Latest / Let Them Fly - Heather Harries Ed Hub / Chasing Sports with Ethan Mathews

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Chasing Sports with Ethan Mathews · Let Them Fly - Heather Harries Ed Hub

• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Good morning, this is Heather Harris with Let Them Fly.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: And today we'll welcome Ethan Matthews into the studio.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I met Ethan many years ago through rugby when he was playing with my son.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: Now my son stayed at one level, and Ethan went on to do great and amazing things on the rugby field.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: So tell me tell me your adventures on the rugby field, Ethan.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_01: That was a very nice uh introduction there, Heather.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um absolute pleasure to be here today.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, like as you said, I first um met you guys through rugby, um through the Jebel Ali Dragons.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I and I guess playing out in the UAE was is a social sport, um, getting involved, playing with the community, and um yeah, I I've enjoyed it.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: I came over here to work um and kind of accidentally fell into international rugby.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: You accidentally fell into international rugby?
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_01: So I was coming to a point of my career where I was getting a little bit older, I was 30 at the time, so I needed a in rugby years I was coming to the end of the career, so I was thinking, right, I need to actually get a proper job, shall we say, uh, make a transition.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: Came over with my family at the time and uh started playing rugby, and then after three years got my residential kind of certificate to say that I could play um for the UAE and got the call up and the rest is history, really.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: And so tell me about the UAE rugby, where you've played in you've literally played internationally, I think.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Go on, tell me where.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: So the so the good thing is about um the Seventh Circuit in Asia, we get to travel quite a bit.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: So China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong last year.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_01: It's a really good experience.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: So how it works is you get three legs every championship.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: So one leg could be in China, one the next could be in um Japan.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_01: It's equally spread out, normally about a month in between.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: But it's again, it's a great way to play rugby, do what you love, and also experience a bit of the culture as well.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_01: So amazing.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: And and uh of the places you've been, which was your favourite?
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_01: I'd probably say uh Hong Kong was pretty cool last year, just before the Asia Games.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: We went on a um training camp there, so we spent two weeks out in Hong Kong, and yeah, I'd say just from a culture's perspective, uh you know, the Asian countries, I absolutely love them.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: We just talked about Japan, you know, the culture, the friendliness of the people.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: It's a really good way to see the world.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I I have to say, Japan's on my list.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_00: That's gonna be my next visiting, I think.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_01: Definitely.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: Osaka would be probably my recommendation.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: So good coffee and uh I've sold good coffee, there's nothing better, is there?
• 2:59
  SPEAKER_00: So, in terms of rugby, and I think I mean I'm a great lover of children doing sports.
• 3:03
  SPEAKER_00: Now I love rugby, I've always been a great advocate of rugby, and the reason why I love rugby is that it's I would say it's a position for everyone.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: In football, you can feel a bit a little bit unfit, and it's sort of you know the fat kid doesn't quite fit in on the field.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Whereas in rugby, there is a position for every single talent.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely right, and I think the most important thing is the child enjoys playing, and I think what they've done really well in World Rugby is they've done a development stage where you you start playing tag rugby and then contact comes up a little bit later on.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: But like as you just said, I think the the way people look at rugby now, anybody all shapes and sizes can play rugby union, so and it's always got a great team spirit.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: I always find that clubs are just a real heart of the community.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and I think um taking it into a business kind of perspective, the really good leaders that I've seen played rugby at one time because it teaches you discipline, um, you deal with contact quite a bit, and it also teaches yourself to work as a team, which is really important because it is quite technical, especially in the the adult years of playing rugby, and it teaches you to understand other people, how to communicate with other people, and also uh work together towards a similar goal.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think I think this a lot is it is about um communication on the team and off the team, but I there's a great, particularly if it's a great team spirit, and I I was involved for many years as a first aider in um Charger, Charger Wonders when they used to have a rugby team, and I have to say, you know, I used to look at the at the guys that came off and I'd be stitching them up on the pitch side, they'd be going, Are we nearly ready to go back on?
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: And I'd be like, Really?
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: You want to go back on?
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: You know, you have just sewn your ear back on, you know.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's it's a bit of a strange one because when you're on the field, that battlefield mentality, shall we say, you know, you will give you, you know, put your body on the line, um, but after the match, you've just smashed everybody and anything in front of you, and then you're you know, you're catching up and socialising with them.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_01: And I think no matter what way you are from in the world, it does bring a lot of people together, it brings your position together.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: In other sports, unfortunately, you don't see that.
