By NIKI CHEONG, picture by NAPIE MOKSIN

If you’re familiar with the Malaysian blogosphere, you’ve probably heard of Project Alpha, a reality show which aims to uncover the lives of our country’s top bloggers. One of them is Ninie Ahmad.

From THE YOGA DORK July 13, 2010

With all these world record yoga events and baited sun breaths waiting for the Eat, Pray, Love merchandising avalanche, have we really forgotten about the Fatwa?

The wha? Hey, watch your language! No, really, at the end of 2008 and early ‘09 we had fatwas flying out from every direction. OK, mostly the east. To be specific, the Muslim regions of Indonesia and Malaysia. Just to bring us all up to speed, a Fatwa is otherwise recognized as a religious edict, a kibosh, or ban on things that are deemed ‘haram’ or harmful. The Fatwa Councils of both Indonesia and Malaysia made news by slapping one of these fatwas on our beloved yoga, inciting outrage by practicing yogis who also practice Islam. In short, both cases saw retractions on the ban so that asana was eventually permitted so long as the freaky chanting and “mind body connection” remained absent. Turns out Indonesians didn’t care anyway. (Note the Bali Spirit Fest, formerly Yoga Fest, 2010 went off without a hitch).

We’d all but forgotten about the yoga ban in Malaysia until we heard from Ninie.

Ninie Ahmad is as close to a Malaysian yogi rock star as they come, her image gracing oodles of magazine covers, appearances on numerous TV shows and a role as an official Adidas ambassador. So why was her most recent moment in the spotlight cruelly edited in accordance with the F-word?

Via FreeMalaysia:

“(On Sunday, July 4) I was informed that Astro [Malaysian Satellite TV] will not air my episode of Project Alpha that is scheduled tonight because the Quality Control (QC) department said that under Fatwa law, they could not air a Malay person teaching yoga.”

For your reference, ‘Project Alpha’ is a reality show like ‘Top Chef’, but about bloggers! Sadly Ninie was denied her time to shine, because of yoga.

That’s ridic! some of you say. Is it yoga censorship?? But Malaysia isn’t devoid of yoga naysayers. So, fairly miffed and confused, Ninie has taken to twitter to defend herself from detractors in 140 characters or less:

We’re no scholars, but we are pretty sure yoga can be practiced in tandem with most religions, or with none at all. (though, due to the sensitivity of the matter might we suggest in our best publicist tone that Ms. Ninie reconsider her ‘about’ section where she mentions attending yoga “religiously” and her decision to “join the cult”… just sayin’)

Anyway, the physical practice is supposedly allowed, so why was yoga cut from programming? We think Astro at least owes an explanation! Dang it, anyhow. Besides, if the country of Malaysia is going to ban public displays of yoga,  how’re they going to make bank off this EPL-crazed tourism wave?

Stay strong Ninie. One love.

Earlier…

• Fatwa News: Yoga Ban Reversed! Malaysian Muslims Free to Practice Yoga, without Chant
• Malaysian King Not Cool with Ban; Still Hope for Muslim Yogis?
• Indonesian Muslims to Yoga Fatwa: Who Cares?
• Bikram Responds to Fatwa, ‘Yoga has absolutely nothing to do with religion’

.   .   .   .   .   .

Special thanks to Yoga Dork for the mention and online hugs from yogis all across the map.

The universe is working its magic, I can feel it!

- or, that’s what I try to keep telling myself everyday

As much as I feel good about my body and loving (almost) everything I see in the mirror – I have insecurities about my body too, trust me!

While I think I look better without clothes (who else will say that about my body, right ?), I can’t help but to feel like giving up TOO whenever I come across this beautiful set of low-key studio photos of LA yoga teacher / arm balancing rockstar  Kathryn Budig by photographer Jasper Johal for Toesox.

Heck I’d pose with nothing but engineered socks too if I looked like THAT!

