another interesting article about Muslim vs Yoga..

Another interesting article that I found on the web regarding the Muslims vs yoga, and I would like to share it here with you guys.. One thing I would like to highlight here is, I've been joining yoga for a few months and there is no chanting or praying in Hinduism at all in the class.. by the way, is it siting in Lotus pose consider part of Hinduism or Buddhism.. haha!!

Malaysia may ban yoga for Muslims

KUALA LUMPUR - Muslims in Malaysia may be barred from the ancient practice of yoga if they engage in Hindu "religious elements" during the exercise, a top Islamic cleric said Wednesday.

Harussani Zakaria, a controversial cleric from the northern Perak state, said the government-backed National Fatwa Council would soon release a decree, or "fatwa", which would decide if Muslims were allowed to practise yoga.

"If it involves any faith or religious elements it is definitely not permissible but if it is just a form of exercise that is all right," Harussani told AFP.

"Muslims cannot practice yoga in its original form because it involves another religion," he said in response to a call to ban Muslims from engaging in yoga.

Islam is the official religion of Malaysia, where more than 60 percent of the population of 27 million are Muslim Malays who practice a conservative brand of the religion.

The practice of yoga, a popular stress-buster in Kuala Lumpur, dates back thousands of years in India, where it was a favorite of holy men before becoming hugely popular internationally, especially among western celebrities.

Zakaria Stapa, a professor in the Islamic faculty of the National University of Malaysia, had called on Muslims to stop practising yoga, saying it could cause them to "deviate from their faith", news reports said on Wednesday.

Muslims in Malaysia practised yoga not just for exercise but also as part of the growing urban lifestyle and involved "chanting mantras while in various positions", he said.

"Why should we look for other alternatives to exercise and search for peace? Yoga could cause (Muslims) to stray from their faith because its movements are according to the style and traditions of Hinduism," he said.

The fatwa council, one of Malaysia's highest Islamic bodies, last Friday banned women from dressing or behaving like men and engaging in lesbian sex, saying it was forbidden by the religion.

Interesting article to share "Peeved by yoga ruling"..

My colleague told me on last Friday that she saw an article the National Fatwa Council has commented and making noise about Muslim practicing yoga because of yoga is from India and they considered that yoga is something to do with Hinduism.. as you know they are super sensitive when there is something to do with religion..

Anyway, the first thing in my mind is - OMG!! what the hell is in their mind.. anyone of them practice yoga before?? I bet none of them.. and how they know yoga is directly link to Hinduism?? and not focus mainly on the physical aspect of the practice..

I have found an interesting article wrote by a muslim yoga practitioner on the web regarding this issue.. I hope you guys will enjoy reading it.. you have done a great job muslim yoga practitioner..

I was shocked and in awe reading your report “National Fatwa Council to make a ruling on Yoga” on Thursday. Before I state my case, I think there are some questions that need to be answered.

> Why is it that during all this time, this body has shown no interest in coming out with any ruling on this practice as it is an ancient practice that has been around for centuries?

> Isn’t it strange that after much commercialisation and more people realise that healthy living is the best way to go, a ruling must be made to forbid us from practising yoga?

> What is the basis of their allegation that yoga focuses on spiritual aspects more than anything else?

> What chanting and mantra are they talking about? I have been doing Yoga for months and never during any of those times did my teachers teach us anything close to mantras or any kind of chanting whatsoever.

What yoga is to me, and I am sure to most people who practises it, is a healthy way of exercise for healthy living, similar to going to a gym or doing exercise on their own.

It is a more preferred activity because we don’t have to run for miles or join expensive fitness clubs just to keep ourselves healthy.

Even without indulging in the spiritual aspect, one can find peace of mind through relaxation and breathing exercises when the body is calmed. It even teaches you to be more patient and be tolerant especially in a stressful city like Kuala Lumpur.

The hectic lifestyle, awful driving experience and endless traffic jams, which the authorities have failed to solve, only causes more stress to city folks and yoga is one of the ways to release the stress.

So don’t tell us to stop doing what we can do in maintaining our health. Is it fair to judge and ban people from indulging in such healthy hobbies just because some people think it could deviate Muslims from their faith.

It takes one who actually practises yoga to know whether there is any truth in such claims. I wonder if any of the people concerned has ever tried yoga in his lifetime.

I am also annoyed that the National Fatwa Council thinks so lowly of Muslims in this country to conclude that we are unable to differentiate what we can and cannot do.

