On a fitness journey at CYQLONE

* Ranim Hadid, owner of fitness studio CYQLONE at Msheireb Downtown Doha, talks to Gulf Times about her journey, well-being and what sets the studio apart When it comes to fitness and all things wellness, CYQLONE at Msheireb Downtown Doha is taking the city by storm. Ranim Hadid built her studio around her passion for everything - from squats to cardio to nutrition and networking. Her ultimate goal has been to create a fitness community where everyone could get inspired and share their own fitness journey as they move towards a healthier lifestyle, regardless of who you are and what you look like. Moments after I enter CYQLONE Studio, a racket breaks out. It’s so loud and sudden that I assume something must have gone horribly wrong. As I see people picking on their towels and heading for the spinning. Someone is caterwauling, quite literally: “The class is about to begin.” I am intrigued by the class — for someone who has never tried spinning, but as I look up, I realise Ranim is waiting for me to give me a tour of the facility and walk me through her journey of fitness and wellbeing. << Ranim Hadid _________________ Whether you’re on a hunt for a fab nutritious smoothie (spoiler alert: not only are they super-good for you, but they’re delicious), a fun workout or perhaps an inspiration to help jumpstart your journey — CYQLONE has got you covered. Ranim is having a moment. A realisation for fitness that came few years ago, when she was pursuing her Masters degree, shaped up to be a lifestyle and profession for this young woman. Her popularity is staggering among fitness enthusiasts in the country, but its not all that surprising. The programmes introduced at the studio seem incredibly simple yet effective. That’s it. “Growing up, I always enjoyed sports. I participated in most of the after-school fitness activities that my school offered. I started taking this more seriously when I was doing my Masters at New York University (NYU) and I realised that being physically active was helping me reduce stress and manage my life. What I was doing outside of my academic life was helping me preform better at school. I am a perfectionist, which means I will always feel like I can better at anything. I am very happy and grateful about my progress and growth but I am nowhere near where I dream to be,” says Ranim as she talks about her journey in fitness and what made her take this up as profession. Ranim’s first job of the day is to introduce me to a spinning workout. We do 45 minutes of pedalling focused on resistance-based intervals, and heart rate training with the backdrop of high-energy music blasting through the studio. Motivational, engaging and effective. She’s on a heavy bicycle next to me, is uplift personified, cheering me on the start when I go off like the clappers (“You’ve got it!), and at the end when I’m drenched in sweat, doubled up and want to vomit (“Come on, 10 more seconds to go”). After we finish, I realise that Ranim talks like this all the time, endlessly stippling her sentences with words like ‘positive’ and ‘inspirational’. “It’s all about having a healthy mind and positive mindset. A healthy body is a healthy mind. A strong body is a powerful mindset. Health comes in many forms you have physical, mental, and emotional and the healthiest people I know are the ones who take care of all three aspects, that is the best method to reach ultimate happiness. Healthy is happy,” says Ranim. The health and fitness industry desperately rolls out one ground-breaking new weight-loss and fitness idea after another. But how food and fitness is all interconnected, Ranim explains, “First, the saying abs are made in the kitchen is not a myth. When I am extremely strict with my nutritional intake, I can see my abs are more defined. When I am consistent with my workout but not with my food, I can notice the lines becoming less defined. So yes, food and nutrition are essential to maximising the results you are looking to achieve. Be consistent! Its ok to cheat, no one can be perfect with their diet. I follow the 80/20 rule, which means that what you do 80% of the time will make up for the 20% where you are not being consistent or disciplined. That’s the best routine to follow for people who are tempted to indulge in food or beverages that are considered unhealthy. Everything in moderation! Moderation is about never giving up or fully giving in. So dont binge, but also dont abstain - take it easy.” Every fitness studio or gym have a plan on the back burner. What is CYQLONE’s secret that sets it apart? Like you experienced, we offer 45-minute classes that are an immersive experience based on sound and light to the beat of the music. All our classes are signature CYQLONE classes, the blue print we use at our indoor cycling is unique to our studio, our SHRED class is Covid-friendly functional training, and our SCULPT class is a combination of Barre, Pilates and Mobility,” Ranim adds. “CYQLONE is more than just a fitness studio, it’s a mission, it’s a community, it’s a space where for you to manifest the best version of yourself where we can all come together collectively and be part of making the world a better place. Our internationally trained instructors are the ones you love to hate – Qatar’s finest with reputation, commitment, and drive. Each trainer has been carefully selected among many applicants based on their ability to motivate clients to push further then they think they can. We select our trainers based on their experience, stage presence, ability to build a deep connection with clients and the level to which they can inspire.”

Qatar / Qatar

On a fitness journey at CYQLONE