By Jonny ParrPhotography by Jessie PalancaAdditional images courtesy of Absolute Fitness

The idea of corporate wellness is a band-wagon that more companies and businesses are getting on board with lately. Making time during the work-day for fitness has multiple benefits, from relieving stress to making us more productive as a team. The pros at Absolute Fitness show us how wellness in the workplace is changing Qatar’s future for the better.

Deeply engrained in Qatar’s 2030 National Vision is that of a ‘Healthy Population’. With this bears some responsibility for

public and private institutes such as hospitals, sports clubs, and fitness companies - such as Absolute Fitness (AF).

With a rise in our awareness and understanding of the issue, it’s becoming more apparent that companies have to take charge of the health, fitness and well-being of their employees. How they do this varies depending on circumstances within the firm itself, such as staff needs/demands and the company’s values and ethos.

As Qatar develops rapidly, a growing and welcomed trend is companies taking corporate wellness initiatives and the well-being of their staff seriously as they look to tackle health concerns and mitigate healthcare costs.

This is vital if Qatar’s 2030 National Vision is to be realized, as these corporations are in a strong position to educate, engage, support and empower an extremely large percentage of the population to make informed decisions in relation to their health and fitness.

At Absolute Fitness we have a number of

corporate clients we provide for. The exact activities and strategies we provide for them vary, as they’re completely unique to their company. Generally however, they tend to take the shape and form of the following:

1. Workplace Fitness Sessions These can vary depending on the interests and goals of employees and their company. Popular classes include boot-camp, yoga, Pilates and more. The notion of Workplace Fitness Sessions is making fitness opportunities easily and readily available for employees, while improving physical and mental attributes such as fitness,

The team from Maersk Oil takes part in a session led by Absolute Fitness instructors in Al Jazi Compound

Workout At Work!

Sports

102102

QH July-Aug 2014- FINAL (PRESS).indd 102 6/22/14 3:02 PM

If you’re interested in learning more about Absolute Fitness and the corporate solutions they can offer you and your company call 3385-2696, visit www.absolutefitness.me or email info@absolutefitness.me.

confidence, and self-esteem. Also, the social setting advances areas such as rapport, team-building, motivation and camaraderie.

2. Events (Full-Day or Half-Day) At AF we’ve hosted a large number of events including Qatar National Sports Day and Reach Out To Asia. These are hugely-popular and target a large audience. This is a great way to get important information and messages across to the public. For example, we’re heavily involved in supporting and delivering Maersk’s ‘Action on Diabetes’ campaign. We’ve delivered a number of fitness initiatives – aerobics, body combat, yoga – and also sporting activities – football, volleyball, basketball. This has proved extremely successful in helping the people of Qatar.

3. Lunch and Learn Series Our team has presented to a number of firms in Qatar for the past three and a half years. The aim of these seminars is to educate, support and empower employees. Common topics have included ‘Stress Down Days’, ‘Active in the Workplace’, ‘Designing your own Fitness Program’, ‘Nutrition Do’s and Don’ts’ and ‘Relaxation Series’.

4. Health and Movement Consultations Creating a starting point or gauging ones current health status is essential before plans can be made to progress. With this new-found data also comes accountability and motivation – two key components if individuals are to improve their health. At AF, we’ve provided many companies and employees with these tests or ‘blueprints’ measuring areas such as body composition and blood pressure , while assessing movement via a FMS (Functional Movement Screen). Assess, act, re-assess and act again!

For many companies, corporate wellness initiatives can prove essential to both the employer and employee. By implementing strategies and activities that support the values of the company, everyone is a winner. The employee becomes healthier, fitter, more productive, motivated and in general – happy.

The company will reap the benefits of reduced healthcare costs, more productive and appreciative staff, absenteeism will be reduced and all in all, they will profit from a far more social, friendly, and welcoming workplace. Such a workplace attracts more skilled staff and therefore more developmental opportunities. So, what are you waiting for? Go team, go! n

Hitting up Aspire Zone for some body combat exercise routines

Practicing some roll-outs with a medicine ball

Sports

103103

QH July-Aug 2014- FINAL (PRESS).indd 103 6/22/14 3:02 PM