#healthyliving: events and news for the summer

People, places and healthy things on our hotlist this month.

Enjoy this month’s moonlit yoga on the beach at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Listen to the sound of the waves complemented by soothing classical music as the in-house yoga teacher takes the class through a 90-minute hatha yoga session.
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June 18 to 20

Elite Squash Festival

Head to Fitness First clubs at The Lakes, The Meadows and Town Centre in Dubai for a family-themed festival that promotes the benefits of squash – mentally, physically and emotionally. The weekend event includes a knockout tournament, exhibition matches, squash-related activities for all ages and skill levels, and two giant inflatable squash courts. Registration costs Dh185 for adults and Dh85 for juniors, with free admission and an iftar buffet on June 20. Every entrant will receive a free Elite Squash lesson. For information and registration, visit www.elitesquash.ae or call 055 553 1499.

June 19

Saris Summer Solstice Century Ride

Put yourself through the paces with a 100-mile (160km) night-time bike ride at Al Qudra Cycle Path, Dubai. Riders will start together at 9pm but break into groups depending on speed. A 10-minute water and food break will be held after each lap to maintain cyclists' energy and hydration levels. A breakfast pack will be given to entrants at the completion of the event. Visit www.premieronline.com for event details and registration.

June 21 to August 29

Dubai Sports World

Escape the summer heat and stay fit with fitness classes, sports sessions and camps at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Sports include football, basketball, cricket, badminton, tennis, table tennis, running, rugby, skateboarding, volleyball and more. A number of activities are new for 2015. For more information, turn to our feature on indoor sports, from page 30, and visit www.dubaisportsworld.ae.

June 24 & July 1

GoYas by Activelife

Yas Marina Circuit hosts its regular GoYas by Activelife from 6pm to 9pm. Participants are invited to cycle, walk or run around the Formula One circuit or participate in Zumba, boot camp, box fit, power yoga, yin yoga and Pilates classes. Cyclists can bring their own bike and helmet, or hire one at the venue for Dh30. Classes costs Dh50. For information and registration, visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com.

July 2

Full Moon Yoga

Enjoy this month's moonlit yoga on the beach at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Listen to the sound of the waves complemented by soothing classical music as the in-house yoga teacher takes the class through a 90-minute hatha yoga session. The class starts at 7.30pm and costs Dh119. For information, visit www.jumeirah.com and call 04 366 6818 to register.

July 6 to 11

Legs and Lungs Tri Camp

Brave the summer heat for a triathletes' workshop focusing on strength and conditioning. Sessions include cycling and running on Jebel Jais and provide an opportunity for triathletes to improve their strength and fitness for next season. The cycle up Jebel Jais is approximately 30km with an elevation of 1,800 metres. Accommodation will be at The Cove Rotana in Ras Al Khaimah and participants can stay from one to five nights. For information and registration, visit www.premieronline.com.

Get messy and fit, in glorious colour

Registration has opened for Dubai The Color Run in November, and organisers have announced a discount for those who book early. Dubbed the “happiest 5k on the planet”, The Color Run will be held at Dubai Autodrome on November 21 and is open to all ages and fitness levels.

Runners are showered in coloured powder as they pass through checkpoints and will be sprayed with fluorescent colour, confetti and glitter at the finish line.

Presented by Daman’s Activelife, last year’s event attracted more than 12,000 people. “The Color Run has proven to be a fantastic way to excite people about getting fit and active, and we are already beginning to see the results across the UAE with more people signing up each year,” said Dr Michael Bitzer, chief executive officer at Daman.

“Most importantly, it is a great way of introducing families to a healthier lifestyle by exposing them to an active experience, which they associate with fitness and fun. Hopefully they will remember it for many years to come.”

Early-bird entries cost Dh140 and include a gift pack, T-shirt, sweatband and colour pack, as well as a Dh4 donation to the Friends of Cancer Patients charity. Visit www.thecolorrun.ae.

Cold facts on living in a hot country

UAE summers may be uncomfortably hot, but residents can now take comfort in the fact that people in cold countries are far more likely to perish as a result of the weather. An international study published in The Lancet last month found that cold weather kills 20 times more people than hot weather. The study, based on an analysis of more than 74 million deaths between 1985 and 2012 in 384 locations across 13 countries, found that about 7.71 per cent of all deaths were caused by "non-optimal temperatures". In fact, 7.29 per cent of all deaths were attributed to cold weather, while just 0.42 per cent were due to heat.

“It’s often assumed that extreme weather causes the majority of deaths, with most previous research focusing on the effects of extreme heatwaves,” said lead author Dr Antonio Gasparrini from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. “Our findings, from an analysis of the largest data set of temperature-related deaths ever collected, show that the majority of these deaths actually happen on moderately hot and cold days, with most deaths caused by moderately cold temperatures.”

Choosing good food is a healthy attitude

Highlighting the positive aspects of healthy food has far greater impact on nutritional choices than focusing on the negatives.

A study by Cornell University, published in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics last week, demonstrated that public policies that encouraged good food choices, rather than limiting bad ones, had a more positive response.

Researchers reviewed existing literature on the consequences of past public policies on nutrition to form suggestions to improve future regulations. “Many decisions that we make are not totally rational,” said researcher David Just, at a behavioural economist in the Cornell Food and Brand Lab. “When trying to impose any sort of change, it is important to try to empathise with the audience and work with, rather than against, the targets of that policy.”

Workers get teeth into free treatment

Labourers are being offered free dental services during Ramadan, through a campaign by Lifecare Hospital in Baniyas, Abu Dhabi.

They will receive a complete dental check-up, with tooth fillings, infected tooth removal and tooth pain relief. “Oral disease, involving the teeth and gums, is the most widespread chronic disease being highly preventable,” said Dr Mohammed Zulfikar, a dentist at the Lifecare Hospital. “It has an impact on overall health and disease. Bacteria from the mouth can cause infection in other parts of the body when the immune system has been compromised by disease or medical treatments. Hence, these conditions should be addressed as soon as possible.”

Lifecare Hospital expects to treat more than 1,200 patients during the campaign, which ends on July 18. The hospital is located in the Workers’ Village in Baniyas and walk-in consultations are available.

Boost your energy

The Harvard Medical School offers three easy ways to boost energy.

1. Pace yourself: Not every task needs to be completed at breakneck speed. By taking your time to spread your activities throughout the day and ensuring you have enough rest and adequate meals, you should be able to preserve some energy.

2. Take a walk or a nap: Walking or napping can do wonders for your energy levels, but you need to choose the method that’s right for you. If you struggle to sleep at night, skip the nap and go for a walk instead. If you don’t have sleep issues, put your head down for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Skip most supplements: Supplements will usually only be of benefit if you are lacking in certain nutrients. Iron supplements, for example, will only boost energy if you’re deficient, and taking too much iron can actually be harmful. B vitamins help convert food into a form of energy used by cells, but taking more B vitamins does not supercharge your cells.

atomlinson@thenational.ae