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_01: There's too much of that competition side, which I think is a good thing, but at the same time, there's that respect as well at the end of it.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: And what do you think about getting how how young do you think children should get involved in rugby?
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: I think as as as soon as they can s pick the ball up, I think there's no reason why you know any child can play any sport, there shouldn't be any limitations to that.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_01: So as long as they enjoy it, I think that's the most important thing.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: And then how what sort of child do you think, or how does a child go from being a passive fun player to international an international player?
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, effectively.
• 5:46
  SPEAKER_01: That's a very interesting uh question and not easy to answer.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: But what I would say, probably from my experience, is I came from a background where my parents allowed me to play as many sports and give me that opportunity to even play, you know, the likes of netball, and which is you know female-dominated sport, but it wasn't until later on in life where I actually decided rugby was gonna be my route that those skills that I played tennis, golf, I could transfer them into rugby union.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_01: So I think again, I think the child has to make their own decision for me, um, because if it is something serious they want to continue doing, they need to enjoy it because they're gonna be doing it on a more regular basis, right?
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, I think so.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I had a I had dinner with um a guy called Patri Severa, he's a footballer.
• 6:35
  SPEAKER_00: We don't even mention that word, but anyway, he's football.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: I I had no idea because I don't know what football is if I'm honest.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: But he said when he was young, the only thing he wanted to be was a footballer.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: He said there was no plan B.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_00: Plan A was I'm going to be an international footballer, and he did, he was very very, very high standard.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: But I'd never really thought about that.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: I'd always been on the side of parents where they said, Oh, my son wants to be a footballer, but we need to have a plan B.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: And and he was like, No, I'm not having a plan B because if I have a plan B, I'll fall back on it.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna have plan A.
• 7:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, rugby, you don't see that so much because I think it's not as well paid as it as perhaps the footballers, and you know, that probably slightly less um training goes into being a rugby player.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: No, absolutely, and I think you see every child now they want to be the next Ronaldo, um, they want to, you know, football is it's a it's a sexy sport, you know.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_01: People, you know, from the marketing and the the social media around it with rugby is slightly different because it does kind of um bring in a different demographic, I should I would say.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: However, um what you've just mentioned there from an athlete point of view, I think you do have it from a young age.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: You you you just want to play the sport.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_01: It's not necessarily about winning all the time, but you just want to play the sport for the love of it, and then the winning comes a little bit later than uh because then you start, okay, what do I need to do to win?
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_01: I need to train, I need to eat the right foods, I need to rest, I need to recover, uh, the rest of it.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: And I think children out here are very lucky.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: I think there's a very wide variety of sports that they can play all year to a very high standard, actually.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, you've got some of probably the world's best facilities here in the UAE, not just in Dubai.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it's probably better than most maybe prov Premiership rugby football teams grounds, training grounds at least, and which is great for children because they get easy access to that through clubs, communities, even schools now.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_01: Seeing a lot of schools now upgrading their facilities, whether it be sports uh fields or actually gymnasiums inside the school as well.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: I think I mean I think it's so important, you know, you you move to this part of the world for the lifestyle, and the sport has to come with it and has to be something you prioritise with kids.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_00: I think I always say to children that are moving out, swimming is like you will never swim anywhere better than here, because swimming indoor swimming is not the same as outdoor swimming, is it?
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_01: No, absolutely.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_01: My daughter actually, she was swimming from the age of four out in the sea, and I guess from a cultural point of view, you know, it was there on our doorstep, right?
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_01: You know, to be able to go out to the sea and or a swimming pool nearby, the weather's nice.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but yeah.
• 9:08
  SPEAKER_00: It's not like I mean you're from Wales like me, like I am, where it's it's it's cold, you know.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: There's about eight weeks of the year when you don't mind swimming in the sea, but here all year round it's fantastic and and they should be encouraged.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 9:19
  SPEAKER_01: And I think you know, what you just said, it's that giving them the opportunity and then them finding their own path after that.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I think that's the key.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, I think that's the danger, isn't it?
