Graphic by Joaquin Kunkel / NYU Abu Dhabi

Earlier this week, NYU Abu Dhabi’s Fitness and Wellness Department announced the release of its latest resource for frequent gym users, the Go Solo program.

The Go Solo program is a series of workout programs created to provide intermediate and advanced NYUAD Fitness Center users with greater independence from the personal training system. It also allows beginners to make progress in their fitness journey. Users of the Go Solo program can download pre-designed workouts and can choose any cardio, strength or conditioning workout that suits them best.

Fitness Center Manager Daniel Gill discussed the purpose of this program with The Gazelle.

“The program serves to enable [Fitness Center users] who have been in personal training with us and progressed in their own abilities to feel comfortable to workout whenever they like without having to book a personal training session,” he said.

Jay Raja, Assistant Director of the Fitness and Wellness Department, noted that students  outnumber the Fitness Center staff, but the department is doing everything it can to help the students pursue their fitness goals.

Last academic year, with a team of five trainers, the Fitness Center imparted 5,605 personal training sessions for the entire NYUAD community, slightly over 1,000 sessions per trainer.

When asked whether the Fitness Center has any plans of hiring more staff, Gill said that it is improbable, but he also indicated that the department will continue to assess the services it delivers.

“When you download the Go Solo workouts, we are not saying that you cannot come to us for little tips; but by doing so you are using less of our resources in terms of physical resources. This in turn allows us to concentrate on giving more classes, opportunities or something else rather than just giving one-to-one personal training sessions,” Raja concluded.

Students can access the Go Solo routines on the Student Portal under the Campus Life tab. For further questions about the program, students can contact the Fitness and Wellness Department at nyuad.fitness@nyu.edu.