Cairo Health & Fitness

Let's be honest for a second: health and fitness isn't exactly at the forefront of Cairenes' collective consciousness. Granted, gyms around the city are regularly frequented by a dedicated few, but for most, there are just better things to do with one's time. Whether it's fuelled by vanity or the wish to add an extra few years of your life, the biggest issue for those looking to keep fit lays at the mercy of practicality and affordability. We often forget that most Cairenes just don't have the disposable income to shell out 4000LE for a gym membership. Others suffer from inconvenience; in a city that is notoriously difficult to get around comfortably, popping down to your gym for a quick session before work isn't always a viable plan. In CairoRunners, however, we have been delivered an almighty solution. If you have the intestinal fortitude to leave your home before noon on a Friday, you may well have encountered them – everywhere from Zamalek to 6th of October City. Having come to fruition at the end of 2012, CairoRunners organised their first 4K run with sixty participants. Now, that number often reaches an impressive 1000. While the idea of organised group runs is in no way groundbreaking, CairoRunners offers Cairenes an easy way to keep fit while pulling runners away from treadmills and closed-tracks to enjoy Cairo's great outdoors. And though founder, Ibrahim Safwat, is keen to shake off the idea of CairoRunners being an organisation, so to speak, the initiative has built a very tight but welcoming community, keeping in touch with the public via social media platforms. This weekend marks CairoRunners' biggest run – a half marathon beggining and ending at Almaz Garden in Heliopolis. Taking place over 21km of Heliopolis streets, with an alternative, shorter  7km course also on offer, the event has taken a momentous effort from its organisers. Planning safe, suitable routes has been the bane of CairoRunners' existence; while locations such as the Fifth Settlement offer appropriate stretches for the dedicated commune, others closer to the centre of town pose a number of issues – lack of safe spaces, cracked roads, et al.  But the CairoRunners team are a resolute bunch, and the weekend's half marathon is testament to the group's iron will, and their resolve to truly contribute to the community. Apart from helping to subsidise the marathon itself, a small 30LE registration fee will also go towards two very worthy causes: the Egypt Liver Institute and the Egyptian Special Olympics Team. With an estimated 15000 Egyptians diagnosed with Hepatitis C every year, many will go on to need transplants – a costly expense that befalls man an Egyptian. Meanwhile, after the debacle that tainted the Egyptian team at last year's London Olympics, their Special Olympics counterparts are weary of suffering similar setbacks on the grandest stages. In a time where relations between the population and the government are somewhat strained, causes such as these have little stability. In this sense, then, CairoRunners has very quickly evolved into something that is much more than a just fitness initiative.  Politics continues to fail in soothing Egypt's sinking, fractured society, and though many will consider this a vastly romanticised suggestion, it is in fact grass-roots initiatives like CairoRunners that is helping to create closer-knit communities. There's no exclusivity, no discrimination; just running. Safwat and his rag-tag team have shown that we can find brilliance in simplicity; in a mere few months, a group of guys and gals who just want to run has reached thousands of Cairenes and their magnus opus comes in a few days time with one of the most significant public events of the year. Registration for Cairo's Half Marathon is mandatory - check out the CairoRunners website for a full rundown of the registration locations around Cairo and more information.

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As we edge closer to summer in Egypt, Cairo's collective consciousness turns to one thing: how can we get that beach-perfect body? There's nothing wrong with a little bit of vanity – it's what separates us from the animals. But it's no easy to task, especially in a city fuelled by shawerma, taameya and other greasy foods. Here at Cairo 360, we want to help you help yourself, and this month's competition couldn't have come at a better time.   What? One lucky Cairo 360 reader can win a free inclusive one-month membership at Oxygen Gym in Dokki! Why? Because you'll need a long-term, summer, Facebook profile picture and you need to look fly. Where? Oxygen Gym's state-of-the-art facilities and sleepy location are perfect for zoning out and exercising your worries away – it makes hard work seem almost fun. How do I get my hands on it? It's easy! Just answer this simple question: On which floor of Oxygen Gym is the venue's cafe and juice bar located? (Clues are here!) Now what? Send your answers to freestuff@cairo360.com, including your full name and contact details with 'Oxygen Gym Competition' in the subject line. The competition ends at midnight on Sunday 19th of May 2013; so hurry up and send your answers in! Terms and Conditions apply.