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_00: That children can be driven by their parents to be sports people if they're if it's not their passion, it becomes a very hard thing to carry on.
• 9:36
  SPEAKER_01: It's a fine balance because a lot of parents they're required to, you know, drive to the seven stadium, for example, which could be for some people a 30-minute drive.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_01: But it's just getting that balance to make sure that you know little Johnny is happy in doing what he's doing and what whatever sport he's doing.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: So and would you say that it's good for children to have a variety of sport or not?
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I see four-year-olds that do skiing, golf, cricket, football, rugby, you know, in in a week.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_00: Do you think they should specialise at a younger age or should they keep with a variety of different sports?
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_01: I th I think from a younger age they should just get, you know, that opportunity to try as many sports as possible because they might try a sport which actually they, you know, their parents might not even thought of that they were like it before.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_01: And that's not just team sports, that's individual sports as well.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_01: And I think unless you try it, you don't actually really know it because it's that feeling after of playing a sport or during the sport.
• 10:30
  SPEAKER_01: That's the key, I think, to longevity with a sport.
• 10:34
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I I think very I think very much so.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, I've seen all these sort of I I would call them martial arts because they're completely beyond me.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: I don't even know what the names of them, but I sort you I I kind of categorize them in that, but I think they're very good for kids as well.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_01: The UFC in Saudi Arabia is and and the Middle East is growing massively at the moment, combat sports in general.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: And I think again, from a young age, I think it's absolutely fine because as as long as they're getting the correct coaching um from a recognised um uh gym, then that's the most important.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: I think that's critical.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_00: I think there's a lot of not licensed professionals out there, and I think you're putting a child at risk.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: But I think certainly when they're registered and licensed and they're qualified to train, I think that's yeah, it's really good.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_00: And I think confidence sport gives children confidence.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and I and I think I like that word confidence because it it does does affect them in other parts of their life where you know it boosts their self, you know, motivation to to actually get out the house and not just sit on the computer all day or or be with friends because sport is social, whether it be an individual, you do meet you know your competitors, you speak to them after, it gets you in a different environment.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_01: I think stimulation is is a tough one out here in the UAE because you know the weather does tend to keep us inside a little bit, but especially when the weather's a little bit cooler.
• 11:57
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's a perfect opportunity to get out and the the other word that I tend to use with sport is that it develops resilience, um, and I think children lack resilience too.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and you know, I did mention gaming earlier on, and gaming is a big um part of our society as computers, phones, uh, and it is an important aspect, however, that resilience and can only be taught through certain channels, such as playing sport or being in challenging environments, should I say, in a controlled way.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: And I think the more resilience children have, the more they're likely to do better.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: They're like that it research shows they do better um as they as they grow older as well.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and that the the the feel-good feeling as well.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_01: I think that's the most important.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_01: It's probably some of the best business leaders that I've come in contact with.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_01: They've played um team sport as some part of their life, whether it be at a good level or an amateur level.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_01: You can see you can really see the difference.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, I I definitely, and I think you know, they they talk about endorphins, don't they?
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_00: Sport releases endorphins, and I think that's very good.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: I have no idea what for, but you know.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_01: No, it's uh again, it's that feel good factor, and I think you know, you you just touch upon it, is we kind of live in uh a society where we're controlled with a l uh phones, and when we play sport or move, I don't like always like to use the word exercise because I think that's overuse because movement could be going for a walk, could be going on your bike, um, could be going paddleboarding.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_01: That gives you good endorphins, just being outside and and having a bit of you know sunlight on your skin.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, exactly.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: So coming coming away from sports, uh you obviously you did your rugby and you've fallen into another sporting career.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: You've set up a gym called Reset, or you're part of Reset Fitness.
• 13:50
  SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, so I'm currently the um chief operating officer of Reset Fitness.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: Very grand title.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, yeah, very just the T-boy.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: But um yeah, it's been an exciting transition for me because being, you know, it was a natural transition because training, exercise was a big part of rugby union, the preparation side.
