getting into the habit of exercise (part 1) - the mind shift

DAILY ROUTINE
6am - Wake up, get ready for work
8am - 5pm At work
6pm - 9pm Cooking dinner, family time, Tv time
IDEA OF RELAXING
Watching tv eating a bag of crisps
Going to movies
Eating out
Playing tv games
If the above describes your daily routine and relaxation techniques, then you pretty much live a sedentary lifestyle. And I'm sure you've read all the studies on the health implications of "sedentary lifestyles".
We all know we need to exercise, but getting into a routine can be difficult especially when your body is not used to moving more than the stretch it takes to reach for the remote.
Jumping head first into a daily 45 min session is going to shock your body, and it'll resist it. By way of aches and pains, perhaps even a mild illness, leading to a mental resistance to exercise.
That kind of shock training is only for professional athletes. They already have the commitment, mental agility that normal FUN-ACTIVe people don't have. Even if their bodies don't have what it takes, their minds are leading them through it.
Sedentary people who wish to become FUN-ACTIVE people, ie people who exercise and play sports for fun and health and not as a profession, have to lead both their MINDS and BODIES through to the world of physical movement.
Introduce yourselves s-l-o-w-l-y into exercise.
It doesn't matter how you do it or what you do it with. Forget about purchasing new gym kits, shoes or that massive gym ball. Those do not make you fit, they are tools, mere means to an end. Without trying to sound like an old Chinese-proverb spewing machine: Fitness is within you. Within you.
All you need is you. Start with 3 mins a day. Yes, 3 mins! This is a slow introduction.
The biggest obstacle is your mind. It's telling you that you need the right sportswear, the right equipment, a gym membership. So you never get to it, because you don't have these things and perhaps can't afford it or don't have time for it, right?
What's needed is to show yourself, give your mind the evidence, that you don't need these things to get fit, to exercise.
That's where the 3 mins come in.
Wherever you can fit those 3 mins, get up in whatever clothes you are in and do a form of exercise with out any equipment.
Star jumps, squats, lunges, knee lifts, jogging on the spot, stretches. I recommend you do it in the morning before you shower. SO that if you get all sweaty, you are going to shower anyway. But if you're cool with doing it at work, with your sleeves rolled up, and you have confidence in your underarm roll on, that's ok too. The point is to focus on moving for 3 mins.
Do this for a week, everyday. You'll find that you may look forward to those 3mins. And gradually your mind will shift into the world of physical movement, and will start looking for exercises or sports that you like more than star jumps. Then depending on what exercise program you choose, those 3 mins extend to 15 or 20 mins over a few weeks. ANd it is easier, more likely to stick than if you jumped head first from sedentary into 45 min spinning sessions. After that, who knows? Maybe you'll find a sport you love, and master it. But that's for the future. Years from now.
Right now, do those 3 mins!

Help Kulsoom get to USA Nationals July 15 - 17

The friniggi 12th Girl Project: For the development of Muslim women's sports and fitness in the global Muslim community

Without much fanfare, friniggi has launched it's social project: The friniggi 12th Girl project.
On our website
our mission statement reads:
friniggi's purpose is to enable Muslim women to participate in sports without compromising her faith. We aim to encourage sporting activities among Muslim women and to contribute substantially to the development of women’s sports in the global Muslim community
The 12th Girl project is how we're going to contribute to the development of Muslim women's sports and fitness in the global community.
MORE ABOUT IT:
in football there is a term: the 12th man or the 12th player.
It refer's to the fans who support the team.
The 12th Girl project is about encouraging Muslim women to exercise and play sports for the following reasons:
1. Muslim women are discouraged from doing exercise and sports by their cultures, depriving them of the associated health benefits.
2. Many Muslim majority countries have large scale poverty. Young Muslim girls with sports talent have natural ability to uplift themselves and their families out of poverty. But they need financial and moral support to get started. That's where 12th Girl comes in.
3. Sports keeps young people busy with little time for negative teenage activities.
4. Sports and exercise expose young people to a form of discipline and focus. Important for young achievers of tomorrow.
HOW WE AIM TO ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES:
1. Sponsor sportswear for athletes (something friniggi has been offering for the past year)
2. Seek additional sponsorship where required to further sports careers.
3. Remove barriers:
a) Many sporting federations have dress regulations that do not accommodate for Muslim women. WE campaign to change this.
b) Remove cultural barriers through education. Dispelling misconceptions and educating people how Islam encourages sports and exercise for both genders.
4. Provide moral support to athletes giving advice on furthering careers or overcoming social barriers.

Special feature: Muslim women of Wimbledon 2011 (Part 2)

It's only hours to the final and my favourite, Sharapova is in the finals. Can't wait!
Here are the other Muslim female players of Wimbledon 2011:
Aravane Rezai
Akgul Amanmuradova

Akgul Amanmuradova.jpg

Aravanne Rezai.jpg

IWF - most progressive sporting body of today

In light of recent developments regarding Muslim women's competition wear in weightlifting tournies, friniggi sportswear heralds the
IWF as the most progressive, most inclusive and open-minded sporting bodies of today.
Sooo unlike FIFA.. tsk tsk.
Kudos to IWF!
See their news release after their Malaysia meeting on June 26 below:

MEDIA RELEASE in regard to weightlifting competition costumes
29.06.2011
INTERNATIONAL WEIGHTLIFTING FEDERATION CREATES MORE INCLUSIVE SPORT ENVIRONMENT
(Penang, MAS) The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) demonstrated its progressive strength today during the Junior World Championships by presenting alternatives to its traditional competition costumes. The newly approved competition costume modification promotes and enables a more inclusive sport environment and breaks down barriers to participation.

The IWF's Technical Committee, chaired by IWF Vice President Sam Coffa of Australia, reviewed a proposal from the United States Olympic Committee and the USA Weightlifting Federation in relation to Muslim female athlete competition wear. "The Committee continually reviews its technical sport rules as directed by its quadrennial work plan." Coffa declares "This issue was on our radar so we thank the USOC and our member Federation for prompting it and look forward to having increased global participation from removing this barrier"

The modified rule changes permits athletes to wear a one piece full body tight fitted "unitard" under the compulsory weightlifting costume. The "unitard" will enable technical officials to effectively adjudicate areas of the body which are essential to the correct execution of the lift. "As far as wearing coverings on the athletes head, such as the hijab, the sport of Olympic Weightlifting has always allowed this." Coffa notes "Our rules simply mandate that the athlete cannot touch the head with the barbell; if the barbell touches the covering, it is considered to be part of the head."

"Weightlifting is an Olympic Sport open for all athletes to participate without discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, age, or national origin in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter and values." states Dr Tamas Ajan, IWF President and Honorary IOC member "This rule modification has been considered in the spirit of fairness, equality and inclusion."
The new IWF Competition Costume rule modifications are effective immediately.
For more information, contact:
Ms Aniko Nemeth-Mora
Director and Chief of Protocol
+0164090029 (Penang, MAS until July 8, 2011)
aniko.nemeth-mora@iwfnet.net