2 – The Domino Effect of Discipline

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to fitness.

It’s not always about the toned arms and legs or the flat tummy, but more about getting stronger and challenging ourselves to do more.

Limitations often come from ourselves when we think we can’t do something because it’s too hard. Exercise helps us to train our minds to do more and push the boundaries.

Once we start pushing the boundaries in our fitness routine we notice the domino effect in other aspects of our lives as well.

Zehra Allibhai, a fitness trainer who has the popular Instagram account @Zallibhai says,

“ You might look at something and say that’s really hard, I can’t do it. But, because you have done hard things in one aspect of your life, it’s really easy to shift that focus and do hard things in other aspects of your life.”

If you have always wanted to memorize the Qur’an or expand on your worship of Allah but feel you are not disciplined enough, you might reconsider this once you start exercising.

Our religion demands discipline in all aspects of our lives.

Fitness moves you from thinking to doing. Once you start pushing your physical limits, it becomes easier to push your mental ones too. 

3 – Clarity and a Stronger Sense of Purpose 

Zainab, a mom of four, said an anxiety attack was the biggest motivator to change something in her life.

She had to halt her fitness program when lockdown hit the world.

“Lockdown brought its own emotional and psychological challenges, as everyone tried to remain positive. I found my mind clouded,  days passed by with me being caught up in the fog.”

I felt like I was getting things done just so they could get done without a sense of pride, including making my salaah. One would think being at home I could at least perform my salaah as soon as the time set in, but that didn’t happen.“

She experienced her anxiety attack on Eidul Adha:

“There were days where I wanted to sit and pray my salaah since I felt I couldn’t lift myself off the ground.”

Choose to move or…?

The anxiety attack was brought on by a feeling that her life was out of control and she needed something to haul her back.

She gave herself two choices: get back to the gym or allow the craziness of the lockdown to swallow her whole. In the grander scheme of things, she did not have much choice.

She explains:

“It’s been just over two months of being physically active and the results I’ve seen in my day-to-day life have improved.

“Ten days later, I went back to the gym, under stricter regulations, and this time there was no stopping me. Getting the blood pumping and my limbs moving immediately cleared my foggy brain. My energy levels were boosted and nothing felt like a chore anymore.”

“Better time management has me now performing my salaah with so much more clarity and at its designated time.

Even on her most strenuous days of training, sore muscles and all she still manages to stand and make her salaah.”

This small change has allowed her to find her purpose in life. She is now an accountability partner for other women struggling to find time to exercise.

She believes when your body feels better, your mind and soul will follow.

“Exercise taps into the mental and physical sakeenah of the body. If there’s one thing I know that I’ve experienced since being more active, it is that shift of feeling sakeenah in the body. That translates and manifests in the mind for me.”