• 14:13
  SPEAKER_01: So coming into a business where in the UAE it was at the time it was growing, it's not as big as it is now, like nine years down the line now, and there's a gym, there's studios on every block.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_01: So I I guess for me, I don't see it as a job because it was something that I enjoyed doing on a daily basis anyway.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_01: What it did kind of open my eyes to is the inactive market, um, not just in the Middle East, but the rest of the world.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_01: And what we've done at Reset Fitness is been able to give a product to somebody that can actually just move.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_01: I don't want to smash and bash you, we don't want to kill you, we just want you to move and have a good time with like-minded people.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I know you you absolutely pulled me in.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_00: I mean I haven't been back this year, I have to say that's just because I've been away, but um it you had the most amazing concept there because it was something where you I I can't do this whole fitness thing wherever there's 20 people all going left and right because I don't know my left and right, so I'm always going the wrong way.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_00: But I was given a little you gave me a little box and a and a picture to follow, and that to me was perfect.
• 15:13
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh the the automation aspect of reset fitness where you've got the exercises on the screen, that was the big thing for us because some people, when you're in a a group training, you're looking at one person, whether it be a man or a woman, and you forget the exercise, um, you d you forget how long you you're meant to be exercising on that particular station.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_01: So it's just that constant reinforcement.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_01: The second USB, I guess, for us is is giving you two options at a station.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_01: So we're not telling you what to do, we'll give you the guidelines, and it's up to you then to, should we say, empower you to make your own decision, which in turn it makes your experience a bit more enjoyable.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: I guess there's a name for for the way you do your exercises, but uh just for just for any listeners that have no idea, there's 12 squares.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_01: Stations.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_01: We call them stations.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: In my terminology, it's 12 squares.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: And each square has got um two people are in basically each square and a picture, and you can do the exercise, but you move through the exercises, so you're not stood in one place for too long either.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_00: And if you hate an exercise, it's a maximum of five minutes before you move to the next one.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_01: Correct.
• 16:18
  SPEAKER_01: So simple simple terms, it's a group um circuit.
• 16:21
  SPEAKER_00: Circuit, okay.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: So you no matter what station you start at, you will do all of the 12 stations.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_01: Some sessions you could be there for one set, so 30 seconds, and then you move, you've got 20 seconds to move to the next.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: Sometimes you could be there for three sets.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_01: So depending on the the day of the week you come on, because every day you have a different focus.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_01: So Monday's cardio, Tuesday's strength, Wednesday's combat.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_01: So it gives you a different stimulant every time you walk into the room.
• 16:52
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and and and I know we did um because I think I did the what was it, the reset, no, the what you do, the promotion.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: The six-week reset.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_00: The yes, the six-week challenge, wasn't it?
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: And it was it was really good fun.
• 17:03
  SPEAKER_00: I I have to say, each one of the exercises and the trainers were incredible, they were so patient for you know, this this sort of middle-aged woman who really had no idea how to move, they were just so lovely.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_00: I you know, I I have to I would highly recommend that for anyone.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: But bringing that that down, you do this for children as well.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_01: You've you've run this absolutely, and and this, I guess when we started building a concept, we wanted it to be for everybody, so get fit for life is our tagline, but we wanted to break down the barrier.
• 17:32
  SPEAKER_01: So, how do we do that?
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: We we we actually changed the program slightly for the children, so the children's program is less technical, there's no if minimal risk in there, so they'll be doing a lot of bodyweight exercises.
• 17:47
  SPEAKER_00: Not for me, the children's program.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_01: You can come back and do it, but it but it was more so to do it in a fun environment.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_01: So, yes, we do it for children from as young as 10.
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um, that they actually really enjoy the sessions.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_01: It's taken a a while to build up to our community now, but you know what?
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_01: It starts with the parents, and we've seen from when the parents are liking the the the concept, that's when they start bringing their children.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, okay.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_00: That makes sense, doesn't it?
• 18:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: And and the fitness is really great because I know I I mean I did I have to say I laugh about it, but my cardio and my fitness from being there was incredible, it's the best I've ever been.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and and do you know what everyone's objective is completely different from you to the next person next to you?
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_01: You're in that space working towards your goal, working at your goal.
• 18:37
  SPEAKER_00: Survival was my goal.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_01: But do you know what what is you know what is health and fitness in today's, you know, what's yours is different to mine, right?
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: Oh yes, different different levels altogether.
• 18:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I think some people uh actually a lot of people focus too much on weight.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, a lot of people say they want to come in and lose weight, um, or or they want their child to lose weight, and actually it's not they want to change the composition so they could actually weigh the same, but the muscle mass would be a bit more, so they weigh the same, but yet they look smaller.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: So does that make sense?
