Ninie Ahmad: Off her yoga mat.

It feels like yesterday I got married.

Exactly one year ago,
we started off 11 December 2010 with a short Ashtanga practice at sunrise,

Upward dog

Heels over head

..a couple of hours before they pronounced us man and wife.

Above photos by Pretty Peektures

.   .   .   .   .

Yesterday, we celebrated 11 December 2011, 365 days of being married
by hosting an Ashtanga workshop until sunset at Upward, our pride and joy

..and surprised each other by accidentally getting the very same 1-Year Anniversary card for each other.

If that’s not MFEO, I don’t know what else is.

Yoga brought us together and this much I know,
it is yoga that is going to keep us happy and healthy together.
God willing, forever.

11 December 2010 | Bangsar KL, Malaysia

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body…

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won’t hold them against me,
Who loves me when I’m unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me…

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold…

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship…

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements…

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole…

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me, I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage…

Because of this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

by Mari Nichols-Haining ( via Juliana Ibrahim )

Wish us peace, love, happiness and health ‘Til Kingdom Come.

Ku De Ta, Bali (NOV 10)

OK so my last update here was posted some 40 plus days (after I got back from Bali in October) before my entry yesterday (errrrr, after I got back from Bali on Monday)..

Many girlfriends expressed, “We don’t know how you d-a-r-e-d go to Bali with Petrovsky – haven’t you heard of the Bali ‘forbidden love’ curse?”

Ubud Hanging Gardens, Bali (OCT 10)

Of course, I have

Bali ‘forbidden love’ curse is a myth that when couples that are not religiously / legally bound yet – go to Bali together, they will somehow break-up within 6 months (or was it 6 weeks?) upon their return.

But I refuse to buy it and let alone allow some cautionary tales rule my love life!

Although.. I personally know no less than a dozen couples / first-hand friends that allegedly broke-up after they got back from Bali.

And coincidentally – I was in one too..

Kuta Beach, Bali (SEPT 06)

But you know what – people break-up, relationships end ANYWAY when sparks die and two people are not in the same page anymore.

And come on, I was in (let’s say lahhhhhhhhhhh..) eight relationships before and the rest that ended ANYWAY, did not even need Bali to break us up – you get what I’m saying?

But just soooooooo if there is such curse anyway, Petrovsky and I prayed and dedicated our yoga practice and sun salutations every morning we woke up in the Island of Gods -  to the Highest Above that rules our universe, that sets our Destiny, with the intention that we cherish going to Bali – to celebrate our love and gratitude for each other, at one of the most beautiful islands He created for us all to share.

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UPDATE:

* * * * * * *

And in the end..

Hard Rock Cafe, Bali (APR 10)

There is no other place I’d rather be, no other man I would want to marry..

And perhaps, because he asked me for my hand to start a family & to be together til death do us part IN Bali, maybe we ARE blessed and will live happily + healthily ever after   InsyaAllah.

Love and breathtaking sunset.

Just came back from my lovely birthday weekend filled with lotsa yoga, spa, sun and romance at Ubud Hanging Gardens, Bali.

To my 28th and last birthday as a single girl

I am not giving ANYONE any ideas (ok, my mom – maybe) but on my wedding day,

• I promise myself – there’d be vegetarian option at the every dinner table (God knows how I starve during weddings )

• I promise myself – I’d rock this short hair. No fake diamond crown, no 7-feet train, no blinding tiara.

But I can’t promise I won’t wear a bird

• I promise myself – I will look as if I’d be wearing NO make-up at all.

No purple eyeshadow & peacock lashes, thank you!

• I promise myself – my wedding dress will have no ‘manik kilau-kilau’ (any attempt in translating will lose its’ essence of tackiness)

This is my idea of MY wedding dress

• I promise myself – my groom will look this good

.   .   .

Now Til’ Kingdom Come and IF ONLY the concept of marriage makes sense to me..