Yoga has been much commercialised ever since it was introduced to the West. The spiritual part of yoga is not something that is normally taught to students because the teachers focus mainly on the physical aspect of the practice – unless one chooses to learn more of the spiritual aspects.

I believe there are many important issues that need our attention besides something as trivial as this.

MUSLIM YOGA PRACTITIONER,

Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

the BODYSTEP mania is back..

I used to join BODYSTEP at least 3 times a week when I am in my previous fitness centre.. everyone seems like BODYSTEP very much and no doubt BODYSTEP is the most popular lesmills program.. you can always see a long queue outside the studio before the BODYSTEP class start and once the studio door is opened, everyone will rush in and grab a step board then find a nice spot to stand..

I am one of the BODYSTEP mania and my gym buddies as well, haha..!! it is fun to join the class together, and the class will get very high when everyone started to shout and scream when they are getting tired.. because in BODYSTEP there are a lot of jumping and running up and down the step board..

The BODYSTEP classes in my current fitness centre is not so hot yet, I have joined few times and stop due to the instructor performance and also the attendance of the class, it is definitely less fun when less members in the class and no one make noise.. very sien one!!

Recently I am joining BODYSTEP again in the latest release after a few months break.. it is so damn fun because the attendance of the class is getting more and members starting make noise in the class..haha.. somemore the performance of the instructor is getting better.. beside that the latest release tracks are quite fun too, especially the track with the remix version of Madonna's old song 'vogue', in this track there are some very DIVA hand movements where making everybody getting so high..

I have started BODYSTEP for 3 weeks and the passion of doing BODYSTEP is back and I am really happy that I enjoy BODYSTEP again.. look out!! the BODYSTEP mania is back..!! wakaka...

OH!! you may not know what is BODYSTEP.. here is the brief introduction..

BODYSTEP® is the energizing step workout that makes you feel liberated and alive. Using a height-adjustable step and simple movements on, over and around the step you get huge motivation from sing-a-long music and approachable instructors. Cardio blocks push fat burning systems into high gear followed by muscle conditioning tracks that shape and tone your body.

Please try to be punctual in your next class..

Lately there are more new members in our fitness centre, which I think it is something good because more people can make the gym become more happening and at the same time we have more people to see during our break.. haha!!

One thing that really make us mad is those new members who wanna join the group exercise class.. most of them are always late to enter the class.. I mean it is fine if you are late because you may caught in the jam or something.. but if you are enter the class late please be more consider of others and don't just squeeze yourself in between us, why not just stand at some other place because there are still lot of space in the studio.. wondering why they like to squeeze in a small space..?? what I hate most is in Body Combat class which we need a lot of space for kicking and jumping, next time I will kick their ass, haha.. it is same for Body Pump class, just like last Sunday when we are doing second track, suddenly these two ladies enter the studio and put two boards in front of me where the space is only enough for one.. they are blocking my view and also interrupt my movements, so by no choice I have to move my board to the corner.. and these two bitch(sorry can't think of any other better word to describe them..), just pretend nothing.. WTF!! I should suggest to the instructor lock the door once the class has started or ask those who are late stand at the front row.. any other better suggestions??

I can perform 'chakra asana'... YES!!

Its been a month plus since I started to attend yoga classes.. so far, I still looking forward to go for the classes although most of the pose are quite tough for me as a beginner, I will take it as a challenge to try my best to perform all the pose correct..

There is one pose 'chakra asana' that I couldn't perform which make me really depressed because 80% of the members in the class manage to perform that (even my two girl friends also can perform the pose) .. even I think a lot of people can perform this pose although they didn't attend yoga, it seems like something very simple.. that's make me depressed.. initially I though it was because my arms are not strong enough to push my body up, but when I think back, this may not the reason because even some ladies who are a bit 'over size' can perform the pose.. so I guess it is something wrong with my technique.. my friend told me that it could be because I am too nervous, because she has the same problme when she just started the yoga.. so she advised me to relax and take a deep breath then push myself up.. finally I manage to perform the 'chakra asana' pose yesterday in the class and next is to hold for longer in this pose.. wow!! honestly I feel damn happy for myself..!! I can make it.. YES!!

I miss you - BODYJAM..!!

I used to be a BodyJam 'kaki' when I was in my previous fitness centre.. used to attend BodyJam class at lease 2 times a week with my gym 'kaki', and even has become friend with the instructor, THE DIVA .. no doubt he is a good BodyJam instructor and his class is fun! fun! fun!