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, that makes total sense.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_00: I always think it's very sad when a parent says, I want my child to lose weight, because I always feel that there's so many other ways that a child could lose weight rather than just attending a gym session once a week.
• 19:23
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and I think even for the adults, they come to reset fitness once a day and they got 23 hours to do whatever they want than the rest of the day.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_01: So arguably what they do for their nutrition from their stress point of view is actually more important than what they do in the gym.
• 19:41
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, yeah, totally.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_00: And in terms of children um and health and fitness, tell me how does that play out in a child?
• 19:49
  SPEAKER_00: How do they present a healthy child?
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: How do you think they present themselves in a different way to an unhealthy child?
• 19:55
  SPEAKER_01: That's a very uh very complicated question, yeah.
• 19:59
  SPEAKER_01: So um I look where the from a child's perspective, they're still growing, they're still developing their bone, their muscles structure.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_01: I think if you're a parent looking at your little one and you're a little bit concerned, I wouldn't be overly worried as long as you know who uh recommend the guidelines of 60 minutes per day, they do that playing in school.
• 20:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, as long as they're moving about, I wouldn't overthink it such a young age.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_01: I guess when they get into their teens, that's when you can actually start, you know, encouraging them.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_01: And I think setting an example is probably the biggest one here because if you're telling your child uh they shouldn't be eating this or they should be doing more exercise, and you as a parent are not actually doing anything or living by the sword, then I think probably you need to look at yourself in the mirror.
• 20:53
  SPEAKER_01: That's what I would say.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: I think set examples, I absolutely, you know, and it's it's there's no point just saying, Oh, you you've got to be healthy, I'm not, but you know, this is this is gonna work for you.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_00: Because how can a child not follow your example?
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and and I've I've experienced with my little one.
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um I've old is she now?
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_01: She is gonna be nine in November, but she'll be 21 psychologically also in November.
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_00: I know girls are always like that.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_00: My mine was like three growing on 21, you know, but now yeah, it it's a bit yeah, girls are worst.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_01: And and you know what, from her, I've never pushed her to exercise or she's done that because she's watched me, she's come to watch me play mainly rugby.
• 21:35
  SPEAKER_01: She's asked, right, can I not just play rugby but other sports?
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_01: She she plays netball, she does gymnastics.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_01: That's what she loves to do.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_01: So, but it's interesting.
• 21:44
  SPEAKER_01: Recently she's actually said, look, when can I start coming to the gym?
• 21:48
  SPEAKER_01: Because she knows I I've never said to her that you need to come to the gym or anything like that, but I think because I've set that example and she's gonna come and try it.
• 21:57
  SPEAKER_01: And I've taken her a couple of times just to show her the basics, and it's been a fun experience, it's nice to see as well.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_00: And what do you have an opinion about her playing rugby?
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_01: If she wants to play rugby.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_01: Rugby, absolutely, I'll support that.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: You don't you you're not wanna you don't have an opinion about girls' rugby or ladies' rugby, you're quite you're quite calm about that.
• 22:15
  SPEAKER_01: No, uh listen, I uh again going back to what we just uh I think you know well women's rugby actually in the world is growing in participation levels, which you know there is a a massive space for female sport, especially in the Middle East, um, that's still untapped, shall we say.
• 22:31
  SPEAKER_01: Um and I think yeah, they should be encouraged, why not?
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 22:35
  SPEAKER_00: I played the first game of um ladies' rugby or girls' rugby when I was in school.
• 22:40
  SPEAKER_00: It was like um, you know, we're going back a very long time and girls weren't play supposed to play rugby, and our sports um teacher at the time, he sort of looked at us and he, okay girls, you can you can play against the boys first 15 team, which we all thought was great.
• 22:52
  SPEAKER_00: And then it was we started playing, he said, You've got to play gently with them.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_00: I was kind of like, that's no funny rugby if we've got to be gentle with them.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_00: And these poor boys were terrified because of course they weren't allowed to tackle us back, but we were allowed to tackle them, so it was a very unfair game, but it it kind of set the pace of how rugby was going to take on from there from there forward in our school.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I think we, you know, as a society we can form, okay, like okay, males generally are a little bit stronger, physically more dominant than female, but actually, um yeah, I look from a younger age, my daughter, she's physically very strong.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_01: She doesn't know how strong she is because we play, you know, we'll we'll wrestle and have fun sometimes.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_01: And I think if you did to that one of the you, you know, people in your class, you probably break them in half.
