Ramadan Mubarak!
Salam Habibtis! Ramadan Mubarak!
For over a month, we as people across the world have been facing a pandemic, a circumstance unfamiliar to many of us. Social distancing and isolation has become the new norm for many and the sacrifice of our daily routines has meant figuring out new ways to live, work and co-exist, with many of our community bravely on the front line.
For Muslims across the world, shedding old routines and adjusting to new ones has had a large impact. Many are used to routines that involve socialising with large groups of family and friends, intimacy in social cues such as handshakes and kisses when greeting, as well as regular visits to the Mosque. Adaptation has meant that many have had to think of new ways to comfort and support their family members. One of the toughest restrictions imposed for many Muslims is the ban on public religious gatherings, such as attending mosques, a space many depend on to strengthen their beliefs and find comfort in. It is without a doubt that as we welcome Ramadan this year, we welcome it with some uncertainty.
Ramadan is a time for reflection, spirituality, community spirit and spending time with friends and family. It is a time that many of our readers and even some of the AZEEMA team highly look forward to. It allows us to strengthen our relationship with our faith, it helps many of us find purpose and gratitude, it reminds us to be compassionate, it allows us to reinforce our intentions, and with charity and community at the centre, we spend the holy month being our most sociable. For many this year, Ramadan will be spent partly or even wholly in isolation. As those taking part will refrain from eating, drinking and many other things, being in isolation may cause added anxiety and confusion, making it a difficult month for many.
With all this in mind, we wanted to prioritise our Muslim community and give something back, to make it a more positive, productive month. We’re so excited to bring you a host of workshops and takeovers over the course of Ramadan. Whether its recipe ideas, new tips to perfecting that glow, something to keep you active or to simply pass the time, we invite you to join and enjoy our delicately curated, special Ramadan series.
FITNESS
To kick things off, we have the incredible Nike Trainer and Muay Thai athlete Nesrine Dally, bringing us a tailored ‘Fasting and Fitness’ session in partnership with Nike. Introducing healthy and safe exercise during Ramadan, Nesrine will be bringing the heat across 4 very special classes. Starting with the importance of staying fit during the month, Nesrine will also focus on boxing & upper body strength, light weights, core mobility and stretching. We’re so excited for this one!
It’s important to stay healthy during these unusual times and just because we have to stay indoors, it doesn't mean we can't still be active and do gentle exercise to keep us moving and feeling good.
Separately, if you are looking for something more specific - we recommend the NTC App, which broadcasts live in your living room. The NTC app brings the five facets of training to life, which include; movement, recovery, nutrition, mindfulness and sleep. This can be done in various ways, from tailoring your own workouts, to being a part of live workout classes with a Nike Trainer within the NTC App. You can download the app here.
NUTRITION AND FOOD
Eating properly during Ramadan is so important to keep you going throughout the day and to maintain your physical and mental health too. Wellness blogger Selma Maloumi will be joining us to share her knowledge on health and nutrition whilst fasting, giving helpful tips for the journey.
Each week we’ll also invite some very special guests from our community to share their delicious recipes and show you how to make them. Tune in for baked goods from Safia Shakarchi and Moza Almatrooshi, filling smoothies from Lorén Elhili and a delicious meal from the founder of Mosa Mosa, Fahima Jilani.
BEAUTY
To help us all perfect that ‘self isolation’ healthy glow we have invited the amazing Maria Maleh, Yassmine Benalla, and Girls in Film’s very own Nikola Vasakova to share how they make their own beauty goodies at home. Expect smooth, radiant skin and nourished hair with their DIY vegan body lotion, natural balms and hair masks.
OPEN MIC
Joining us for a very special virtual open mic night is creative writer and spoken word poet Rakaya Fetuga. We’re so excited to have her involved! Rakaya will be reading a couple of her poems, giving you a chance to join her on IG live and share yours too.
See a timetabled schedule of the month below! We hope this month will bring you all peace and comfort and we hope our small ways of creating activities will be helpful and uplifting. We will also have a special Eid celebration to look forward to!! Stay tuned.
Love & light,
AZEEMA x