Some guys may find the movements in BodyJam is a bit 'Hiao' or sissy but when the music is on.. you will forget all the 'Hiao' and just move with the music.. when come to dance, no one will care you are guy or girl, 'Hiao' or not.. people will just enjoy the music and dance.. I still remembered my favorite tracks in the previous BodyJam is the song 'Call On Me'.. when this song is played, wow!! I will forget everything in my mind and just move and shake my body.. another favorite song is 'Don't Stop The Music' by Rihanna.. we all love the movements in this track so much, all will go crazy when the song is on...

Back in my current fitness centre, there is BodyJam classes but just the instructor conducting the class is less fun.. not to say about their movements, but just lack of fun that we had last time.. joined 2-3 times before and I felt bored and quit BodyJam..

Recently I heard that the person in charge is asking the previous BodyJam instructor, the DIVA to teach in my current fitness centre.. what a good news!! I really hope it will really happen so we can JAM with the DIVA again.. and sure will be fun! fun! fun! again... yahoo!!

they are WONDER WOMAN..

There is a very funny fact in my current gym.. I am talking about those instructors who are conducting Body Pump classes in the gym, it seems like the female instructors are more powerful and more tough then male instructors, haha.. especially the two female Body Pump instructors who are conducting the evening class on Tuesday and Wednesday..

Let's start with the Tuesday's Body Pump instructor, call her Ms.M.. she is short hair and quite tough body, she always like to play those tough tracks to torture us.. I have noticed that she always like to make the bicep, chest and squat tracks very hard, and make all of us sweat and scream out. haha.. really torture one lo and can really feel the pain!! beside that, she always encourage us to challenge ourselves by increasing extra weights.. as an instructor, she hardly make mistake in the class and she always give us an impression that she is very steady, strong and well prepare before start the class.. although she looks a bit cool but a nice person if you get to know her..

Wednesday Body Pump instructor is Ms.PS.. she got long hair, tall and can consider lean.. another instructor who like to torture us.. we like to scream at her when she make mistake in the class like lost count.. we are naughty students.. haha!! don't judge her by her physical appearance, the weight that she carries may surprise you, another strong instructor.. she is a friendly person and can see her smiling face most of the time..

I mentioned both of them here because I really enjoy the classes done by them, although it is torture but can really feel the muscle is working and getting more firm.. beside that I do like them because I can feel the passion of both of them as an instructor while conducting the class.. so to me they are WONDER WOMAN in Body Pump class.. GIRL POWERRRRR....!!!

Yup! YOGA makes me sleep better..

Yoga.. yoga.. yoga.. this thing has been in my mind since I started my new gym few months ago.. but juz though of it with no action.. Angie has been asking me to join her for yoga few times and she also has told me the benefits that she got from yoga.. but I juz can't make up my mind to join.. actually my main concern is bcuz I worried that my body is not flexible and I couldn't bend, and I can't do certain positions that requested by the instructor.. it is quite embarrassing lo..!!

Finally, I have make up my mind and give myself a try to attend yoga lately.. there are few different types of yoga available in my gym, such as 'gentle yoga', 'hatha yoga', 'astanga yoga', 'power yoga' and so on.. basically the different is the level of difficulties.. since I am beginner, so I have started with 'gentle yoga' which is like the foundation of yoga.. actually, I can do better then what I am expected in the class beside some positions which are really killing me.. the instructor is good bcuz he will walk around in the class to check our position and correct us, but one problem with him is, he is Indian from India.. his Ing-lish is quite difficult to catch what he said, so I will juz look at people beside me to make sure what is the next pose.. haha..!!

Anyway, it is quite fun and I am enjoying the class although some positions are too hard for me.. tell u what what... as what Angie told me, I really sleep very well that night after yoga, sleep like a pig.. haha..!! but I woke up in the next morning, my whole body is pain.. so I believed I am doing the right thing, and didn't pose wrongly.. wakaka.. I will definitely go for more 'gentle yoga' before I can start to join the next level... Happy yoga!! let's pose..!!

about the article 'Friends in fitness'..

I saw this article 'Friends in fitness' in Sunday star newspaper on last Sunday.. after reading the whole article, I am absolutely agreed with the article.. I can apply it into my own gym life.. for a very simple example.. if I am alone in the gym that day, I will feel very very lazy to join the class or even I joined but I still won't really enjoy it much.. it is not due to I am tired or the instructions from the instructor, it is bcuz of my own 'lonely mood'..

