team Yalla has been well truly worked out but we leave with a smile on our face, looking forward to time on the Frequency bikes.
Noura’s advice on starting out
“Anyone can start spinning. Even though you haven’t been working out and can’t keep up with the class, just sit down and keep your legs moving. With each class you’ll build up your fitness until you can do it all.”
To book your session, visit Frequency Cycling Studio
