Bahrain City Centre’s ‘City Walkers’, a unique and free program which promotes health and fitness with trainers from Fitness First, celebrates one year of success with a jubilant birthday on 21 May, 2011.
In its first year of operation, City Walkers’ have swelled to over 1000 members who now meet three times a week.
“What we have seen from the growing numbers of City Walkers and from feedback we’ve received is that the benefits of this program go beyond just the physical. We know this is a great way to maintain or increase fitness levels in a safe, climate controlled setting, but this is just the beginning of the benefits members have experienced. A number of men and woman have said that City Walkers is not only a great way to meet new people of all ages but it’s also a fabulous way to window shop at the same time. With the summer months just around the corner, there is no better time to join the City Walkers program,” said Bahrain City Centre General Manager Ray Scott.
In a study that has been commissioned by Health Promotion Directorate, Ministry of Health, nearly 70% of members who joined City Walkers said they did so to lose weight. Another finding from members was that nearly a third would like to do add in diet consultation and monitoring of weight and body measurements to track their progress, to coincide with the City Walkers club.
In response to ongoing feedback a new rewards and incentive program has also been built into the City Walkers free memberships in collaboration with a number of Bahrain City Centre retailers.
“We’re pleased that this program is moving ahead, and has grown in size in the one year of operation. We wish them every success for the future,” Capital Governorate Deputy Governor Ali Al Asfoor said.
“I am excited about progress of the program which will help to create a culture of active life in Bahrain. We at Ministry of Health will conduct complete health risk appraisal for City Walkers members going forward,” said Dr. Amal Abdul Rahman Al Jowder, Ministry of Health Director of Health Promotion Directorate and the projects creator.
There is no age limit or restrictions on joining the City Walkers programme, which is supervised by a Fitness First personal trainer and is run three times a week on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday from 9 am – 10 am.