Definitely it is more fun to go gym with a few gym buddies then alone.. as it is the motivation to push each of us work harder.. like in the article, Kate Naunheim said 'The only way I make it through was by hanging out with others in the group'.. some may though this way.. if going gym with frens then end up we may talk more then work out.. u may right.. but actually it is much depend on individual.. of cuz my gym buddies and I were talk in the gym but usually when we do class or cardio, we will fully pay our attention on it and work it out.. and we will talk when we either have done or during our break.. another benefit of having gym buddies is.. we can share our health or gym tips among us or even something about diet control, and with all the sharing definitely it will help to achieve our goal in gym faster and at the same time can minimise any injury cause by improper movements during workout.. so now u guys can see the benefits of doing gym together.. so let's RUN-RUN, JUMP-JUMP, KICK-KICK and PUMP-PUMP together.. yeah!! yeah!!

RUN... keep on RUNNING..

I never like running on the treadmill.. I found it is very boring.. When talking about running on treadmill, my very first reaction will be.. 'Yer.. so boring one..!!' and I am too lazy to do that too..

Recently I have joined a new gym and equipments there are really cool.. finally I decided to run on treadmill again.. firstly is bcuz the equipment and secondly I know that running is a best way to burn calories.. I need that bcuz I like to eat and always found that it is too hard for me to control my diet.. hey!! life is short.. this cannot eat! that cannot eat! no fun lor!! haha.. but of coz I will always try to remind myself don't eat too much, not only to maintain a proper shape but most importantly is for my health..

So far, I am quite happy with my running process.. manage to increase the time of my running slowly.. and try to run at least 3 times a week for 30 mins every section.. I am monitoring the total of calories burned every section, and again so far the result is quite satisfying..

You may feel very hard or leg pain when u start running.. but I am sure u can overcome it after the first 10mins.. been asking some frens who are running and all of them had the same feeling.. so u are not the only one feel pain, ok!! start slowly and try to relax and enjoy your running process, put on your mp3 and play some great music..

So, let's run.. and burn more calories and say bye bye to your extra fat..!!

new gym.. let's get FIT..!!

Well.. finally i have stop my ex-fitness centre after joining them for 3 years plus.. frankly it is a bit sad bcuz i have get used to the environment and people there, and i am having a happy times with them too.. thanks!!

Started my new gym from this month onwards.. so far I quite like the new environment especially the new equipments, i have found some new equipments that my previous gym does not have, and i quite enjoying using them.. especially the equipment to twice the abs.. hopefully the more i twice my abs will become more firm.. and my waist will become smaller.. haha!! beside equipments, the songs they played in the gym is even much nicer and there is a DJ on air sometime.. another surprised was, the gym is getting more people in the weekday's evening bcuz i remembered my first visit in 2 months ago.. the gym is quiet even it is on weekday's evening.. but yesterday evening the gym is quite noisy and more happening!! that's a good sign!!

But to me the only thing 'missed' is the attendance of the classes especially body pump.. i was there for body pump class at 6.45pm yesterday and only 3 guys attending the class.. OMG!! but outside the studio are lot of people using equipments.. a bit surprised that not so many members there are interested in attending classes.. but on the weekend the attendance of body combat class are quite alright, at least with 10 people in a class.. maybe lot of new member who never try body pump before feel a bit scared to try bcuz it looks so tired and not easy for the movements.. frankly i do feel the same before i start joining body pump.. haha!!

Anyway.. let's work harder and let's get fit in new gym.. YAHOOOOO!!!!

he is Rafael (the capoeira instructor)

This is the 100 Plus Activ commercial done by Rafael, water capoeira.. really impressive!!

my very first Capoeira class..

Jeng! Jeng! I had my very first capoeira class yesterday.. before the class i was a bit nervous but also feel excited bcuz i been thinking of doing it long time ago..

The instructor is Rafael (the guy who did water capoeira for 100 plus aqtiv advertiment in cinema).. he looks lean and fit in real and i really like his hair, so unique the African style and so impressive!! he is a frenly guy too..

80% in the class were beginner, thanks god!! we start with stretching.. OMG!! even the stretching is so hard, i noticed that my body is not flexible at all, i can't really bend myself much, so sad.. after the 15 mins stretching, i was damn tired already..haha!! no even start the lesson...

It was quite fun actually and it is more like martial act instead of dance.. of coz i am lost sometime middle of the class bcuz of the movements are too complicated to me or i lost count.. and there are also one specific movement that i can't do at all.. it is a very simple movement but i juz can't do it.. arhhhhhhhhh..... honestly i really feel upset bcuz of that.. but i told myself i have to practise it at home until i can get it.. support me pleaseee.... and the music or song for capoeira are more like the African or Brazilian traditional type..

