Shape_Malaysia__June_2017

Jacket, RM369, Superdry.
Sports bra, RM150,
Adidas. Mesh insert
leggings, RM499, Calvin
Klein Performance.
Boxing gloves and ankle
wrap, Intan’s own.
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Nama-stay at your place
to prevent travel from
zapping your Zen.
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Wonder women
Between motherhood and work, these mothers
are still committed to a lifestyle that keeps them
strong, focused and in shape - even during
pregnancy. Find out what makes them tick.
Photography EDMUND LEE Styling ANDREA KEE
Art Direction KAREN HOO
Intan Fareesha
Mother of three
you are on a holiday because if you
really want to be fit, there shouldn’t be
Her soft, feminine demeanour might any excuses,” says Intan.
fool you into thinking that she’s a girly On that front, Intan also made sure
girl but this 37-year-old mama kicks that she worked out when she was
and punches like a pro. Intan has been pregnant although there were tough
actively exercising since she was 30 but days. “My growing baby bump and
her love for kickboxing only began extra weight made my usual workouts
two years later. “I picked up Muay Thai more challenging, but I paid close
during the three years I was living in attention to how my body felt on a day
Indonesia with my husband,” says to day basis, which helped me to stay
Intan who continued with the martial active throughout my pregnancy,”
art when she returned to Malaysia. Intan exclaims. Before the start of her
“Kickboxing makes me feel alive
workout session, Intan says that she
and I get to release anger and stress worked with her trainer by telling him
with every punch, leaving me feeling how she was feeling physically and
refreshed and ready to take on anything mentally to ensure that she didn’t
the day brings. And it’s a high intensity overdo a session during pregnancy.
workout,” says Intan.
During her last pregnancy in 2015,
Today, the mother of three girls Intan scaled down the intensity of her
does kickboxing thrice on week days, workout due to backache and water
and on weekends, she practices
retention. “Even then, I didn’t give up as
pilates. To teach her daughters the I wanted to show my kids that I will still
importance of an active lifestyle, Intan be the active, happy and fun mum that
and her husband take them to the they know. I also wanted my baby to be
park every Sunday. “We like to do all healthy,” says Intan.
sorts of physical activities together like She credits her quick recovery,
skipping, pull ups or running. They love post-pregnancy (despite going through
to swim, so I enrolled them for swim c-section for all three kids) to her
lessons. While they are in class, my workout regime.
husband and I swim too,” says Intan. “I was jogging 30 days after the
Although many mums may find it hard c-section surgery. Listen to your body.
to fit in fitness into their schedule, If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it – it’s
Intan feels that with some thought and important to not assume that you are
planning, it’s doable. The trick is in trying perfectly fine after a delivery. Also,
different things until you find something always ask your doctor for advice
that works for you.
before starting any exercises,” says
“Work out when the kids are sleeping, Intan, adding that it is not advisable
at school or playing. Do it during your for mothers to jump straight into high
lunch break or exercise together at intensity workout so soon after delivery.
home with your kids. Take the stairs For Intan, the best thing about her
instead of the lift. Eat brown rice lifestyle is in showing her children that
instead of white rice. Go to the park health is priority. “I recently found out
on weekends with your children. Go to that I have inspired other mums to start
fitness classes with your friends instead working out, and that just makes my
of having coffee. Go to the gym while day!” she quips.
MAKEUP RACHEL SEOK/PLIKA MAKEUP USING NARS
COSMETICS HAIR ALBERT KOH/CUT! STUDIO
“Work out when the
kids are sleeping, at
school or playing. Do
it during your lunch
break or exercise
together at home
with your kids”
Om
schooled
More and
more, people
are choosing
to do yoga at
home for the
boost in mind
and body
benefits.
Go with the
new flow—
it’s never
been easier.
By SARA ANGLE
The beauty of yoga lies in the fact that all you need is a mat to do it. This means the
location is up for grabs, which is why many are taking advantage of the boom in
personalized instruction and foregoing the studio for their living rooms. Indeed,
private yoga is the most reserved workout on Handstand, an app that lets you book
instructors and trainers wherever you are; meanwhile, Grokker, a fitness streaming
service, nearly doubled its yoga viewing hours last year. And it’s not just about the
ease of rolling out of bed and onto your mat—bringing your practice into your home
can be just what you need to be consistent and vary your style to get stronger and to
feel truly calm and confident. “Look at home yoga as a way to expand your practice
by exploring new methods,” says Callie Miller, the chief marketing officer at YogaGlo,
a yoga and meditation streaming service. This is how to flow at home.
18 MAY 2017 SHAPE.COM.MY
62 MAY 2017 SHAPE.COM.MY
SHAPE.COM.MY MAY 2017 63
WINNING LETTER
INSPIRING MUMS
Being a mother myself, the mums featured in ‘Wonder women’ are incredibly
inspiring. I thought it was impossible to instill fitness awareness to my kids until
I read about the useful and easy tips on how these mums sneak in fitness
awareness to their kids while having a healthy family time. After continuously
procrastinating my workouts for many years for reasons I thought were
unavoidable, this was a complete boost to finally start off my fitness routine
without compromising my kids and husband’s well-being. Olivia Han, Subang
HOMEMADE YOGA
I’ve always been uncomfortable in group workouts
although I do like physical activities especially yoga.
Thanks to SHAPE the ‘saviour’ for the ‘Om schooled’
article that delves on setting up your own Zen mode
environment for yoga sessions at home. Listing out the
accessories needed was brilliant as I could save my
contemplation on the budget. Jasy Yong, Ipoh.
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Hydration Kit worth RM409!
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