Discover the transformative power of yoga with Maryam Nahdiyah Fakhru’l Razi, owner of Yogini Studio in Kuching. Uncover her journey from student to studio owner, as she empowers women to prioritise self-care and fitness.
Building community and self-care through yoga
For the most part, yoga is one of the most underrated exercises out there.
Even in Kuching, the yoga scene is still considered new despite its development in recent years.
This is because awareness of the benefits of yoga as a healthy alternative to traditional exercises is still relatively low among the community in the city.
When 37-year-old Yogini Studio owner Maryam Nahdiyah Fakhru’l Razi decided to delve into yoga, she did not expect how much it would change her life forever.
Despite being in the scene for over a year and only taking ownership of the studio earlier this year, Maryam fell in love with yoga and now aspires to inspire women everywhere to take care of themselves.
New Sarawak Tribune sat down with her to discuss what made her fall in love with yoga, breaking the stereotype that yoga is associated with religion, practicing yoga without being fully flexible, and her future plans for the studio.
Filling her free time with yoga
Maryam is originally from Putrajaya and has been married to a Sarawakian for over 10 years.
Previously a housewife, she decided to delve into yoga to fill her free time with something beneficial.
“That is why I decided to head down to Yogini Studio; before I owned it, I was a student here, learning yoga.
“One thing that pushes me further into doing yoga is that I find I am happier than before, because yoga is one way for me to take care of myself.
“I remember when I told my husband that I wanted to join yoga, he was very supportive of it, and I am very thankful for him to this day,” she said.
She added that when she bought the studio, it was a huge decision for her because she does not have a license as a yoga instructor, but she aims to take the yoga training course this year.
“When I told my husband that I owned Yogini, he was shocked at first, but he is very supportive of it.
“Besides, I can see that the community in the city is even more aware of taking care of their health.
“So, owning this studio means I am doing something good for the community and for myself as well,” she said.
Empowering women through yoga
Being involved in the yoga scene, Maryam’s mission and vision is to empower women through yoga.
“I want Yogini to be one of the places for women to exercise, for working women and stay-at-home mums to make full use of at least an hour to come to this studio to exercise.
“I also want Yogini to be a social and safe place for women to mingle and socialise, especially among hijabi women who can come to this studio and feel safe.
“We can exercise comfortably because it is a close-knit community.
“And after exercising, we can hang out, have some coffee, talk to each other, and give advice alongside a positive vibe,” she said.
Maryam added that her aim is to foster this atmosphere, especially among the local community in Kuching.
Yogini: More than just yoga
Maryam revealed that aside from yoga, there are exercise programmes available for participants to choose from.
“We offer mat pilates, piloxing, Zumba fitness, jazzercise, and hip classes, so participants can choose which class they want to attend, and the classes are available consistently.
“For yoga, it focuses more on stretching the body. Then we have mat pilates, which involves using a yoga mat, and also pilates with a reformer as another option.
“You can participate in mat pilates as it focuses more on core strength, and we can also see that some of the movements are similar to yoga,” she added.
Another programme, according to Maryam, is piloxing. She further explained that piloxing combines boxing and dumbbells.
“That being said, participants can use one to two kilogrammes of dumbbells as they see fit.
“Next is jazzercise. Jazzercise combines jazz with exercise, incorporating jazz movements into the workout,” she said.
She then said that the most famous programme at the studio is none other than Zumba fitness.
“Zumba fitness is both a workout and a form of dancing, so participants do not feel any pressure to follow specific movements,” she said.
Maryam also revealed that Yogini offers free classes to anyone who has never done yoga before.
“We explain the fundamentals of yoga to them and teach them basic poses to attract them to join yoga.
“The youngest participant in this studio is 14 years old, and the oldest is 65 years old.
“There is a wide range in terms of age, and everyone is welcome to the studio. You will be surprised that many older ladies join the exercise,” she said.
Maryam then explained that there are currently seven trainers, six females, and one male trainer.
It is all about promoting health
It cannot be denied that Yoga has been historically associated with Hinduism, and this association persists to this day.
At its core, yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root word “yuj”, meaning “to unite”, is often discussed in Hindu texts as a practice to control the senses and ultimately, the mind.
Despite its numerous health benefits, many people are still hesitant to participate in yoga due to its origins.
Maryam said that these days, yoga has been modernised, and at her studio, no mantras are taught to participants.
“In our classes, yoga focuses more on balancing and stretching, and if you observe some movements, they resemble prayer postures
“For your information, during Ramadan, we recently established a Ramadan Yoga Club.
“In these classes, we concentrate on improving our bowel system, while also using the platform to reflect on our lives and set goals for the future. We consider what changes we want to make during Ramadan,” she said.
She also mentioned that during Ramadan, many people participate in the yoga club.
“We also include elements such as gratitude and ways to improve oneself, not just through exercise,” she said.
Maryam added that she posts some of the class activities on social media.
“We also meet the people in the community and let them know that these are the types of movements being taught in the class and there are no religious elements in it.
“It’s just breathing techniques, balancing, and posture training, which are beneficial for those with back pain, seeking improved flexibility, and strengthening their core muscles, while also fostering a connection with our bodies,” she added.
Just one hour for yourself
In terms of finding time for themselves to exercise, Maryam shared her schedule for managing her kids while running her studio.
“In the morning, I usually send my kids to school and wait for them to finish their session in the afternoon.
“During those hours, I head down to the studio and spend one hour exercising. After class, I can still run errands or have lunch with my children after picking them up from school.
“For those who finish work at 5.30pm, we all know how horrible traffic jams can be. They can come to the studio and spend at least one hour exercising. Once the traffic eases, they can head back home and still manage to prepare dinner with their family.
“In other words, it is all about time management and how you can prioritise it for yourself and your health,” she said.
She added that on weekends, most classes start in the morning at 8.
“That being said, we offer early classes on the weekend. You can come to the studio for one hour, and afterward, you can still have breakfast with your family at home or outside.
“Our schedule is usually suitable for everyone,” she said.
Yoga scene in Kuching
“Personally, I can see that the yoga scene in Kuching is developing, with more studios emerging.
“Honestly, in Kuala Lumpur, people can find tons of yoga studios in their neighbourhoods.
“Here in Kuching, I am happy to see these new studios operating, and it’s evident that people take their health very seriously,” said Maryam.
She said that yoga is a part of exercise and being healthy does not mean a person has to be thin.
“It is all about working out, exercising, and, most importantly, watching what we eat. I am also thankful that there are so many alternative foods for those who want to eat healthier.
“The only thing that matters is that they need to know where they can find the food,” she said.
Future plans
Apart from further empowering women through yoga and obtaining a license as a yoga instructor, another plan that Maryam wants to pursue is providing free yoga classes in an open space.
“For instance, there is currently a car-free day programme organised by Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) at Waterfront on Sundays (first and third weeks of the month).
“My plan is to teach yoga in an open space so that anyone can join and experience it for themselves.
“They can try some of the yoga postures taught in class,” she said.
Most importantly, she wants women to continue to practice self-care and to make time for themselves.
“Exercise is one of the ways for people to connect with themselves. When people come to this studio, I want them to leave behind all the work, stress, and busyness of life.
“Workout, focus on themselves, find fulfilment, and connect with the community here at Yogini. When you exercise, it is beneficial not only for your physical health but also your mental wellbeing.
“To all women out there, you are not alone; there is someone just like you. Don’t hesitate to reach out and make friends with us in this community,” said Maryam.
