Two kinds of island workday
Bani Yas is a district on the mainland, and the route box rates the drive from there to RPM, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, a mainland commute. This page is for two groups who make that drive for work: hospital and clinic staff on the island, whose rotas change from week to week, and office staff, whose hours are steadier. The idea is the same for both. Some workdays end on the island at an hour when the club is open, and on those days a session costs the training time and a later drive home. For everything else, a gym in your own area is the easier option. Before planning, read what to know about RPM's location before you plan around a rota.
Audit your next rota in five steps
- Mark every shift or office day that takes you onto the island.
- Cross out night shifts and the day after each one. Sleep comes first, and a mainland drive is no place to be drowsy.
- Of the days left, circle those that finish while the club still has time for a session. The hours are below.
- Choose no more than two circled days for RPM. The others become rest days or local sessions.
- Add those sessions to the calendar where you keep your rota, and pack the bag the night before each one.
| Days | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday to Thursday | 06:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–22:00 |
Hours can change, for example during Ramadan. Confirm with the team before a late or early visit.
Run the audit again when the next rota is published. Rebuilding the plan each time is what lets it survive a pattern that keeps moving.
Matching the session to the shift you just finished
| How the shift left you | A session that fits | Leave out |
|---|---|---|
| On your feet all day, legs tired | Upper-body strength, or easy cardio on a bike | Heavy squats and long treadmill runs |
| Mentally drained, body fresh | A full strength session from a plan written in advance | Deciding the workout on the floor |
| Short of sleep | Mobility and light movement, or nothing | Heavy lifting, and training at all if you are struggling to stay alert |
| Finished early and feeling good | The main lift of the week, or a coached session | Nothing: use the day |
A coach can write each session with a heavy option and a light option, so the shift decides which one you do. Personal training at RPM is planned around your goal and schedule, which for shift staff includes the rota.
Office days on the island are the simpler case
If your island days are office days with steady hours, skip the audit and pick two fixed days. Days with a lighter workload hold up better than days full of deadlines, and a session booked into your work calendar is harder to cancel. If you work for a government entity, the guide for government employees has more on fitting training around that working week.
Al Ain Road, and protecting the drive home
The mapped route from Bani Yas follows Al Ain Road and then Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street (Airport Road) into AD HUB, which has free on-site parking and a lift to Level 4. The figures start from one mapped point in Bani Yas.
After a long shift and a session, the drive home is the leg to protect. Eat before you leave the club and drink water. If you feel too tired to drive, rest before setting off.
Uniforms, lockers and asking your employer
- Bring a change of clothes, so you are not training in a uniform or scrubs, and a bag to carry them home.
- Keypad lockers in the changing area hold your valuables. Whether towels are provided, and what the showers are like, are questions for the team.
- Women who prefer to train away from men can use the Ladies section, which has its own equipment and the Pilates studio, with female coaches on the roster.
- If several colleagues are interested, ask whoever handles staff benefits about corporate arrangements, which are tailored to each organisation and confirmed on enquiry.
Questions, answered.
Does RPM have a Bani Yas branch?
No. There is one club, on Level 4 of AD HUB Sports Complex in Al Manhal, on the island.
My rota includes nights. Where does training go?
On a day off once you have slept, or not at all that week. Training straight after a night shift and then driving home is a combination worth avoiding.
Is the recovery suite a good idea after a long shift?
That is a personal call, and anyone pregnant or with a heart condition should get a doctor's view before the sauna, steam room or ice bath. Leave it out on days you are already exhausted, because the drive home is still ahead. The recovery suite page explains each room.
Which tier suits a shift worker?
If you will lift on your own, Floor covers the training floor. If you want a coach to plan around the rota, ask about Engine or Atelier. The team sets out what each includes, and the price, when you ask.
Can I train before a late shift instead?
Yes, if the late shift is on the island. Train in the late morning or early afternoon, eat, then go to work, leaving enough time not to rush into the shift.