The temperature-controlled environment, comfort and safety of malls are drawing an increasing number of residents to stay fit this summer.
Welcoming the initiative, mall-goers say it allows them to do some physical activity while also giving them the opportunity to shop - thereby serving two purposes at the same time.
Hyatt Plaza has played a key role in the area of mall-walking over the past few years. In December 2012, the Hyatt Plaza Walking Club was launched in co-operation with Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF)’s Step into Health initiative.
The programme aims to motivate and inspire residents of Qatar to walk more and raise awareness on the importance of walking to stay healthy and prevent many diseases.
Hyatt Plaza general manager Feroz Moideen said the club is Qatar’s “first dedicated mall-walking club” that fully supports AZF’s annual Ramadan competition, which invites people to walk more and win prizes such as pedometers and vouchers.
Hyatt Plaza offers an indoor walking route to help guide people as they walk inside the mall.
Seventy-year-old Walid Yousef, an engineer employed in a consulting company, told Gulf Times that he regularly walks in the mall as part of his routine. He does so through the year.
“I usually go there to stroll when I am free but mostly on Fridays. The place is close to my house,” he said. “I also work out in the small gym in my building.”
Yousef finds walking “lighter and safer” compared to other forms of exercise, which may be “strenuous and risky” to older people like him. He walks for an average of 30 minutes inside mall, doing a number of rounds in the process.  
Like Yousef, expatriates such as Gary also find time to walk at least once a week for an hour at Hyatt Plaza as well as the nearby and Villaggio during the summer despite his busy schedule.
A number of people could be seen walking in the evening after the Iftar break, according to Hyatt Plaza’s customer service personnel.
“As a socially responsible shopping mall, we make consistent efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle among our customers and the community at large,” said Moideen. “Offering a climate-controlled venue can play a vital role in encouraging people to walk more and stay fit during Ramadan.”
Though the evenings are also becoming hot and humid, some residents still prefer to work out in open spaces such as the Museum of Islamic Art Park, Aspire Park and the Corniche.