The Best Ways To Feel Awake & Alive in Dubai
Bad nights sleep, mama? We know the feeling, which is why we have rounded up 10 of the best ways to refresh your body and wake up your mind after too little time under the duvet… From floatation tanks to exercise classes, get ready to feel alive!
Spend 60 minutes on the trampolines at Bounce Dubai – and we promise that you will have blown the cobwebs away, feeling brighter, more awake, and pumped full of happy hormones to kick start your day! The whole session is choreographed to an awesome soundtrack – and you’ll walk away feeling like you’ve had fun, rather than exercised. Be prepared for the muscle aches the next morning though, mamas; this class is definitely good for toning up too!
80 AED per class. Bounce Dubai, Al Quoz (+971) (0)4 321 1400 www.bounce.ae
Read more: Top 15 Workouts for Mamas in Dubai
Stepping into a room with a temperature between -120 and -160’C might seem appealing when we are baking in the desert sun – but make no mistake Mamas; this is a whole new level of cold! Booking yourself in for a session of Cryotherapy at one of the various CRYO locations across Dubai isn’t total madness though, as the deep freeze body immersion is said to improve wellness, energy levels, and the condition of your skin. The perfect antidote to a poor night’s sleep? Probably – and you only have to stay in there for three minutes to get the benefits!
From 350 AED. Locations in Emirates Towers, Dubai Ladies Club, and Sports City. www.cryo.com
So you had barely any sleep last night and you just want to crawl back under the duvet? We’ve all been there, mamas – but instead of hitting the sack and snoozing the day away, we make time to pop to Point Zero Floatation Centre, located in the DIFC. Why? Well the experts tell us that just one hour floating in the water is equivalent to 6 to 8 hours of very deep sleep. You can choose between spacious cabins or smaller pods, with 30, 45, 60 and 90-minute floats available – and you can even take along your own Apple device for a personal soundtrack as you float.
From 350 AED. Point Zero Floatation Centre, Sky Gardens Tower, DIFC (+971) (0)4 457 9991 www.pointzerofloatation.com
There’s nothing like submerging ourselves in cool water when we really need to wake up – and we’re not just suggesting you turn down the temperature on the shower, mamas! Hamilton Aquatics offer a regular fitness programme in water, which is ideal for those that prefer low-impact exercise and will definitely help you feel awake, alive and refreshed after a poor night’s sleep!
For details, contact (+971) (0)4 450 8832 www.hamiltonaquatics.ae
Okay, so we know that escaping to a luxury spa for a massage isn’t an everyday solution to sleepless nights, but booking it as a treat will definitely help you get through the week – and there are few better places to head for exhausted mamas than Jumeirah Zabeel Saray’s Talise Spa to try their luxurious Ice Massage, which follows their traditional Hammam experience. You’ll enjoy a Kese Mitt Polis and Foam Massage, before therapists wake up your senses with a rejuvenating ice hand, foot and scalp massage. You’ll feel pampered, but totally awake as you step outside and begin your day.
565 AED. Talise Spa, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah. (+971) (0)4 453 0456 www.jumeirah.com
Ever tried meditation, mama? You might be tempted when you hear that during a session, the heart rate and breathing slow down, blood pressure normalises, and oxygen is used by the body more efficiently. The result is that you’ll feel rested, but alert – and the good news is that when you master the technique in a class environment, you’ll be able to use the tools in everyday life when you need a pick-me-up. Meditation is available at Life Works Dubai in Umm Suqeim, taught in 4-weekly courses (2 hours per week). Time to discover the zen!
1,200 AED for 4-week course. Life Works Dubai, 996 Al Wasl Road, Umm Suqeim (+971) (0)4 394 2464 www.counsellingdubai.com
Ever considered oxygen therapy, mamas? We’ve been tempted since we heard that stepping into the chamber can dramatically increase our energy levels, improve concentration, and improve sleeping patterns. The treatment is available at various gyms and clinics across the UAE, including Innovative Healing Systems Clinic in Dubai Healthcare City. But be warned, mamas; this treatment isn’t cheap – but when it promises to increase the number of oxygen molecules in our bodies by 10 to 15 times the usual amount, we can understand why that is the case…
From 500 AED for consultation and 1,500 AED per ongoing treatment. Innovative Healing Systems Clinic, #3001, 3/F, Block A, Al Razi Building, Dubai Healthcare City (+971) (0)4 427 6629
There are few better ways to boost energy levels in your body and trigger endorphins than by joining a morning exercise class – and if a small baby happens to be part of the reason you are exhausted, a buggy fit class means you can take them along for the ride too. Pure Fitness UAE’s R.I.P Mum Bootcamp starts at a leisurely 10 or 10.15am, with classes in either Al Quoz or The Lakes – and when the weather cools down, there will be classes outside too, to get some much-needed fresh air into those lungs as we work out (we can’t wait!)
Price vary depending on location. www.purefitnessuae.com
We know that caffeine isn’t always the answer to waking up mamas, but sometimes needs must – and if we are going to indulge in a mug of our favourite tipple, we might as well ensure it tastes the best. Dubai’s own Raw Coffee Company is just that, supplying coffee that is 100% organic, locally roasted, and ethically traded to a restaurants and cafes all over the city. We still love popping into their HQ in Al Quoz after the school drop-off to sip a mug in the Brew Bar – and we promise you’ll feel alive as you walk out the door to pick up the kiddos.
Raw Coffee Company, Warehouse 10, Al Manara, Al Quoz (+971) (0)4 339 5474 www.rawcoffeecompany.com
Read more: 11 Places to Get Your Dose of Green in Dubai
If you always wake up feeling groggy in the mornings, why not invest in a sunlight clock for your bedside table, which mimics the rising of the sun to wake your body up slowly and naturally. Okay, so we know that small children mean most of us don’t need alarm clocks by our bed (we remember the days fondly though!) but if they have a semblance of a routine, you could set it to wake you slowly before their usual wake up time (better than being jumped on by the kiddos when you are fast asleep, right Mamas?!)
Philips Morning Wake Up Light, from 400 AED. Appliance stores across Dubai.