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Having emerged in the 1970s, kitesurfing – or kite-boarding – didn't gain popular recognition as a practiced water-sport until the mid-1990s. Combining elements of water-skiing, surfing, paragliding, wake-boarding and more, kite-surfing demands both physical and mental strength, technique and skill. As a sport, kite-surfing takes place in seas all over the world and is a fast-paced, high-speed, extreme sport that uses a small, wooden or foam, board complete with detachable foot straps for both balance and tricks.   The first international kite-surfing competition was said to be held on the Hawaiian island of Maui in 1998. In October 2010, American kite-surfer and professional sailor, Rob Douglas, set the world record for the fastest kite-surfing, racing at speeds of 55.65 knots (103km/h). Since then, the wild sport has become so popular internationally that it has become a possible candidate in the future Olympic Games.  Although kite-surfing is both thrilling and stimulating for the rider, it can also be a fairly hazardous sport, with 105 accidents and 14 fatalities reported on the Kiteboarding Safety Information Database over three years (2000-2003). However, organisations and kite-surfing schools aim to reduce accidents through thorough safety training and precautions.  Managed by the Orca Dive Club, the 7BFT Kite House in Egypt's very own Soma Bay is notorious for its excellence in teaching and testing of kite-surfing, which is why, this year and every year until 2015, it will host the African Kite Course Racing Championships. The bay, just 45km from the city of Hurghada, is known for its beauty, steady winds and smooth water conditions, making it an ideal place for both kite-surfing and other, similar water-sports. The deciding heats and championships will be held from the 24th-29th March, with the prize money totalling a whopping 20,000 Euros. The Kite Houses' four star hotel – The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge – is often first choice for surfers because of its sandy beaches, coral reefs and close proximity to the dive centre.  Authorised by the International Kiteboarding Association, the championships will be measured as a 100 point event, according to the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) – the world governing body of sailing yacht racing. The competition is open to candidates from all around the world, so long as they are members of an organisation affiliated with ISAF. This year, although allocated spaces for each gender were higher, around eighty men will take part, alongside a smaller number of just twenty women.  As well as being measured for their high-speed, kite-surfers will also be mediated for their tricks in four categories: wave-riding, free-styling, course racing and slalom. The wave-riding discipline demands a great amount of skill as the rider must conquer the natural surf in sometimes unpredictable weather; riders go head to head with one another and are tested by the placement of obstacles on the water. Slalom, also known as kite-cross, is perhaps the most exciting to watch, as up to a hundred competitors take to the water at one time, clearing a course of obstacles at high speed whilst having to show awareness of the others around them, so as not to become tangled with another rider – an accident that can result in disqualification. Alongside a smaller crowd, and therefore allowing more freedom, the course racing category tests the tactical manoeuvres and speed of each surfer. However, most surfers best enjoy the freestyle as this is considered the 'mother' of kite-boarding as with little set-structure, it best allows the candidate to show off the diversity of their skill.  Each candidate is clearly visible in their uniform, and men and women are graded separately by the panel of judges. Said judges will also closely monitor any signs of misconduct, all of which are set out in the ISAF kite-board competition rules, which are revised every four years. Interestingly, a competitor's clothing must not weigh more than 8kg, including footwear, whilst their drinking container shouldn't weigh more than 1.5kg at its full capacity – being heavier may result in an unfair advantage. This year, the African Kite Course Racing Championships in Soma Bay is expecting a huge turnout and happens to be the first of its magnitude. Spectators will enjoy watching the awe-inspiring talent from some of the most experienced kite-surfers on the globe and may even get to meet them at some of the after party events at the resort. For more information on the championships, visit their official page. http://www.kiteafricans.com/

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Many upper floor salons in Cairo block out their windows with dusty posters of questionable hairdo's – not the Beauty Salon in Zamalek, though. Sitting on the first floor of a residential building on El Malek El Afdal Street, their window is clear and adorned, either side, with large Grecian pillars. The décor of the place was probably fashionable once upon a time, with black and grey marble floors and walls, black and gold vintage chandeliers and fussy mirrors; although the salon was a little outdated, everything seemed neat and tidy, creating a rather charming feel. We booked in advance but happened to be the only customers anyway. As soon as we walked in, the staff bent over backwards to make us feel comfortable; smiling constantly, lighting incense, offering us drinks and generally being friendly and chatty whilst being unobtrusive. The salon offers various treatments including haircuts for 75LE, blow-drying for 50LE and they'll touch up your roots for 250LE-350LE. A mani-pedi is 60LE, whilst eyebrow threading is 30LE and a full body wax starts at around 200LE. After relapsing into a nail-biting habit, a manicure was essential (30LE), as was a wavy blow-dry (50LE).   Quickly, we were towelled up and beckoned over to the basins. We spotted a couple of hairs already sitting in the sink, but the towels seemed clean. We waited for ages before the water heated up and when it did, it struggled to steady at one temperature. On a more positive note, the woman washing our hair was both gentle and thorough, and wrapped our hair tightly before leading us into the next room for our manicure. As expected, the room was smaller than the hair salon but was still roomy, with wooden decking beneath large, comfortable-looking armchairs where patrons would sit for their pedicure treatments. We were lead to the standard nail bar on the other side of the room and the work began. We started with a warm soak before the technician trimmed back our cuticles, using her own nails for scraping and some sterilised clippers, before our nails were cut short as requested and filed smooth. We were given boxes and bags of assorted nail polishes to choose from in just about every colour, matte or metallic, from a multitude of brands. The nail technician's hands were a little shakey but the results were still just above average. Afterwards, we were ushered into the hands of the hairdresser who proceeded to prance around like a ninja, gently volumising our roots and quickly wrapping it around several round hairbrushes. In around twenty minutes, he unleashed our clean, wavy, smooth barnet, perfectly textured and flicking up from the bottom. We were delighted with our new do and will certainly be returning before a night out. The salon itself might not be the most attractive, but it oozes charm, particularly from its hospitable staff. The Beauty Salon provides personal, fast and effective services and may make a good – and more cost effective – alternative to the busier, mainstream salons.

