GymNation says it has shipped in over 1,000 Kilograms of ice in the past week alone as exercisers push giant ice blocks, squat in ice-packed weight vests and sprint into giant chiller fans to tackle the searing heat.
Only in Dubai would a gym ship-in thousands of kilograms of block ice so members can still workout – as record-breaking temperatures hit the UAE.
GymNation, the region’s leading operator with over 120,000 members, launched what it calls “the world’s coolest class” last week and exercisers have been scrambling to book a spot ever since.
Dubai has already experienced record-breaking heat this summer, with the mercury rising to an unbearable 125°F in July, with average highs of 109°F expected over the next two months – making traditional outdoor workouts almost impossible.
Videos of the new class shared on Instagram this week have garnered thousands of views, and hundreds of comments from social media users – all desperate to experience the workout.
One user @fairecollc commented: “I’ll go…….. Just bring it to my front door”
And @i_am_laurabrown said “Love that sled ice block!! 🧊”
While another gym-goer added: “Other gym plans immediately cancelled for July and August”
With @i’m_that_riya applauding the upcoming class “Unreal!!! 👏👏👏”
And another said: “Okay but the frosted reps with ice vests!? who’s free to go next weekend, I need a gym buddy for this madness 🤣 ”
Though no match for Dubai – the UK is experiencing a heatwave of its of its own right now, with another user hilariously commenting:
“Seriously. We could so do this in London right now.. Absolutely sweltering over here 🥵🔥”
According to GymNation Chief Marketing Officer, Rory McEntee, the class was devised as a “genuine solution to the boiling temperatures which are restricting gym goers”.
McEntee revealed the “Coolest Class” combines high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with cold-based challenges, including:
- Blizzard Sprints – Treadmill runs against giant fans simulate resistance while staying cool
- Polar Push – sled pushes with ice blocks to boost power and stability
- Frosted Reps – Squats with ice-packed weighted vests that enhance strength with a cold twist
- Glacier Grip Challenge – Ice bucket bicep curls & lunges that challenge grip and endurance
- Chill Zone Recovery – post-workout ice bath to reduce inflammation and accelerate recovery
McEntee added:
“We’ve seen a huge amount of interest from members since launching the class and it’s been good fun watching the reaction unfold on social media around the world in the past few days.
At GymNation, we pride ourselves on being the people’s gym and that means listening to what our members need. Peak summer in Dubai becomes a real challenge due to overheating – with a recent YouGov survey revealing 71% of residents plan to stay-in during summer, rather than seek local leisure opportunities to escape the heat.
We wanted to fix that with this new class, which combines cutting-edge fitness programming with temperature-controlled training to deliver maximum impact, without the meltdown.
We’ve even had messages from fitness lovers in the UK, Europe and Australia over the past week who are travelling to Dubai in July, asking to reserve them a place.”
There’s science behind the class too. After reading about the class, leading sports scientist, Aderito Manuel, shared his knowledge on the benefits of cold-environment training:
“Exercising in cold environments may seem daunting at first, but it offers distinct health benefits. When exposed to lower temperatures, the body works harder to regulate its core temperature, leading to a 5-11% boost in VO2 Max compared to temperate conditions due to increased cardiac output and oxygen utilization – resulting in greater endurance. This process also increases calorie burn by ~300kcal/day through brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation.
“Cold workouts place additional demands on the cardiovascular system, enhancing heart function and circulation. Beyond physical advantages, training in the cold builds mental toughness, requiring focus, discipline, and resilience to push through discomfort.
Studies show athletes training in cold environments develop up to 17% higher pain tolerance and lower rates of perceived exertion (RPE) post-adaptation.”
Join the Movement
Experience the fusion of fitness and refreshment. “The Coolest Class in Dubai” is now available at select GymNation locations on Sat 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th July and is open to members and non-members. For class schedules and bookings, visit www.gymnation.com
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About GymNation
GymNation is the region’s leading gym operator with 120,000+ members across 14 UAE and 8 KSA gyms, with 20 more locations planned to open in 2025.
GymNation aims to become the largest gym chain across the GCC, with further expansion planned across the region, including within Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Launched in 2017, GymNation’s mission is to become The People’s Gym with an ambition to make improving health and well-being by going to the gym less intimidating, more affordable, accessible, and fun for everyone in the region.
GymNation’s vision is to play a lead role as The Region’s Movement Partner, championing healthy and active lifestyles alongside the importance of mental health and physical wellbeing.