Another thing is the outfit of doing capoeira, it seems like long n lose pant is more suitable for it, and yesterday i worn a short which is quite tight, so it is damn hard for me to kick my leg high.. so embarrassing.. haha!!

So i will go get my long pant and get ready for my second class again next week!! have fun!! haha!!

CAPOEIRA

Capoeira (IPA: [ka.pu.ˈej.ɾɐ]) is an Afro-Brazilian blend of martial art, game, and culture created by enslaved Africans in Brazil during the 16th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the center of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Throughout the game, a player must avoid a sweep, trip, kick, or head butt that may knock him or her on the floor. Less frequently-used techniques include elbow-strikes, slaps, punches, and body-throws. Capoeira has evolved from one main form, known as "Capoeira Angola", into two other forms known as "Capoeira Regional", and the ever-evolving "Capoeira Contemporânea".

For more information about Capoeira please visit : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira

trying new gym centre

Me and my gym buddies have went to visit the new gym centre which lately opened in one of the hottest new shopping mall in town.. the package they offered is quite attractive in term of monthly fees compared to what we are paying now.. the consultant has gave us a 3 days visitor pass for trying the gym equipments and classes on last weekend..

We went joined the classes on friday evening and crazy me has joined 3 classes back to back and i was damn tired after all the classes.. talking about the classes, if compare to my current gym, the number of members who join the classes are really less, they seem like not really interested or maybe not dare to join the classes.. so not really fun!! luckily 6 of us went to join the classes and make the classes warmer than usual.. haha!! even the instructor who also teaching in my current gym said he really happy to us there for his classes.. haha!! actually the studio/class rooms are not bad, i like the 3 sides mirror which we can really see ourselves when we turn around to see our movements but one thing is just the aircon inside the studio is too cold.. hopefully it is get warmer when there is more members join the class..

The gym equipments there are much advance in term of technology and all brand new.. which really make me have the 'mood' to use them.. haha!! what attracted me most is the capoeira (Brazil's dance) classes which i really wanna try although i know it is hard.. others like hot yoga and bikram are something new that i never try before..

Overall after 3 days trying the gym, we are quite satisfied with the gym facilities except we need to bring our own towels and there is no shoe lockers available in the locker room.. anyway it is not a big problem as long as we enjoy the new gym environment..

We have decided to join the new gym and hopefully we will have great time in the new gym, enjoy our workout, our classes and for me i wish i can learn and pick up the capoeira skills.. i am hope all of us will become more fit and more healthy in new gym.. most importantly - more happy!! haha..

thinking of change for my gym..

last saturday i was talking with a gym mates, he was saying that he just bought a burn fat gel to apply on his abs after the workout.. basically this gel will helps to burn more fat than usual.. it sounds quite interesting to me because i always wanna have a flat abs.. although i do a lot of cardio and sit up but my abs seems like still the same, always a little tummy there which is very irritating... while i am really interesting to know more about the product than he told me the price... OMG!! it costs RM200+ and one bottle only can use for about 3 weeks.. that is too much for me.. i know although i use the gel but i still need to watch my diet.. else i can't expect a big improvement..

beside abs... i do wish to have a bigger ot nicer shape of bicep and chest.. i do body pump classes and i do free weight training too (2 times a week..) but again.... i don't see any improvement on that.. i know the reason is because i didn't take any protein supplementary which will help your muscle grow bigger... i know no matter how hard i do, i still won't get a nice bicep and chest if i didn't take the supplementary.. so i am thinking whether should i give myself a try to take the supplementary?? heart from my friend at the initial stage your body might not get use to it and you may have some side effects, so he advised me that if i really wanna take supplementary than i should take more fruits or fruit juice to reduce the impact..

well, i am still considering about the protein supplementary.. should i have a try or should i just stay with what i am having now... no pay no gain.. no pay no beauty.. aiks.....!!

90 mins bodystep / dinner in Chilis

to double celebrate the 3 days long weekend raya break, the fitness centre has organised a 90mins bodystep class (usual one is 60mins) on 14/10/07 - sunday.. we all are so excited and can't wait to join the class but on the other hand, feel a bit worried about our stamina whether we can complete the 90mins class, coz bodystep is not something easy and lots of jumping and spinning here and there..

finally, we manage to complete the 90mis class... YEAH!! to celebrate our achievement, we decided to go chilis to have dinner... as you know.. chilis stuffs are quite fattening.. I am wondering.. is it another 90mins bodystep class can burn all the fat than I ate in chilis..?? or I need more than 90mins bodystep...?? any idea?? anyone....