• 23:38
  SPEAKER_01: But it's good that she, you know, she doesn't know that.
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_01: She she'll find that herself.
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_00: So and you you run so your reset fitness, do you still offer it through schools?
• 23:46
  SPEAKER_00: Is there still a pr school program?
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_01: So we encourage, we try to link up with as many schools as we can to to look at more from an ECA point of view.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_01: Um I think there is a big scope for us to tap into is it's a difficult one with private schools here because the decision makers not always enjoy fitness themselves, shall we say.
• 24:07
  SPEAKER_01: So, but we we would like to incorporate it into some sort of curriculum, but for now it's more just for ECAs.
• 24:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean I I think sports ha it it should be a really big part of school curriculum because as children spend more time on phones and computers, like we keep saying, they are dedicating less time to sport.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: And I think in the UAE it's quite hard to be fit.
• 24:30
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, and you know you said it's quite hard uh it to m to motivate yourself when you know someone's gonna deliver a a bottle of water to your office chair and you didn't even have to walk to the shop anymore.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_01: So, but yeah, you know, it it's a funny one because the facilities are there, but I think we can easily fall into bad habits, shall we say?
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think that word habit is probably the key one to say, all right, I don't yeah, no, I can't be bothered.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: So us making a community, I think that's probably where we've seen the most success of okay, you can still do your you know your talabats and uh order your food, but come once a day just to be a little bit active with like-minded people like the school drop-ops for us are really big because you know the mum's dropping their kids, they they want to come and they want to chat.
• 25:22
  SPEAKER_01: Actually, the gold is actually after the session.
• 25:25
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, the milkshakes you do, they were amazing.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: I I put all the calories back on just by one milkshake.
• 25:30
  SPEAKER_01: Well, so it's funny you should say that because that refuel bar, sometimes you're like, right, time to go, because they've been there sitting there all day.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_01: But it's great to see it from because I don't do school drop.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_00: I that was what I I must I must have been I used to love, because you're just in Jameera Jim for anyone who haven't mentioned, they're in Jameer Islands and I used to just drop my child at school and pot and come in afterwards.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: If I missed the class, I wasn't that worried, but if I missed the milkshake bar, I was very worried.
• 25:53
  SPEAKER_01: So you know the the protein shakes that we have that you refer to it's it's a part of the journey, and aga again, we're not a nutritional company.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_01: However, we're trying to make people aware of you know how active they are and you know eating the right things.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_01: We won't tell you what to do, but it's more that holistical approach, we say.
• 26:12
  SPEAKER_00: And and it was it was very much it was the community and the chatting and the social, and for for anyone who it's hard to make friends here and a small gym like yours that was very, very run on a very family, it felt very like a family, great place to make friends and have a chat and just set the day off in the right spot to start, really.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, absolutely, and uh and what you've just said there, and the people are so friendly, they're all open.
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_01: Um, there's no big egos or anything like that.
• 26:39
  SPEAKER_01: You know, since we've onboarded Privily, uh ClassPass and Via, we've seen a lot of younger demographic come in, but it's great to see them coming in and still engage with um the rest of the demographic, no matter if they're a first-timer at the studio or they've been coming every day.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_01: So and which we've had people come in since the day we've opened, we still have members from them.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_00: And I think it's really important for mums to actually go, yeah, I'm gonna prioritize myself.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_00: This is my hour, this is when I'm gonna do my exercise and I'm gonna find my time.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_00: And I think as mums, we're so selflessly giving to our children all the time, we forget that we need to make time for us.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_00: And I think a gym like yours is a great place to do that.