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There’s a strange dichotomy that defines sports and fitness in Egypt. On one hand, we love the spectacle; we love to idolise footballers, athletes and, for a fleeting period last summer, Olympians. Egyptians are a competitive, success-hungry people, but mention exercise, and most will call to the heavens and ask forgiveness from a higher power. Yes, the majority of us avoid exercise like the plague. But take a step back and you’ll find that what it really comes down to is accessibility and education. In the realm of arts and culture, there’s a theory that diminishes any kind of hierarchal structure of appreciation; it states that if more people were given more access to more art via educative means, the world would be a happier place. The theory isn’t as convoluted when applied to sports and fitness, but it’s still very much relevant. Can the average Egyptian fork out 4000LE to join a gym? No, of course they can’t. Do those who can afford a club, or ‘nady’, membership use the fitness facilities effectively? No, they’re drinking mango juice at the club’s cafe. Fancy a quick morning jog? Sorry; microbuses, outdoor cafe seating and the robabekya man got their first. There’s always the Ring Road, though. Even initiatives and groups that utilise Egypt’s streets as their gym rarely expand outside of the gem of the Nile that is Zamalek and its surrounding areas. Word-of-mouth is possibly the best means of promotion in a country like Egypt, but the huge social and cultural divide renders that ineffective. In the El-Fit Fitness Festival, however, we may have the answer. Recognising that health and fitness has been slowly coming to the forefront of Egypt’s collective consciousness, the organisers of the El-Fit Fitness Festival are riding the waves, but bringing the concept of better-living back to basics. El-Fit has it figured out. It’s simple, but the festival’s foundation is based on one thing: make the pursuit of keeping fit fun and relevant, by fusing fitness and entertainment using ‘adrenaline packed events’. That’s all fine and good, but the key, as El-Fit’s vision states, is to raise awareness. We know that exercise is good for us because that’s what we were told at school. But engaging people of all ages in the actual, physical how and why of exercise is what will implore Egyptians to take care of themselves. It needn’t be scientific; El-Fit is introducing Egypt to the simpler side of fitness. But what is a fitness festival, you say? We’re not a hundred percent sure. What we are sure of is that this particular fitness festival has a host of treats in store. This isn’t for the faint of heart, though; the El-Fit Fitness Festival is all about hard work and will. Visitors can test their fortitude and resolve with the Experience Area; a mini obstacle course that very much requires you to bring your ‘A’ game – expect to run, jump, duck, weave and crawl for your life. The F&B Zone will help you replenish and recharge, but don’t expect cupcakes; just pure nourishment and energy-inducing, adrenaline-pumping treats. There’s one aspect of health and fitness that has yet to wholeheartedly win Egypt over. Yoga, Pilates and Zumba, for example, are yet to conquer the hearts and minds of all Egyptians and are still to some extent outcast in the same way they were by the west. This is another facet of what makes El-Fit a landmark event. It’s not exclusively about gym rats; the festival recognises the benefits of alternative exercise, upholding it as the epitome of their concept. Fans of Zumba in particular can enjoy Egypt’s first Zumba marathon, with Zumba Fitness’ top instructors leading the charge. Other health-conscious fitness communities in attendance include the ever-growing Cairo Runners, who will begin the day with a brisk morning run through Smart Village, where the GBI Egypt Team (Global Biking Initiative) will also get the adrenaline pumping – but not before biking their way to the festival from Lebanon Square in Mohandiseen. Like Zumba Fitness, GBI is a perfect vessel through which El-Fit can demonstrate its philosophy. The initiative promotes cycling as more than just a token exercise. Through weekly events and annual marathons, GBI encourages cycling as a lifestyle; an activity that’s as practical and useful as it is beneficial. But the pièce de résistance of the El-Fit Fitness Festival is the El-Fit Challenge. Although the details of the showpiece remain a mystery, grand prizes for the individual (male and female) and team sections of the competition stand at 4000LE and 5000LE respectively - so you know it’ll be no walk in the park. With an additional kid’s area where your little tots can enjoy the spirit, the Fun Cannon firing off prizes and stand-up comedian Ramez Youssef MC-ing the festivities, the El-Fit Fitness Festival really does have something for everyone. Just remember to use deodorant. The El-Fitness Festival will take place on Saturday February 23rd at Smart Club, Smart Village. For more information on tickets, click here.

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