Ticking that 'Achievement Unlocked' box

Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there! <3

At the beginning of the year, one of my new year's resolution is to join a my first 10 km run.

So, yesterday was the first step in preparing for that run - I joined an 8 km run. And you know what, it was actually my first run in two years! I haven't been in the running scene since the Twilight Run in early 2015, and that run was only 5 km.

So when I finally crossed that finishing line yesterday, I felt so happy.

Because why?

Because it dawned upon me that I really am making this year, my year. The year that I push my limits. And it feels amazing.

I went to the run with some confidence yesterday. I knew that I wasn't going to be as fast as a lot of the other runners, but I told myself " It's okay " because I'm not competing with them. My main goal was to prove to myself that I could pull through when I put my mind to something. And I did. Amazing what we can achieve when we believe in ourselves. My time was 53:18 and though I know that's nothing to shout about, I was perfectly happy that it was under an hour (ha ha ha ha ha, yeah, no I didn't aim that high).  

There's something about these small achievements in life that I love, even though it's really nothing to shout about. It just makes me feel a little empowered inside everyday and it gives me that bit of self-satisfaction that I need, which I think is good every now and again especially when life is getting a bit too routine.

So 8 km done. 10 km in August, leggo!

Speaking of achievements, I finally managed a headstand. It's been a good week heyyy.

Spiritual Yoga

Just me on my yoga mat doing yoga things

So as I mentioned in this post, I've recently started yoga and I just want to reiterate what I've said before - it is sensational. 

I'm the type that does computer work 10 hours a day and as a result I tend to get very stiff in the neck and shoulders. Yoga has helped me loosen up a bit.

But really, the reason I say yoga is sensational isn't just because it's help my body, but more because it has affected me spiritually. I am first and foremost, a practicing Muslim and in no way do I engage with the " spiritual " side of yoga i.e. the chants and beliefs etc. I take yoga as an exercise. But, having done yoga for over a month now, I've seen some stark differences in the quality of my solat.

So here's what yoga is from my perspective; it consist of 3 components:

1. Movement
2. Breathing
3. Mind

It's not just about how we pose, but it's a combination of all three where we have to coordinate our movements with our inhales, exhales as well as our thoughts.

Basically, they teach us to constantly be aware of what's going on in our body i.e. the rhythm of our breathing, the sensation as our heart beats, the feeling of gravity on pulling on our body etc.

To be honest, during my first class, I didn't even bother with the coordination. I just focused on the movements because all I wanted was a little bit of stretching. But after a while I found that I was becoming more aware of my movements during solat. My mind was focused on actually doing and paying attention to the movements, not just doing them for the sake of routine.

I honestly do struggle to keep my concentration on my prayers sometimes, and it comes to a point where I'm so used to praying, it becomes routine and I do it without thinking. But I honestly feel that solat is more than just doing it but rather something we embrace.

Yoga has actually helped me embrace my prayers more, which I'm so thankful for. It makes me happier when I pray because I'm more aware of where my thoughts go and is able to bring it back to what I'm doing. Of course, there are times when my mind travels elsewhere, but it's always a work in progress. I can only work and hope to be better spiritually everyday.

Nonetheless, even if your prayers are already on point, yoga is still a good way to build flexibility, strength and balance. It's definitely good exercise and I'd definitely give it 10/10 rating.

And you sort of look cool doing it too 

What I've been up to;

At the start of this year, I set that my goal for the year was to be more bold, try new things - all for personal development. I guess that's what most people would aim for. It's not like it's anything new, but I never really make new years resolutions per se, so that's a big jump for me already.

So as a start, last month I joined the gym. 

Yes, gym. Me, gym. 

I couldn't get my head around it either when I first started. The whole concept of going to the gym and doing anything other than just running along the river was so foreign to me but I knew that I had to keep my body fit and healthy, especially since my family members who are 5 - 30 years older than I am are still exercising, jogging and running 10 km every now and again. I figured I should follow suit. The thing is my schedule is pretty much packed to be running in the morning or the evening before dark, so gym offered me some flexibility in the timing. It's also just in uni, so it's pretty much a 15 minute walk away.

You'd be happy to know that I do enjoy and regularly go to the gym nowadays. Contrary to what people believe, the gym isn't just about the going to the actual gym. There're group fitness classes as well, which is the part I enjoy and go to the most. 

I've started to do yoga as well (part of the group fitness classes) and it is sensational. I also find that it helps a lot with daily prayers but more on that some other time. I'm most proud of starting yoga because I've been talking about doing this for the past year but never got around to doing it. The most difficult really is the start. It all seems easier from then. 

Source: Google