Ninie Ahmad: Off her yoga mat.

by Iyan Nurmansyah from The Jakarta Post

Photo by Napie Moksin

When a Malaysian friend told me that Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council had declared that “yoga is forbidden for Muslims”, I honestly thought he was joking. It was, therefore, surreal for me to see this topic being discussed in the editorial section of this paper.

However, I then began to question whether I and many of my Muslims friend had become closeted Hindus after practicing yoga for years.

As an enthusiast of Ashtanga Yoga, I wondered which part of it has caused some kind of irritation to these ulemas.

If we translate plainly, Surya Namaskara, which is central to the practice of ashtanga yoga, means Sun Salutation. To claim that performing this movement indicates that a Muslim yoga practitioner worships Surya/Ravi (the Sun God), instead of Allah is an insult to our intelligence.

While performing this movement, practitioners concentrate on their bodily movements and breathing. No yoga instructor is trying to corrupt the Muslim practitioner’s mind by suggesting we chant something like “let us pray to the Sun God, and may He give us health and wealth” or something similar.

The very reason why many have argued that yoga is an exercise, which can give us peace of mind, is not because the Sun God plays its trick (or responds), but because during the whole process we concentrate solely on our breathing and the flexibility of our body.

Unlike many competitive sports in which we have to focus not only on ourselves, but also on how to defeat our opponents, yoga is extremely noncompetitive. Practitioners only have to pose and move according to their own bodily ability and flexibility. They do not need to worry whether someone next to them is fitter and suppler.

In a life where most of us are conditioned that it is important to be number one and to be the best whether we admit it or not (i.e. being the best student, having the best job, adhering to the best religion on earth, living in the best country of the world or whatever), practicing yoga is a kind of bliss.

At least for a while, yoga practitioners only focus on how precious their body, mind and breathing are. There is no need to feel that we have to win, to defeat or to be much better than everybody around us.

It is true that there is a part in the exercise in which practitioners chant a mantra. For example, in the yoga class that I sometimes attend, we chant Mantra Mangala.

However, it is wrong to simply translate the Mantra Mangala as a chant directed to Mangala (Mars/the God of War). Instead of throwing accusations that this sort of chanting could potentially make Muslims question their faith, we should actually focus on the content of the chanting itself.

More or less, the chanting includes words such as “may there be peace on earth; may all human beings be prosperous and live in harmony; may the welfare of all people be protected” and so on.

This is a universal message that I believe people from all religions — be they Muslims, Hindus, Christians or Buddhists — are familiar with. If one refuses to see this chanting as something which has a universal value, at least chanting that is better than rehearsing words which would potentially lead people to attack others who do not share their beliefs.

The universality of yoga can also be seen by the variety of participants who join the classes. In my own experience, it is hardly that yoga classes are dominated by Hindus as some rather foolishly think. In fact, there are always people from widely different cultural and religious backgrounds in these classes.

The funny thing is that yoga is actually a heritage of our ancestors. It has gained a remarkable international reputation due to its universal appeal and message. Indonesians should actually feel closer to it, instead of treating it as some kind of alien exercise that can corrupt our minds.

It is not my place to criticize the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) for debating the practice of yoga. However, it is appropriate to question whether this move will even further distance many Muslims from others. Another question is of course whether some actually regard the essence of universality itself a threat against the exclusivity of their faith.

(En)lighten up.

My Petrovsky was more ecstatic than me – to see many many many carts of  Halal food on the streets of Manhattan and kept throwing remarks such as, “Finally sayang, there’s something (Halal food) for you to eat here!”, forgetting he’s been feeding me until I gained like 20 pounds, right (I sound much heavier in pound)!

only to get “But it’s kind of oxymoron No, baby? I don’t eat meat let alone kebabs and sausages, duh!” from me.

.   .   .   .   .  .

So hurrah to a city where I can get healthy snacks, veggie burgers & organic food anywhere!

While we are at it, if I can share this dream of mine a couple of weeks ago,

I got bitten by a cobra a couple of weeks ago.

Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

Does it mean what my mom told me it means?

I can’t say how confident flattered I am when so many Nuffnang bloggers believe that I am going to win adidas OLE KO Challenge this Friday!

The adidas Pure Game Ole K.O. Challenge is organised by StarAsia Malaysia (sole distributor for adidas Active Body Care range) and is set to fan the football fever by offering fantastic prizes to winners of the one-of-a-kind challenge that will combine endurance and skills.

Contestants will play one-on-one street football in a spherical steel cage 20 ft in diameter and 18 ft high, and compete to score as many points as possible within a set time frame by kicking the ball through their opponent’s legs – a move also known as “ole”.

Highlight of the event would be Malaysian top bloggers from Project Alpha Season 1 & Season 2 competing against each other.

.   .   .   .   .   .

Of course pretty (scary looking) bloggers like Kenny Sia, Shaolin Tiger and Huai Bin get nominated as well.

Little did many of you (that did not vote for me ) know that -

I actually DO play futsal.

And I used to be my team’s captain (or am I still?) when we used to play on a weekly basis if not – competitively.

Those who put your money on Kenny, scared already or not?

.   .   .   .   .   .

That is until (almost) all of my former teammates that you can see in these photos below, either busy preparing themselves to get married or happily gotten married and have babies!

Yes, yes it is definitely easier to put the blame on them – they found their happy ending already.

.   .   .   .   .   .

So for single girls alike (and boys who want to see some yoga instructor with flashy adidas futsal boots running around and dribbling about putting giants like Shaolin Tiger to shame),

do put on your TEAM NINIE jersey (or any baby blue top will do!) and support me here:

Date: Friday, 21 May 2010

Time: 7.30pm

Location: Centre Court, Mid Valley Megamall

and if I do win (help me repeat the affirmation for this post!), I might just throw a yoga class at the end of the tournament! It would be exciting to see all the ‘blogger boys’ get pretzeled in the middle of Megamall, wouldn’t it?

Special thanks to adidas Action3 range for keeping me smelling fresh even after futsal training!

.   .   .   .   .   .

Love and support for girls in boots & can kick balls this Friday!

Congratulations to my dear friend, Juliana A Ibrahim for the birth of her second bundle of joy Alaia Zahira, for her gorgeous new home and for having realised everything she had imagined and believed from The Secret.

I am lucky to have known Juliana, to have witnessed the marriage, the wedding, the life & the happiness she deserves  and – to have her infected me with her constant optimism, kindness and love for all things positive.

Ask, believe and we shall receive.

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.