And so to regain my confidence (you know how it feels like when people say you look so fit but you feel sooooo fat), I checked back my Asana studio photoshoots done with a couple of photographers some time ago posing almost unintendedly similar poses!

1st & 2nd photo by Napie Moksin, top & pants by adidas for Stella McCartney; 3rd photo by Joe Low, top by adiShe & pants by adidas Techfit Powerweb

Ok ok, I take that back.

I forgot that I love my body and what I can do with it but I (like, really) hate my STRETCHMARKS!

From THE SUN, Thursday July 8, 2010

Yoga instructor Ninie Ahmad offers eating tips to stay healthy and trim

by Anansa Jacob

Have you ever given a thought to what it means to have a balanced breakfast? That is, if at all you take time out to have breakfast. Quite a number of people skip breakfast entirely, either because of time constraints, or because they do not think it is important.

For celebrity yoga instructor Ninie Ahmad, the idea of skipping breakfast is a cardinal sin. Although not a trained nutritionist, the vegetarian has read up a lot about nutrition and healthy living, and firmly believes that we are what we eat.

“I read this saying once: ‘Eat breakfast like a king, eat lunch like a prince and eat dinner like a pauper’,” she said. “It means that we should eat the most at the start of the day, (so) we’ll have the energy to work or be active. At night, we should eat less as our bodies will soon be resting.”

Ninie met us for breakfast at the Pappa Rich restaurant at The Gardens, Kuala Lumpur. On the menu was a selection of Pappa Rich favourites, all traditional Malaysian breakfast dishes.

We had Pappa curry laksa special with foo chok, Pappa char kuey teow, Ipoh kuey teow soup with steamed chicken, chicken porridge, otak-otak, roti bakar and roti stim with butter and kaya, half-boiled eggs and Pappa nasi lemak.

“Someone once asked me if it was healthy to eat nasi lemak, because I was seen having it every morning for breakfast,” she said. “To me, it depends on what you have with the nasi lemak. A simple one, with just boiled egg and sambal is actually okay.

“Nasi lemak is okay for me because I know I’m going to be using up all those calories throughout the day.”

She also thinks people should choose their breakfast meals carefully. “For instance, nasi lemak is a healthier choice than roti canai, because of all the bad oil in roti canai. But I sometimes crave for roti canai, so I do eat it occasionally.”

She explained that a craving is a sign that our bodies lack certain nutrients, “but if you have roti canai every morning, then that’s not a craving!”

She also pointed out the various positive aspects of the other dishes in the restaurant’s breakfast menu.

Half-boiled eggs are a good protein boost, as is otak-otak. The little bit of santan in the laksa is balanced out by the vegetables. As for the only ‘risky’ dish, char kuey teow, Ninie emphasised that moderation is the way to go.

“I’m not saying you should cut it out altogether, just that you need to have it rarely, or in small portions.”

Eating moderately spicy food for breakfast is also a good thing. “Spicy food helps raise our metabolic rate, which also contributes to weight loss,” Ninie said.

She also pointed out that Pappa Rich, which is one of her favourite places to have breakfast, also carries a range of vegetarian pau, ideal for vegetarians like her. “It’s also a healthier option for those who want to watch their diets.”

As much as possible, she tries to prepare her meals at home. She usually has organic cereals or pancakes for breakfast as they are easy to prepare.

“I normally make nasi lemak if I have a long Sunday ahead of me,” she added.

At the very least, she makes sure to have a blended fruit juice to get a burst of vitamins and fibre in the morning.

Ninie also stressed that the best breakfast is a simple, homecooked meal with a balanced list of ingredients.

“Everyone should make the effort to not only make sure to have breakfast, but to make it a healthy one.

“After all, it’s better to take care of our health now than later when we get ill from eating unhealthy food.”

When the first season of Project Alpha was in the making, I came to know about it from reading the featured bloggers’ blogs and I said to myself  “Heh, I am sooooo not one of Malaysia’s top bloggers anymore.”

