16 Feb Exercising makes you beautiful;
There’s a first time for everything, they say.
Last week’s story #02.
I had to skip the usual Sunday morning training (first time skipping training!! *gasp*) but for a good cause. I was invited to be the Guest of Honour for the first ever Muslimah Run called the Aquila Style WOW Muslimah Run 2014.
I mean how often do you get a chance to perform a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of 600 people? I also had the chance to flag off a race and at the end of the event, I was giving out the prizes. SO MUCH WIN, I tell you. It was so stressful at first because I’ve never done GOH duties before and I was so worried about what I should do but the organizers were so warm and friendly, it made me calm down a little.
I had to deliver a speech which I hope did inspire the women to continue to embark in a healthy lifestyle and encouraging other women to exercise. I advocate women leading a healthy lifestyle and doing sports and other forms of exercises like hot yoga and pilates (hot yoga is awesome, btw). I truly, truly believe that exercising should be part of our daily routine because of the many benefits it provides. Have you seen anyone who exerciese regularly look ugly? No. Exactly. Exercise makes you beautiful inside out. You gotta try it to believe it. Go, give it one week of exercising, and tell me how you feel at the end of the week. It doesn’t have to be much. 30mins a day? Wake up 30mins earlier to go for a light jog before you head off to work. Or spend that 30mins after work before you head home to work out. or 30mins during lunch time. There’s always time for an exercise.
And another focus of the run was to encourage women in hijab to exercise. I mean, what you wear should never stop you from working out. I’ve seen Indian women in sari playing badminton under my block. The Chinese guys in NUS gym work out in jeans and slippers (although its unsafe and highly inappropriate and irritating) but my point is, so what if you wear a hijab? Put on your favourite running clothes and shoes and GO! In fact, I truly respect women in hijab who do sports. (Read about Iranian rower, Soulmaz Abbas here. A truly inspirational Muslimah!)
Anyway, I joined the Fun Run category and was accompanied by the fastest woman in the individual category, a 44 year old hijab-wearing woman, who participates in marathons. RESPECT. And she started when she was in her 30s. I was telling her that when I’m 44, I wanna be just like her! Still running, still fit and strong and heathy.
So women of all races, languages and religions, all culture and ages, all shapes and sizes, it’s not too late for you to start living healthy. It is such a waste to grow old without knowing how fit and strong your body can be. So seize this very moment you have right now to be able to put on your running shoes and go for a run/jog/walk. Just go out there and sweat it out. Remember, Go Jer. When you’re done with the exercise, let me know if you regretted doing it in the first place.
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