Wellness Center is situated at 7 health centers across Qatar. The Center provides a multidisciplinary care toward healthier lifestyle to achieve a balance in physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual health and to support people to live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. The team consist of physicians, exercise physiologists, wellness educators and gym instructors with complementary services comprising of swimming pool, spa zone and exercise recovery massage.

Dr. Sarah Rashid Musa, Consultant Community Medicine and Wellness in Charge at Rawdat Al-Khail Health Center explains that for wellness center entry, risk and eligibility is assessed by a physician, patient is referred and get enrolled into a 12-week wellness program that start with 1^st assessment of body measures, composition, cardiopulmonary and muscular endurance, followed by 6- and 12-week assessment for monitoring, changing plans and marking improvements. Individualized exercise program tailored to each patient’s health condition, risk factors, lifestyle behavior, and goals is discussed with the patient and monitored throughout. The program consists of a supervised 1:1 and/or group classes of aerobic, resistance, and functional exercise, along with flexibility/stretching exercise.

Mr. Imad Sayah Shujaa, a gym instructor at Rawdat Al-Khail Health Center, highlighted that with the recent installation of the four-station resistance training equipment, it is a great opportunity to offer variety of strength exercises targeting different muscle groups, including upper, lower and core. Users can perform various exercises such as chest presses, shoulder presses, bicep curls, triceps extensions, leg extension, leg curls and rows by adjusting the weight sacks and positions of the exercise handles. It is adding up the gym’s capability to engage more patients at a time. “The multi-station offers several safety advantages compared to free weights by providing more controlled environment, reduce the risk of injury from dropped weights, minimizing strain on joints and muscles and weight features such as weight locks and adjustable resistance allowing gradual progression of exercise. Mr. Imad added.

“Strength training has numerous benefits for weight management and quality of life”. Mr. Mohamed Haithem Ghodhbane, a gym instructor at Rawdat Al-Khail health center, detailed that strength training supports muscles, bones and joints, reduce risk of osteoporosis and musculoskeletal disorders, improve balance, coordination, and functional strength. “Regular strength training can also enhance cardiovascular health, control noncommunicable disease and related risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol level, in addition to boosting mood and self-esteem, reduce stress and improve body image.” Mr. Ghodhbane added.

Dr. Sarah Rashid mentioned that multigym is available at 4 wellness centers namely, Rawdat Al-Khail, Al Wajbah, Al Khor and Al Ruwais health centers. She clarified that all gym instructors have received training on the multi-station resistance training equipment to ensure proper usage and safety. Multi-station resistance training equipment will enable us to enhance the impact of the wellness program on health goals”. She added.