My infamous blog before this, The Yoga Instructor Diaries gained quite a number of daily visitors back then especially during the yoga fatwa fiasco and I cashed in lotsa money from high traffic & advertorials from Nuffnang.

Not this much money though.

So when Nuffnang’s David Wong broke the news “Ninie, how would you like to be one of the bloggers for Project Alpha Season 2?”, I went, “Eh, do I even have anyone reading my new blog at all?”

Sweet David replied, “Of course, we shortlist only our highest rated bloggers for Project Alpha, you know!”

ME? In the same league with Kenny Sia and Cheesie? And Shaolin Tiger? And KY Speaks? And Red Mummy? And XIAXUE?

Yoga-ta be kidding me!

.   .   .   .   .   .

So if you asked me last year, does Ninie Ahmad prefer to be known as The Blogger Who Teaches Yoga or The Yoga Instructor That Blogs,

I am positive I would have answered the latter (with a smirk).

“I’m still, I’m still Ninie from the blog.. Used to have a little now I have a lot (visitors, thank you ALL OF YOU!)”

But if you ask me again now – after the whole Project Alpha experience, I have to say I really don’t mind am honoured being known as a (known?) blogger.

I might be teaching yoga to 3 or 30 students in one yoga class, but I am pleased to know that – I might be teaching yoga to 300 if not 3000 (on really good days ) through this cyberspace.

My endless gratitude to sponsors of Project Alpha

Main Sponsor : Adidas Action 3
Official Broadband Sponsor : P1
Official Flight Sponsor : Malaysia Airlines
Official Cosmetics Sponsor : Rimmel
Official Hair & Make Up Sponsor : A Cut Above
Official Media Partner : Hitz FM & Era FM
Official Social Networking Site : Ruumz
Hotel Sponsors : 360Kuching & Millennium Hotel Group
Online News Portal : The Daily Chilli

for the experience of a lifetime and to Nuffnang especially for seeing it in me.

.   .   .   .   .   .

Stay tuned for my episodes of Project Alpha (which might have Henry Golding in them!) in my next entries.

I thought I will never live the day to hear myself in perfect (and sexy!) Jakarta-Indo accent and vocabulary.

This month, I’ve made it

From Cita Cinta, edition 28 APRIL – 12 MAY 2010. For full view, click HERE

That reminds me I have to post up my experience from Bali Spirit Festival 2010 already!

Peace and strength to our friends in Bangkok.

Every morning I wake up, every yoga class I teach, every yoga pants I slip on – I count my blessing..

For getting to flex in the best material,

adidias Fashion Week (Midvalley, April 10)

For getting to pretzel Malaysia’s loveliest couple..

Sazzy Falak & Nazril Idrus

For never running out of dresses to wear,

Alan Yun

And I can never thank my three-stripes of light enough..

For bringing good local movies, music & talents together everywhere..

Afdlin Shauki

Juliana Ibrahim

Noh (Hujan)

For beautiful lovely people you add colours, flavours and happiness to,

Juliana Ibrahim & Daphne Iking

Qi Khusyairi & Jehan Miskin

KL’s most charming boys

For the partnership, trust and responsibility we’ve been sharing for the past 4 years,

adidas Malaysia’s Country Manager, Ng Chee Loon & Brand Manager, Jessica Lim

Thank you adidas,

for the fun & sweetness at / in all of your events & products,

for this friendship,

and for this perfect fit.

My dress is from adidas Originals

As someone mentioned (to) me on Twitter,

To Air is human. To wear Three Stripes is divine.

Love and endless gratitude.

Hot Yoga is a yoga class inspired by Bikram Yoga incorporating a series of postures and 2 breathing exercises, and is ideally practiced in a room heated to 115°F (46.1°C) with a humidity of 40%.

Watch me (and my new hair colour ) representing adidas Action-3 pretzeling Akademi Fantasia 8 kids in a Hot class in Diari AF, 7.30 – 8pm tonight (Friday, 26 March). Reruns at 11.30pm – 12am and 6am – 6.30am tomorrow.

Love and excitement.