Tuesday 22 November 2011

friniggi singlet vs kulsoom singlet

I posted a new photo to KulsoomWWC2011/friniggisingletvskulsoomssinglet.

I've been working on a singlet for Kulsoom to wear at all competitions. The most recent singlet was the one I developed for worlds (emerald green singlet on left)
I was pretty proud of it, being the first performance sportswear developed under the friniggi brand for a specific sport, in this case weightlifting. THe rest of our performance sportswear is more for general purpose workout-wear.
For whatever reason, Kulsoom decided not to wear the friniggi singlet. And instead went with her own (dark green singlet on the right).
Disappointed as I was, I knew it was important for her to wear something she felt comfortable in, and for some reason the friniggi singlet didn't do it for her.
When I saw the pics of her WWC singlet, I was glad to see that the dark green singlet had improved from the black Nationals singlet she wore the first time after IWF changed regulations in July 2011.
I was also glad to see that some of the friniggi design elements also featured in Kulsoom's singlet:
- The vertical seam down from the neck to the crotch (An important design element that pulls the rest of the design features together)
- Straight cut from underarms to leg cuff (For more modesty - the Nationals singlet was sort of shapely on the waist and hips. The vertical seam helps to achieve this too)
- Lower crotch (For more modesty when squatting during lifts)

Kulsoom Abdullah WWC 2011 experience

I posted a new photo (plus more!!) to KulsoomWWC2011.

Monday 21 November 2011

Nawal el Moutawakel in her prime (left). Emotional when accepting Laureus award 2010 (right).

I posted a new photo to muslimsportswomen.

Nawal el Moutakawel, 49, won the 400m hurdles race in 1984 in Los Angeles, becoming the first Muslim woman to earn a gold medal at the Olympic Games. She was also the first Muslim woman to be elected to the International Olympic Committee, in 1997. She won the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.
She currently serves on the International Olympic Committee and is leading the Committee delegation to Rio, for 2016 preparations.
Moutawakel is one of the Top Ten Female Muslim Athletes, past and present.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Get in tune with your body - Motivations for exercise



I believe in having the proper motivations for exercise to achieve consistent, desirable results.
In an earlier post Motivations for exercise I wrote about how the 'wrong' motivations can set you up for frustration and failure to reach your goals.

Instead of having motivations such as "I want to drop 4 sizes" or "I want to be as slim as so- and-so", rather choose more constant, more self-serving motivations that are sure to be met with exercise and continue to grow in strength the more you exercise.

What kind of motivations are these? Here are examples:
1. To look after one's body (not to make it fit a specific mental picture)
2. To appreciate one's body for what it does, help you live daily life
3. To be in tune with your body

There are more, but I'll leave that up to you to find your own. Such motivations forge the natural relationship between mind, body and soul. When that connection is stronger, all three are stronger and this contributes to greater overall health.

Looking a little closer at number 3 on that list:
GET IN TUNE WITH YOUR BODY:

Have you ever noticed how, when you first started exercising or stepped up your routine to something more challenging, you burned in muscles you didn't know you had? This is the first stage of getting in tune with your body.

Exercising with consciousness (don't let your mind wander, focus on every move and breath) helps you tune in to your body. You'll get to know what it needs, when it needs it and how often.

Ever notice, that when you changed from sedentary lifestyle to exercising regularly, certain cravings for junk food lost its appeal? This is especially true immediately after a workout. Fizzy drinks are not as appealing as thirst-quenching water. Chocolate bars are not as appealing as a banana or peanut-butter sandwich. Your body is high on endorphins from exercise replacing the craving for sugar-highs. And after paying attention to your body during a workout, you can hear, feel better what it truly wants.
The more you workout with this motivation, the more in tune you will be with your body.

One last point: Yoga breathers, those who have done pranayama exercises for many years, can actually feel when they have pneumonia or other lung infection. They pay so much attention to breathing that when one lung doesn't inflate as it usually does, they can feel it. That's getting in tune with your body!

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Ibtihaj Muhammad may be first US Muslim to compete in hijab in 2012 Olympics

I posted a new photo to muslimsportswomen.

IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD - IN HER OWN WORDS
Sourced: http://www.emel.com/article?id=90&a_id=2479
“I played many sports when I was younger, including tennis, softball, and volleyball. My mother then discovered that our local high school had a fencing team. I joined the team when I was 13, grateful to find a sport where, as a Muslim woman, my desire to dress modestly would be fulfilled. Also, for the first time in any sport I had played, I would wear the same uniform as my teammates.”
“For the first three years, I fenced epee. I had always been a good athlete, so naturally I was a decent epee fencer. When our fencing team had an opening on the sabre squad, my high school coach, Frank Mustilli, decided I would switch to sabre. I was reluctant at first, but in hindsight, I can say that switching to sabre was one of the best athletic decisions I have ever made. Without Frank practically forcing me into sabre, I don’t believe that I would still be fencing — certainly not at this advanced level.”
“Sabre is a lot more fast-paced than the other weapons. It is also a right of way weapon, which means that the fencer must take certain actions to score a point. It’s also a challenge because it requires agility, quick footwork and strategy.”
“As an athlete, I have always found my most challenging opponent to be myself. Competitions are often lost from losing mental focus. I also constantly remind myself that I am able to handle anything that comes my way."