Tribune News Network
Doha
Located in seven health centres across Qatar, Wellness Centre provides people multidisciplinary care for a healthier lifestyle. A healthier lifestyle helps achieve balance in physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual health and supports longer, healthier, and more productive lives.
The centre has dedicated physicians, exercise physiologists, wellness educators and gym instructors with complementary services including swimming pool, spa zone and exercise recovery massage.
Dr. Sarah Rashid Musa, consultant community medicine and wellness in charge at Rawdat Al-Khail Health Centre explains that for entry to Wellness Centre, first the risk and eligibility is assessed by a physician. Then the patient is referred to and enrolled into a 12-week wellness program that starts with 1st assessment of body measures, composition, cardiopulmonary and muscular endurance. This is followed by 6- and 12-week assessment for monitoring, changing plans and marking improvements. An individualized exercise program tailored to each patient’s health condition, risk factors, lifestyle behaviour, and goals is discussed with the patient and monitored throughout. The program consists of a supervised 1:1 and/or group classes of aerobic, resistance, and functional exercise, along with flexibility/stretching exercise.
Imad Sayah Shujaa, a gym instructor at Rawdat Al-Khail Health Centre, highlighted that with the recent installation of the four-station resistance training equipment, it is a great opportunity to offer variety of strength exercises targeting different muscle groups, including upper, lower and core. Users can perform various exercises such as chest presses, shoulder presses, bicep curls, triceps extensions, leg extension, leg curls and rows by adjusting the weight sacks and positions of the exercise handles. It is adding up the gym’s capability to engage more patients at a time. "The multi-station offers several safety advantages compared to free weights by providing more controlled environment, reduce the risk of injury from dropped weights, minimizing strain on joints and muscles and weight features such as weight locks and adjustable resistance allowing gradual progression of exercise,” Imad added.
Strength training has numerous benefits for weight management and quality of life. Mohamed Haithem Ghodhbane, a gym instructor at Rawdat Al-Khail health centre, detailed that strength training supports muscles, bones and joints, reduce risk of osteoporosis and musculoskeletal disorders, improve balance, coordination, and functional strength. "Regular strength training can also enhance cardiovascular health, control non-communicable diseases and related risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol level, in addition to boosting mood and self-esteem, reduce stress and improve body image”, Ghodhbane added.
Dr. Sarah Rashid said that the multigym is available at four wellness centres namely, Rawdat Al-Khail, Al Wajbah, Al Khor and Al Ruwais health centres. She clarified that all gym instructors have received training on the multi-station resistance training equipment to ensure proper usage and safety.
"Multi-station resistance training equipment will enable us to enhance the impact of the wellness program on health goals”, she added.