“I have two doctors: My left leg and my right.” So said British historian George Trevelyan, to highlight the benefits of walking. Indeed, this engaging and accessible act offers a plethora of physical and mental benefits, from weight maintenance and blood sugar regulation, to whittling down stress and enhancing mindfulness.
A Harvard Health report from last year also claims that walking can help curb chocolate cravings.
Walking soared in popularity mid-pandemic, with young proponents – especially those active on social media – coming up with a gamut of creative, even kooky walking styles.
Here are eight to know, including one that was coined in the 1980s, but is back on the circuit now.
Hot Girl Walk
In 2020, University of South California student Mia Lind “created” the Hot Girl Walk “as a way to deal with the negative impacts of isolation”, as per the official Hotgirlwalk.com website. Lind says she went on 6km walks to “confront her negative self-talk and focus on positive, aspirational thoughts and ideas” and reported that her daily strolls led to better health and increased happiness.
In 2021, encouraged by family and friends, she launched the now-trademarked walking style with a video on TikTok that has racked up more than 3 million views, spawning the hashtag #hotgirlwalk. Now a movement, the technique has women kitted out in chic athleisure and walking uninhibitedly, owning public spaces like never before while tuning into empowering music or affirmations.
Silent Walk
Popularised by TikTok creator Mady Maio, this style takes the idea of mindful, stress-relieving walks to the next level by eliminating distractions such as phones or laptop screens.
Maio has reported on social media that her nutritionist advised her to walk for 30 minutes daily as a healthful, stress-busting alternative to intense cardio sessions. Her boyfriend chipped in by suggesting Maio walk without distractions to augment the benefits of her workout. The rest is history.
The walk has now become a popular movement, with many claiming it allows them to reflect and experience serenity in the absence of distracting screens.
Aqua Walk
Also called Seashore Walking, this technique is meant to be practised in a water body, ideally along the shore, so benefiting the upper and lower body. The resulting water resistance helps relieve joint pain as practitioners walk on the soft, pliable surface.
The low-impact exercise is not only a great cardio workout, but also helps burn calories while building muscle strength. This is because water is denser than air and exercising in it requires more effort than on land.
Rainbow Walk
Walk until you spot something in every hue of the rainbow – violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red – and you’ll be Rainbow walking.
To take this activity to the next level, experts recommend carrying a camera, sketch book or diary along to document your observations, or write in a journal once you’re back home. If it’s a group rainbow walk, share your observations with co-participants and listen to theirs to learn about diverse and interesting perspectives on the same objects, thus broadening your outlook.
Weird Walk
Initiated by Emilie Leyes, a hypnosis and brain-training specialist from New York, this walking technique involves taking an extended stroll with the primary goal of uncovering something strange or unusual along the route. Instead of using the walk to get in a certain number of steps or to run errands, “weird” walkers keep on going until they find something offbeat to spark their creativity.
Strange patterns on roads, foliage bursting out of unexpected crevices, dogs behaving oddly, offbeat graffiti, anything can make it to this list.
Meditative Walk
As the moniker suggests, the idea is to stay focused on walking and let freewheeling ideas flood the mind akin to a meditation session.
Proponents say the process, also known as movement in meditation, allows them to walk in autopilot mode while reconnecting their mind and body, which is key to well-being. The aim is to be as mindful as possible by being aware of your body and all physical sensations, with the eyes open and the mind fully rooted in the present.
Grumpy Girl Stomp
Quite the antithesis to languid strolls, this is all about releasing stress and frustration through vigorous movement. First coined by influencer Madi Wood on TikTok, a Grumpy Girl Stomp involves putting on one’s trainers and getting back to nature in all one’s grumpy glory, to make one, well, a little less grumpy.
However, experts say it’s also a trend that reminds us that walking isn’t just about physical exercise. It can also be a form of emotional expression and catharsis, and that it’s OK to blow off some steam if you feel better at the end of it.
Afghan Walk
This style was born back in the 1980s when Edouard Stiegler, a French researcher, observed the Afghan caravan drivers who walked more than 60km a day often for more than 10 days. The technique is based on the co-ordination between breathing and the pace of each footstep.
Part physical activity, part mental workout, the Afghan Walk offers benefits for both body and mind. It also helps practitioners walk for long distances without exerting too much effort. The trick is to inhale on the first three steps, hold the breath on the fourth step, exhale on the next three steps, then hold the breath on the eighth. And repeat.
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Buy farm-fresh food
The UAE is stepping up its game when it comes to platforms for local farms to show off and sell their produce.
In Dubai, visit Emirati Farmers Souq at The Pointe every Saturday from 8am to 2pm, which has produce from Al Ammar Farm, Omar Al Katri Farm, Hikarivege Vegetables, Rashed Farms and Al Khaleej Honey Trading, among others.
In Sharjah, the Aljada residential community will launch a new outdoor farmers’ market every Friday starting this weekend. Manbat will be held from 3pm to 8pm, and will host 30 farmers, local home-grown entrepreneurs and food stalls from the teams behind Badia Farms; Emirates Hydroponics Farms; Modern Organic Farm; Revolution Real; Astraea Farms; and Al Khaleej Food.
In Abu Dhabi, order farm produce from Food Crowd, an online grocery platform that supplies fresh and organic ingredients directly from farms such as Emirates Bio Farm, TFC, Armela Farms and mother company Al Dahra.
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
ON%20TRACK
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Griselda
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Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Scoreline
Australia 2-1 Thailand
Australia: Juric 69', Leckie 86'
Thailand: Pokklaw 82'
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi
Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser
Rating: 4.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UJDA CHAMAN
Produced: Panorama Studios International
Directed: Abhishek Pathak
Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
Quick%20facts
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The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The%20specs
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THE%C2%A0SPECS
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The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
TICKETS
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
The nine articles of the 50-Year Charter
1. Dubai silk road
2. A geo-economic map for Dubai
3. First virtual commercial city
4. A central education file for every citizen
5. A doctor to every citizen
6. Free economic and creative zones in universities
7. Self-sufficiency in Dubai homes
8. Co-operative companies in various sectors
9: Annual growth in philanthropy
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
