'We don’t expect things to be done for us': Trainers help build new Dubai gym

Relocating the space from Al Quoz to Studio City was a real team effort

The reception of the new facility which is set to open in Studio City.

InnerFight trainer Tom Walker with owner Marcus Smith. All photos courtesy InnerFight

Trainer George Crewe helps clean the equipment.

Holly Smith, wife of Marcus Smith, also pitches in to help.

Rob Jones, one of the trainers at InnerFight, moves equipment.

Trainer Jamie Clarke cleans the equipment.

The 650-square-metre facility will be located in Olivara Residences and Park, Studio City, and will feature two gym floors, a yoga studio, outdoor swimming pool and a paleo-inspired cafe.

Over the past few months, people from various industries have come together to support one another – and the fitness community is no exception.

In fact, the trainers at one Dubai gym have gone above and beyond their job descriptions.

InnerFight coaches Jamie Clarke, Carmen Bosmans, Tom Walker, Lloyd Melling, Jess Towl, Rob Jones, Rob Foster and George Crewe have spent recent weeks helping shift their workplace to a new location ahead of its reopening.

Like all fitness centres in the region, InnerFight gym closed its Al Quoz branch in March according to government regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has since moved to a new location in Studio City. The new facility will feature two gym floors, a yoga studio, outdoor swimming pool and a paleo-inspired cafe. It is due to open, tentatively, next week.

"It's funny really, almost like we were building our own gym. We were moving to a new location and the entire team got involved with every aspect, moving equipment and helping prepare the new place," says owner Marcus Smith.

“When you look at it, it makes sense. They are all athletes, they are all really fit, and many come from sports backgrounds and understand the importance of being a team player. We don’t expect things to be done for us,” he adds.

This is why the team took on tasks like cleaning, moving and installing gym equipment, and even helping with the design of their new facility. As Smith puts it, they know the equipment and the clients better than anyone, so they deserved a say in what the space would look like.

Marcus Smith prepares gym equipment. Courtesy InnerFight

“In fitness, there is no hierarchy. It doesn’t matter if you’re a chief executive or cleaner – you need to take care of your fitness level, respect one another and talk nicely to each other. I may own the company, but if there’s something on the floor that requires sweeping, hand me a broom.”

'A chance to reconnect as a team'

While the fitness industry as a whole has been hard hit by the pandemic, InnerFight made its services virtual during the stay home period, offering training sessions through Zoom, which has kept staff busy. It has not let go of any of its employees, and the decision to end its former lease early was made in order to pay the team’s salaries, says Smith.

With something like Covid-19, it's easy to feel lonely, but we would have regular Zoom calls and being accountable to a time and a group really helps

Walker, a trainer, adds that while the past few months have been challenging, working on the new space together has given the team a chance to reconnect.

“I think, as a team, we have grown closer. With something like Covid-19, it's easy to feel lonely, but we would have regular Zoom calls and being accountable to a time and a group really helps. I don’t mind working hard and I think that’s something we all have in common,” he says.

“We are all in the same boat,” says Clarke, another trainer. “We want the facility to be ready. It’s everyone’s livelihood and we all had the same understanding, that we needed it to be operating. We didn't mind getting our hands dirty – that's what got us to where we are today.”