Deep apologies for the clickbait heading. The ice in question is the frozen water kind. The stunt is by Gymnation itself. The gym operator has created ice gym (because it’s really hot in Dubai).
Ice gym classes, aka “the world’s coolest class” are a response to record-breaking temperatures in the UAE. GymNation has shipped in over 1,000 kilograms of ice in the past week as exercisers push giant ice blocks, squat in ice-packed weight vests and sprint into giant chiller fans to tackle the searing heat. Because with the mercury rising to an unbearable 51.7°C in July, and average highs of 42.7°C expected over the next two months, traditional outdoor workouts have been almost impossible.
The ice classes have created a whole new, super-cool trend. the “coolest class” combines high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with cold-based challenges, including:
- Blizzard Sprints – Treadmill runs against giant fans simulate resistance while staying cool
- Polar Push – sled pushes with ice blocks to boost power and stability
- Frosted Reps – Squats with ice-packed weighted vests that enhance strength with a cold twist
- Glacier Grip Challenge – Ice bucket bicep curls & lunges that challenge grip and endurance
- Chill Zone Recovery – post-workout ice bath to reduce inflammation and accelerate recovery
Videos of the new class shared on Instagram this week have achieved thousands of views, and hundreds of comments from social media users – all desperate to experience the workout.
Though no match for Dubai, the UK is experiencing a record heatwave of its own right now. And Brits famously struggle to deal with the heat. So social media users in the UK, in particular, are demanding the class is imported to the UK.
According to GymNation chief marketing officer, Rory McEntee, the class was devised as a “genuine solution to the boiling temperatures which are restricting gym goers”, and confirmed (to the disappointment of Brits, no doubt) there are “no plans” to export the class to the UK yet.
“We’ve seen a huge amount of interest from members since launching the class and it’s been good fun watching the reaction unfold on social media around the world in the past few days. At GymNation, we pride ourselves on being the people’s gym and that means listening to what our members need. Peak summer in Dubai becomes a real challenge due to overheating – with a recent YouGov survey revealing 71% of residents plan to stay-in during summer, rather than seek local leisure opportunities to escape the heat.
“We wanted to fix that with this new class, which combines cutting-edge fitness programming with temperature-controlled training to deliver maximum impact, without the meltdown. We’ve even had messages from fitness lovers in the UK, Europe and Australia over the past week who are travelling to Dubai in July, asking to reserve them a place.”
There’s science behind the class too. After reading about the class, leading sports scientist, Aderito Manuel, stated, “Exercising in cold environments may seem daunting at first, but it offers distinct health benefits. When exposed to lower temperatures, the body works harder to regulate its core temperature, leading to a 5-11% boost in VO2 Max compared to temperate conditions due to increased cardiac output and oxygen utilization – resulting in greater endurance. This process also increases calorie burn by ~300kcal/day through brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation.
“Cold workouts place additional demands on the cardiovascular system, enhancing heart function and circulation. Beyond physical advantages, training in the cold builds mental toughness, requiring focus, discipline, and resilience to push through discomfort. Studies show athletes training in cold environments develop up to 17% higher pain tolerance and lower rates of perceived exertion (RPE) post-adaptation.”
“The Coolest Class in Dubai” is available at select GymNation locations on Sat 5, 12, 19 & 26 July and is open to members and non-members. Class schedules and bookings are here.
Leave A Reply