When we wanted to challenge a guy to try out GuavaPass, Simon was the right man for the task.

Many men we talked to before, mistakenly think group classes are all about dancing. We wanted to prove them wrong.

So it seemed right to throw the task to someone with a slightly above-average interest for fitness, who’s not scared of change but likes to spend weekends at Club Vista Mare. After some convincing, Simon accepted the challenge to review a few GuavaPass Studio Partners in Dubai.

We told Simon to try classes that he normally wouldn’t have signed up for if it wasn’t for GuavaPass. For the coming few weeks, Simon will be our dedicated GuavaGuy and share his stories here on our blog and through his Instagram (@sibower). Enjoy the show!

The Review

As a bog standard male with the flexibility of a piece of wood, there are few things I dread more than a yoga class.  The theory and benefits are awesome. However, the stress of a potential ill-timed bottom burp combined with the shame of looking like I’ve run a marathon, means I don’t look forward to these types of classes.

To minimize the stress and potential shame, I went with a few friends. When we arrived at Yoga House, I immediately felt calmer. The staff was friendly and the main studio had a nice ambiance, without being too wanky. The class was Hatha Yoga. It focused on the hips, perfect for someone like me, who sits at a desk all day and doesn’t stretch much.

The class started with the usual breathing and light stretching. Then it started to pick up to more involved and strenuous moves. Wooden blocks and straps were on offer to help with some of the more advanced moves, a real plus for beginners like myself.  Most of the moves were standard yoga poses I had done previously, but some of the additional hip focused moves were awesome. These are now featured in my standard cool down routine.

During the peak of the class, I can honestly say I was struggling. The pool of sweat on my mat was proof.  After the final downward dog was complete, we began to relax and focus on our breathing and light hip stretching. This is when I started to feel good. My whole body felt relaxed and my hips felt looser than they have been for a long time. The instructor came round and spent time with each person, further stretching out their hips. This made me feel even better, as I’m not ashamed to admit, I fell a bit in love with the instructor that day. She was attentive, positive, had a hypnotic calming effect, and spent a bit of time with everyone throughout the class.

Yoga House Review

The Verdict

I came out looking like I’d run a marathon, and definitely heard one rogue fart during the class – not me I hasten to add. Nevertheless, I came out of this class feeling great. This was a nice studio and great class (especially for the hips). That combined with a lovely instructor, and all topped off with a wholesome breakfast at Arrows and Sparrows, made this the perfect Friday pre-brunch warm up.

Our GuavaGuy

GuavaGuy – Simon Bower

Name: Simon Bower @sibower

Age: 31

Civil status: Single

Nationality: British

Favorite Yoga Pose: The Slug

Strongest muscle: Tongue

Favorite fruit: Beef

Watch the Dubai GuavaPass Facebook for more stories and reviews from our GuavaGuy!

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