Ninie Ahmad: Off her yoga mat.

I forgive those who just don’t understand whilst,

most girls’ wish list & dreams are to have a walk-in wardrobe, another LV Speedy 25 and to have 3 kids & still have the body & style of Victoria Beckham,

and some boys’ work like no tomorrow to own VW Scirocco in Shadow Blue and to be financially independant to not have to work for someone else anymore,

.. MY short-term plan is to go to India further studying Ashtanga, Vedanta & Ayurveda, leaving no debts and no one depending on me back at home – hopefully before I hit 30,

and dare I say, my lifelong dream is to know exactly when I will leave my body and breathe my last breath – with no painful illness, no gory injury, absolute no hatred and no desire to want or feel anything anymore. Hopefully in a knowing sleep after having finished another round of chanting Holy Al’ Quran.

That is why everyday I wake up, everything I put in my body, every drop of sweat, every word I say to anyone, every affirmation I pray here – is heading to the way and to the dreams I live my life to realise.

So if my last day in this lifetime is tomorrow, I know I have no regret for I would have returned this body He lent me and have served Him with full responsibility.

God willing.

Hello Thursday!

If you are free tonight and have always wanted to ask me any question regarding yoga or anything about me at all, do meet me in person:

STARBUCKS LIVE & INSPIRE featuring Ninie Ahmad

Date: Thursday, 21 January 2010 (that’s TODAY!)

Time: 8pm to 9pm

Location: Starbucks, Level 2, Bangsar Village II

Entrance is free but first 30 to arrive gets free Starbucks coffee (errr, I did ask Starbucks what time do people usually have to arrive to be ‘the first 30′ and they said, 6pm)!

For more info, Starbucks Live & Inspire Facebook Page otherwise watch the event LIVE at Live & Inspire website!

Previous guests for the past couple Thursdays include CEO of Maybank Dato’s Seri Abdul Wahid (last Thursday), Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir and A’ Cut Above’s Dato’ Winnie Loo!

In what world Starbucks & Bangsar Village II see me in the same league with the greatest inspirations of Malaysia, I have no idea but I am in endless gratitude notwithstanding and filled with aspirations to continue inspiring those who think I do.

Lively day and full of inspiration today!

While teaching a beginners’ class at BE Yoga last night, I was puzzled to see this one first-timer whose head AND legs were not on the (6-feet wide) mat while I made them lie down on their backs for Jathara Pose during the first five-minutes of the class.

When they first stood up, I asked him how tall he is exactly.

Curiousity killed the cat.

The shortest yoga instructor in town (if not in the world?) beside a 1.97 metre tall 18-year old guy.

Love and light (and height) everyone.

For a country that owns an F1 team + circuit and marks the tallest twin towers in the world,

• its’ Muslims can’t proudly & publicly practice yoga, AND
• its’ non-Muslims can’t say and publish the word Allah

.. so God help me.

Photo by Cris Chen

Lokha samastha sukhino bhavanthu.

I had an interesting long talk with a member of BE Yoga during a quiet class earlier this week. Her name is Sue Ng, her cheeks glow with pink happiness, her words are honest, her presence and speech are as eloquent as a beauty queen and we can’t stop chatting on our business similarities and hardships as she just opened her restaurant about the same time BE Yoga opened.

We were exchanging stories about yoga retreats in India  from what I read in Eat, Love, Pray spiced with secondhand experience from my fellow yoga teachers and her firsthand experience of having been to India earlier this year following this ‘dream’ she had one night.

She was sharing her share of ‘wanting to change‘ and ‘seeing the light‘ upon being there, as I shared my fear of, ‘what happens IF I don’t want to drive a car, wear fancy adidas yogawear and get married anymore?‘ upon returning back from India if I can collect enough guts to actually go to India (Mysore hopefully) in the nearest future.

We had a good laugh yet painful reality check as we traded and agreed on this irony,

• Sue opened her restaurant and shortly after, developed gastric problem she never had before AND
• I, opened a yoga centre and immediately after, my stress level shot so high that my body (immune system) is attacking almost everything I eat!

Given a choice now, I will be happier to stick to simply teaching yoga as when money is involved, it gets ugly.

Having announced that though, I would NOT trade this experience of having sold my car to keep BE Yoga alive, having sacrificed my dignity and sanity to ensure my team loves and looks yoga, having met wonderful people and angels in human form as I crawl my way up and struggle for another breath when I’m on the brink of drowning – for anything else in the world and I am very excited to face what else is lined up for me, BRING IT ON!

This tunnel I am still driving through still seems endless and so far, I am not sure if I have enough fuel to reach its end but I am sure I will still have my spine and my breaths to keep me alive.

This bumpy road (and expensive highway tunnel) will definitely make me a stronger yogi, a more humble yoga teacher and a better person when I do see the light and rainbow (in form of WETHER investment returned, being a personal yoga instructor to British rockstars ;D, getting to volunteer at a remote orphanage as long as I could OR even settling down as a mother with two beautiful daughters, I don’t know and get ever so curious) at the end, I’m sure.

I breathe this wisdom by one of the greatest yoga teacher in this lifetime (I hope I will be lucky enough to meet), Guruji Iyengar – everytime I feel so drained, tired and low

“Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.”

and I move by the love and kindness around me anytime I feel I have nothing else to smile for.

Love, hope and optimism (for RM400,000 to fall from my sky this weekend).

In anticipation of the 8-pages-spread yoga in haute couture photoshoot next week,

I was informed that I will also be on the cover of my favourite local magazine. And the photoshoot is scheduled next week as well!

What are the odds of someone getting two of her biggest wishes granted, all in the same week?

If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.

Dream, work hard, be kind to everyone, count our blessings and all is coming.

To a Yoga Journal cover and to more dreams come true in the nearest future.

Love and light.