In January I received an email out of the blue from a man called Yoka offering me a months free personal training and a years membership to his new gym which hadn't yet opened. I was pretty excited, and clueless, about the whole thing and replied back that absolutely I'd be interested. Being a fan of pies, all of them, and having just come out of the Christmas period, I was feeling definitely like it was time to commence Operation: Be Less Fat.
Yoka wanted time to set his gym up and told me he'd be in touch in a few weeks. I had mentioned this opportunity to a few people, and the few that had heard of Yoka all told me the same... get ready for the pain. I laughed it off, thinking, yeah I've had sore muscles before, nothing new there, I've played rugby on and off for nearly 30 years.
So there I was, well and truly lubricated at the Canadian Stampede when my pocket vibrated - it was the message I was waiting for... Yoka was ready to start training - my first session would be on Monday 9th March - and among other things no booze for the month following that. I can safely report that when I woke up the morning after the Stampede, alcohol was the absolute last thing on my mind.
Monday came, and so did the training session. I walked in, and Yoka was there along with 2 other people and they all looked like they could have snapped me in two and used my broken limbs as toothpicks. I felt intimidated and incredibly nervous for what was about to happen. It turned out I didn't need to feel intimidated because all the guys were really nice and supportive.
Yoka absolutely killed my arms in that first training session, they were shaking and I could barely hold a bottle of water to my mouth. That first session he drove my heart beat to 210 BPM and I was absolutely broken. Little did I know he was only just getting started. For the next few days, the pain in my muscles got worse and worse, to the point where I was beginning to despair, but a friend Mike who'd been through the Yoka treatment before just told me some advice: Embrace the pain, it's fat leaving your body!
![]() |
The locker room |
And then came the legs. Session 3 was a grateful respite from slaughtering of my upper body but it came at the price of me being unable to use my legs properly for 3 days afterwards. Toilets were certainly a challenge- you'll either get it or you won't!
During this entire time, and still to this day I am on a strict diet - no booze at all and carefully weighed meals. I've been through 9 sessions now and I'm sleeping better than I have in a long time, I have more energy and I'm on a completely brand new belt hole that I've never been in before since I bought this belt 2 years ago. I'm still a fatty, and I have a long way to go, but I'm on the right path now and hope to keep it up, and I've lost over 10kg so far.
Yoka has given me the gift of renewed fitness and increased energy and I'm very grateful to him. He's about to open his new gym, Elite Gym, which is in a brand new building behind the Al Ameen Mosque in Al Khuwair. His gym is stocked full of brand new Cybex equipment and you even have a nice view while on the arc trainers, or the horrible horrible bicycle machines (they're horrible).
Pricing for this gym is higher than the likes of Horizon, but for a reason - if you want the best, that costs. Yoka and his training staff will tell you if you're not using a machine properly (from a point of view that you're not doing the exercise properly) regardless of whether you're receiving personal training or not - if they see you do something wrong, they'll tell you. Elite gym is designed to be a place for people to work hard and get pointers to help them get the results they want. The difference between Gold membership and Elite membership is that the Elite membership comes with 5 training sessions with Yoka, a nutrition plan (with three updates) and a guest-pass thrown in, just to get you started and help you build up a repertoire of exercises to help you achieve your goals. The guest pass is for if you have a visitor in town and you want to take them to your gym to train with you - you can use that 24 times in a year.
If you're looking for a personal trainer, then Yoka offers that, and I honestly have to warn you - its not for everyone - but Elite has other trainers there too. Yoka has busted my ass, but he's helping me get to where I want to go - and he can help you too.
![]() |
Yoka with his partner Nawaf |
le fin.
Elite gym
Reviewed by Sythe
on
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Rating:

Female trainers?
ReplyDelete210 BPM? are you serious..what is the ideal heartbeat for workout? 80% of 220-age...ie if your age is 40..then 220-40=180..80% comes to 144..so that's the ideal heart beat to work with..i am not sure to workout with 210 BPM is a good thing to do..
ReplyDeleteAnon - it was at the end of a 10 minute cardio session on a machine - we stopped right away when we saw the reading.
ReplyDeleteI think my husband would love this (he loves gyms and torturing himself)--can you do the personal training seperate from gym memebership or do you have to buy membership and then sign up for personal training?
