SHARJAH, UAE- The music was playing, and 20 children were jumping, crawling and tiptoeing their way through an energetic aerobics workshop at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026).
Held at the Fitness & Wellness District, the ‘Aerobic Session Through Storytelling: Your Body is the Story’ combined exercise with an imaginative game that encouraged children of different ages to stay active while having fun.
After the warm-ups, it was time for the music. Lively beats filled the hall, and the young participants started dancing to them. They were instructed to follow a sequence of exercises. The participants had to follow the leader and stand on a pre-set path. This workout followed an engaging tale of the floor occasionally turning into lava, the children had to navigate a designated path without stepping outside it.
As the music gathered pace, they crawled, hopped, tiptoed and jumped their way through the imaginary obstacles, following the instructor’s movements.
By the end of the workshop, the children had discovered a playful way to exercise through storytelling, with movements they could practise again with friends and family.
“Even though I am tired, I am having a lot of fun,” said Abdul Rahim as he sat down panting with a smile.
Mernie, the instructor for this session, emphasised the importance of exercise and developing a fitness routine when one is young.
“Humans are at their most energetic selves when they are children. I aim to teach kids these exercises young so they can be encouraged to do them consistently,” he said.
The session eventually came to an end, and the young participants had learnt a new set of exercises that they can do with their friends and family, whenever they please.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles. Its programme features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 guests from 25 countries.