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, Heather, and you just said uh being a little bit selfish, shall we say, or having a bit focused time.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_01: I think as a parent, a lot of people forget that because they worry about okay, I need to drop the the kids to school and then pick them up, and then you know, maybe get their husband's dinner, or and and all of these things they need to be done, but at the same time, you do need to give time to yourself, whatever that looks like.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_01: And I think you know, whether it be spending an hour at the studio um doing a bit of exercise or you know, meditation, anything like that, I think it's so important to have a healthy lifestyle here, especially here in the UA, is so important.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, and so hard.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's so hard to get the balance, but I think once you you make that decision to be selfish for you for an hour a day, to do whatever, I think that's that's uh vital.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely, because at the end of the day, if you're not happy um health-wise and mentally, then it's gonna affect you know your children, your family, the rest of the family.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_01: So I think it's so important.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_01: 100%.
• 28:20
  SPEAKER_00: So going back to rugby, are you playing with rugby sevens this year in the one in Dubai?
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_01: I am actually playing with Dubai Sevens um for the Bali Legends.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_01: Bali Legends were a tea a charity team that set up um in I don't even remember the Bali bombings, I can't remember the actual years.
• 28:38
  SPEAKER_00: So Oh yes, yeah, that was quite a long time ago.
• 28:40
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so a lady Polly um she unfortunately lost her partner and continued the legacy.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_01: Um so every year the Bali Legends play in the Dubai Sevens, but f the t the players come from all over the world, so from France, New Zealand, we had a few boys from England, um, Australia.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it's it's a great experience again to bring people together from different cultures, but also to meet other people as you as you know yourself.
• 29:10
  SPEAKER_01: The Dubai Sevens is growing every year, right?
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_00: So it's just got it's gone from something that was quite small to just a massive, massive event, and and it's such fun, it really is.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_00: I have to say, I like the Thursday afternoon best.
• 29:21
  SPEAKER_00: I like it before it gets all commercial, and you can just actually see the the local teams play.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_00: I love that.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_01: Well, absolutely, they've done it so well because normally it's free for family.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_01: So even if you don't like rugby, there's something they have netball, they have they have fitness competition at the moment, they have paddle, so and you know they have some big headliners.
• 29:42
  SPEAKER_01: I think they've just um announced Stormsey from a music perspective.
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_01: They had Craig David before Becky Hill, all of the so again you don't have to enjoy rugby.
• 29:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I think that's again just touching on rugby, that's why they do it so well, is because they understand to to grow a sport like rugby, you need to touch other um, you know, people what should I say, what people like, not just rugby as music.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_00: And so what teams are we looking out for this year?
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, Bali legends are up there, but what else are we looking out for?
• 30:12
  SPEAKER_01: Well, on on the on the series circuit, you're obviously looking at Fiji, uh New Zealand, they've always been the the the front runners.
• 30:20
  SPEAKER_01: France, they've just won the Olympics last year, they'll probably be the team to look out for, I would say.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_00: Oh, we look for I know we always look out, so obviously the Welsh team, because they used to go to school with my son, and we always kind of we cheer them on, but they've never done very well.
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_01: Uh unfortunately they I think they lost their funding.
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, because it went to GB7s.
• 30:39
  SPEAKER_01: And then unfortunately, and I guess again, this is where you know the the growth of the sport, you know, that is a struggle because especially in rugby at the moment, in the premiership in England, a lot of the teams struggle to to keep the you know the balance in green.
• 30:55
  SPEAKER_01: And it's really sad to see because they do so well in other aspects, but financially if you know it it it drives a club, right?
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_00: So in terms of so in terms of rugby, we're saying that put your child in there, they'll love it.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_00: It's great team sport, great community.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_00: Take that as a starter, and in terms of exercise, go to a gym.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_01: Absolutely.
• 31:15
  SPEAKER_01: I w I wouldn't just say just go to the gym, but I say make sure you enjoy it.
• 31:20
  SPEAKER_01: If you can do it together, even better.
• 31:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um, a lot of our class at Reset Fitness, you can actually do it together with your child, but you know, if it means going for a bike ride with your little little one, that's absolutely fine, but just make sure they enjoy it.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_01: That would be my recommendation.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_00: Brilliant.
• 31:36
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day, and thank you so much for joining us.
• 31:39
  SPEAKER_00: I I'm in awe of you play being an international rugby star.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_00: I'm like, I know an international rugby star, it's so exciting, but thank you so much.
• 31:46
  SPEAKER_01: No, it's been an absolute pleasure, Heather, and uh I look forward to catching it with you again.
• 31:50
  SPEAKER_00: You will, probably not in the gym.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_00: I've kind of those those days for me are over.