Monocle Columnist Andrew Tuck Tries Reformer Pilates at Bodytree During Abu Dhabi Liveability Event

Monocle columnist Andrew Tuck joined a Monocle team at the Livex Liveability & Investment exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, where he attended his first reformer Pilates class alongside Monocle Radio colleague Tom Webb. The session took place at Bodytree, a fitness studio in Abu Dhabi recommended by colleague Ailish, who had booked the lessons but withdrew an hour before the class. Instructor Carlos led the session, which included resistance springs, straps and metal bars, with Tuck struggling through 50 minutes of exercises while Webb was singled out for praise. Afterward, Ailish revealed that Bodytree had sent her a warning, marked with a red chilli-pepper emoji, that the class would be brutal for novices. Tuck recounted the experience in his Monocle column, published under the title urging readers to heed such warnings.