ReplyDeleteSorry, being lazy. I should phone not ask you but if you know, then I can do nothing much;)
ReplyDeletePerforming exercises with efficient gym equipment is easy as drinking a cup of hot coffee sliding in your cozy couch. exercise machines
ReplyDeleteI don t have the time at the moment to fully read your site but I have bookmarked it and also add your RSS feeds. I will be back in a day or two. thanks for a great site. compact home gym
ReplyDeleteMuch the same as the famous Nike Saying,"Just Do It!" No issue your timetable and how bustling you will be, you are not assume to risk you health. Without your health, how great would you say you are? The appropriate response is, not very acceptable. fitnessbond
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog! I found it while surfing around on Google. Content of this page is unique as well as well researched. Appreciate it. dianabol for sale
ReplyDeleteGreat compound activities are additionally missing from link home gyms - even the better quality ones. Specifically a level seat press or squat. Upstanding presses, magnesium l-threonate dosage
ReplyDeleteGreat job for publishing such a beneficial web site. Your web log isn’t only useful but it is additionally really creative too. There tend to be not many people who can certainly write not so simple posts that artistically. Continue the nice writing end of life care
ReplyDeleteBefore you settle on whether to go free weight or a machine, you should consider what you are attempting to escape your weight preparing. In the event that you simply need to be fit and solid and are not very whined with significantly improving your bulk and strength a home gym will be the most ideal choice. In the event that then again you need develop fortitude or beef up, a force rack will be ideal. magnesium l-threonate powder bulk
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! turkish carpet
ReplyDeleteI think that thanks for the valuabe information and insights you have so provided here. Landscaping services Melbourne
ReplyDeleteI bookmared your site a couple of days ago coz your blog impresses me. google seo course
ReplyDeleteI think that thanks for the valuabe information and insights you have so provided here. persian rugs for sale
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful! persian style rugs
ReplyDeleteI think that thanks for the valuabe information and insights you have so provided here. concreting services
ReplyDeleteA few group may discover as opposed to paying potentially up to $1000 for gym hardware you should pay yearly for the full utilization of a gym participation with a scope of better offices. It's truly dependent upon you which you like.
ReplyDeletebest rowing machines under 2000
I definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work Persian Rugs Online Store Sydney
ReplyDeleteIt's actually a great and helpful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful information for us. Jersey hijab
ReplyDeleteThis article will be valuable to both experienced and beginner types hoping to "break in" to the business. In case you are as of now an expert and effective fitness model, I am certain you may in any case gather some helpful data from this article. Hot fitness model
ReplyDeleteI definitely enjoying every little bit of it. It is a great website and nice share. I want to thank you. Good job! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work Security doors Victoria
ReplyDeleteDifferent changes incorporated the expanding notoriety of lower-consistency oils. https://www.locationrebel.com/link-building/
ReplyDeleteLink style home gyms are ideally suited for the individual hoping to save time with their weight preparing. You simply pop the pin into the weight stack and away you go. Definitely it might save time yet would you say you are getting the outcomes? https://beautifultouches.com/underneath-the-chemical-composure-will-cbd-get-you-high/
ReplyDeleteAll in all, if there exists useful wellness preparing, does this mean some preparation is un-utilitarian? The response to this is a positive yes. fitness coach
ReplyDeleteHello,i can see that you are a really great blogger, Swimming After Gym
ReplyDeleteAll things considered, just an actual fitness program you really do, and that turns into a piece of your way of life, will give you the drawn out fitness, wellbeing and constitution benefits you look for.bootcamp classes hicksville
ReplyDeletePrior to purchasing a home gym you should think about the accompanying focuses:
ReplyDeleteRust Belt Runner
Certain individuals might track down this provides them with an absence of inspiration nonetheless, some might observe it gives them more inspiration as they remain on track in their own environment. Anything that checks your container I presume! cbd lasts a few hours
ReplyDeletePractice gives you better rest around evening time. You never grumble about weakness all things considered. To wrap things up, standard activity can work on your memory also.
ReplyDeleteare these cbd dog treats organic
Sports journalism in dedicated sports magazines offers reports on events like competitions and tournaments and related sports news. 작업대출
ReplyDeleteWorking out at the gym has become really popular now-a-days, but as someone considering to opt for a gym membership, it is vital that you enroll yourself into a reputed gym, so that you do not get taken advantage of by gym scams. Here is a look into some gym scams and pointers on how best to tackle them or avoid them. Gym Bag With Shoe Compartment
ReplyDeleteLearn how you can own or have jobs in sport related franchises.먹튀폴리스
ReplyDeleteA point which is made frequently is the reality preparing at home can cause an absence of inspiration since you're nowhere to be found and in the gym chitchat and environment. Canadian pharmaceurical steroids
ReplyDelete