Staying home 24X7 doesn’t mean alternating between Instagram, Netflix and Twitter. The UAE’s cultural, creative and fitness community is brimming with offerings to keep you busy without having to leave the house. From virtual art workshops to fitness sessions, here’s your guide to the best experiences you can enjoy from home this week.
Boost your mood with virtual workouts
Finding it challenging to keep up with your workout routine while staying home? All you need is a little encouragement. Embody Fitness, Dubai’s favourite VIP gym, is bringing free daily workouts that you can join in from the comfort of your home.
Led by an expert team of coaches based in Dubai and London, these classes take place on the Zoom application, which you can tune into from your laptop or smartphone. All you need is a mat and towel and you’re good to go.
Book front row seats to a new entertainment experience
Caught up with all the comedy specials on Netflix and looking for something new? BookMyShow is now bringing UAE audiences an all-new feature that sees stand-up comedy fan favourites, as well as up-and-coming artists entertaining you in your very own homes. Online audiences can sign up for 30-minute shows by a selection of world-renowned artists bringing their latest material live from their own homes and studios across a variety of genres, including live music performances.
The series, titled Live from HQ kicked off with Indian comedian Vir Das earlier this month and will see artist Prateek Kuhad, Indian Ocean, Aisi Taisi Democracy and more taking the season forward. Audiences can check out the full roster of confirmed ‘Live From HQ’ artists on bookmyshow.com.
Indulge your creative streak
Madinat Jumeirah will soon be home to a sprawling art venue, showcasing the very best of the digital art world. But until TODA Dubai or Theatre of Digital Art opens its doors, you can participate in the centre’s online art initiatives, designed to engage the artistic community in the emirates.
Earlier this month, TODA Dubai hosted online art workshops conducted by two prominent UAE-based artists, Laila Ali Masri and Amrita Seth. While a few more artists will host painting workshops in the weeks to follow, this week’s focus is a quarantine challenge to the art community in the UAE. Participants are invited to recreate works by Monet, Van Gogh and several other artists and showcase their work on Instagram using @todadubai for a chance to be showcased on TODA Dubai’s page.
Channel your inner chef
When you’re holidaying at an Anantara Resort, you have the chance to step behind the scenes and head straight into the hotel’s kitchens to learn traditional cooking techniques from the very best chefs. The Spice Spoons cooking lessons teach guests how to master a selection of authentic Anantara dishes and impress friends and family with their new skills when they return home.
But now that you can’t step out of your home, the learning doesn’t have to end there. In a new series on the Anantara website, the hotel brings tried-and-tested Anantara recipes that you can prepare in your very own kitchen. From cold soups to immunity-boosting drinks, there’s plenty to discover.
For more information, visit Anantara Hotels & Resorts
Take a deep dive into the world of horology
Luxury Italian watchmaker Panerai has launched an online series, #OwnYourTime, which allows new and existing members of the Panerai community to connect with the brand’s global ambassadors. This interactive content platform allows patrons of the brand to spend time with each ambassador, ask them questions and learn more about their heroic feats, from freediving in the oceans to circumnavigating the globe at the equator.
The platform will start with Instagram Stories as well as Facebook and has future plans to expand content offerings to include expert panels, training, new releases, and even virtual community gatherings. Programming is available through Panerai’s Instagram channel.