Namaste to the World of Yoga

By Leila Khalil

Having been introduced to yoga by his sister at the YMCA, Yogi Ali, who conducts yoga classes in Cairo, fell in love with the practice from the beginning. It was seven years later, however, that he started to devote himself to the practice through intense study that took him as far as India. With an air of tranquillity and positivity about him, it becomes quickly evident upon first meeting him that yoga has shaped who he is today. Yogi Ali shares more about his passion for yoga with Cairo West Magazine.

CWM: Is yoga suitable for all ages?

Y.A. In general, yes. Yoga can be done by anyone, but as it does require remaining still and focused for certain amounts of time, classes such as the ones I regularly hold are best suited for those 15 years old and up. Younger children typically have a lot of energy and are not always able to sit still. Nevertheless, there are no restrictions in yoga – everyone is welcome.

What are the main benefits of practicing yoga?

Fitness, healing and spirituality. It’s a holistic practice meant for the body, mind and soul, the breath being the bridge for it all. Yoga allows you to see your potential. It gradually improves your strength, flexibility and even your balance. I remember the first time I did a headstand I was up for half a second, yet I was so inspired. I had done something I wasn’t able to before. Yoga teaches you to open your mind, and that anything is possible.

How often do you recommend a person practice for, and for how long each time?

Every day! Coming to class once or twice a week if you have the time is great, but the point is to practice independently. Just try to set some time aside to invest it in your body. If you can practice for two hours a day, good for you! Yoga is meant as a daily practice; there are many simple postures that do not take much time but offer great benefits. The more one engages in it, the better effect it will have on the mind and body.

Are there any lifestyle adjustments that would complement practising yoga?

Waking up early would be good! Maintaining a proper diet can also support one’s practice, because physical and mental health are directly related to one another. The great thing about yoga is that it is flexible and can be worked into most lifestyles.

Yoga is a practice that helps develop discipline and commitment, and depending on your intentions can offer great personal growth.

What classes and sessions do you hold in Cairo?

There are several types of classes and sessions available, anyone interested should check my Facebook page or give me a call.

Do you need to pre-book to attend?

Yes, as classes fill up very quickly. I ask people to register via my Facebook page, or message me by phone up to two days prior to a class to reserve their spot.

Yoga Nidra

Ali also discussed a branch of yoga that he practises and shares in his sessions, Yoga Nidra. The ancient art of Yoga Nidra, according to Ali, “is yogic sleep,” and has been observed to reduce cases of tension and anxiety, relieving symptoms such as headaches, chest and abdominal pains, and even post-traumatic stress disorder. It is the deepest exploration of the subconscious mind, where one is between the state of sleep and wakefulness. By becoming one with the entire body, a person is able to relax his or her mind and enter a meditative state to achieve peace. Ali’s Facebook page, Yogi Ali, explains that this form of yoga is four times more effective than the equivalent duration of sleep.

With so many forms of yoga, what are the main points in Yoga Nidra?

Yoga is the science of self-realization. Yoga Nidra is one expression or practice that brings you to that. It is not physically active like other forms of yoga, instead it has you lay back and ask your body to relax. You start by bringing the awareness to the feet and slowly work your way up the body to the top of the head bit by bit. This form of Yoga has very positive effects particularly for those with psychosomatic disorders. You see, when there this too much tension in the mind it begins to manifest in the body. In Yoga Nidra we work in reverse by calming the body to bring ease to the mind. On a deeper level, Yoga Nidra helps relieve the subconscious mind. This part of the mind is very receptive and it’s the storehouse of our memories, fears and trauma – all our conditioning! By practicing we begin to relieve ourselves of these issues and when you incorporate an intention it’s like planting a positive seed into the depth of your being. Eventually, the whole of our being begins to move in the direction of our intention.

Meditation and Retreats

How important is it for people to try and find time to meditate, and how can it improve their health and life in general?

Mediation is a process of coming to know oneself. Unfortunately, most of us are slaves to our circumstances, conditioning and our fears.  Sitting with oneself is quite difficult at first; but gradually you begin to appreciate, accept and even love yourself.

But once you get over the hard work, it’s beautiful.

Here is the key – what meditation is all about. Accept yourself. Respect yourself. Appreciate yourself. Love yourself.

What types of retreats do you run, and where?

One of my intentions is to see as many of the beautiful places Egypt has to offer and then come back to some of them with my students. I’ve taken groups to the desert in Wadi Rayan, the beaches of Sinai and the banks of the Nile in Aswan. I dream about Siwa and I think this is the year I’ll finally go.  Generally, my retreats combine a beautiful and natural setting with a meditative atmosphere and an itinerary that goes beyond just yoga. On my last retreat to Aswan, for example, we visited a number of sites by boat including the Temple of Isis and the botanical gardens. We even had dinner in a Nubian home!

In March, I took a group on my first trip abroad and our destination was Rishikesh, the Capital of yoga in North India. I was excited to give my students a taste of the yogic lifestyle and guide them around the town that helped open my heart and awaken my spirit. And by the time this goes to print I’ll have announced a retreat to Konya, Turkey where Rumi the great Sufi poet and teacher lived and taught.

How often do you conduct retreats, and how long do they last for?

Honestly, I like to take things as they come and so there’s no fixed template. Typically, retreats are 2-4 days long but the further we travel the longer we tend to stay. I always have something in the works but I’m also committed to my students in Cairo and try not to be away too long or often.

How many people usually attend these?

It really depends on the sort of place we’re going but the average has probably been 12-15 people in the past.

The Experience

You close your eyes, and for a few peaceful moments, all the problems clouding your mind disappear. You hear those next to you, exhaling all their troubles away. The soothing sound of the instructor’s voice reassures you that you are in a safe and loving place. For the first time in a long while, your soul feels clear – as if it’s been reborn and rejuvenated. The instructor asks you to perform a few poses to help your mind and body become one. As you move from down-ward dog, to plank, to child’s pose, you feel the oxygen flow through your nose and reach every part of your body, collecting all the negative energy and filtering it out. This lasts for about an hour and half, however you are not the same after. Your body, mind and soul are more connected and you feel light and happy. Placing your palms together against your chest, you bow slightly and greet those next to you with a single word… “Namaste”.

After taking Ali’s class, I was relaxed and calm. I definitely recommend this class to anyone regardless of their age, gender or lifestyle.

By Tabibi

Immunization is one of the best ways for parents to protect their infants from serious childhood diseases. Through the use of vaccines, some diseases like small pox for example, have been eradicated from the world while others, like polio have been eliminated from many parts of the world.

During the first two years of your baby’s life, you will have to go to the pediatrician more frequently for routine check-ups and vaccinations.

Here are the top 5 reasons to vaccinate your child:

• Vaccination protects children from serious illness and complications of vaccine-preventable diseases, which can result in hospitalizations, permanent damage or even death.
• Outbreaks of preventable diseases occur when many parents decide not to vaccinate their children.
• Vaccination protects others you care about, including family members, friends, and grandparents.
• If children aren’t vaccinated, they can spread disease to other children who are too young to be vaccinated or to people with weakened immune systems. This could result in long-term complications and even death for these vulnerable people.
• Vaccines are very safe and effective. All vaccines undergo long and careful review by scientists and healthcare professionals before being licensed, in addition to a robust immunization safety monitoring system that ensures safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all strongly support protecting children with recommended vaccinations.

Some questions you might have about your child’s vaccinations:

How will I know when my baby’s vaccinations are due?

Your child’s doctor will provide you with a vaccination schedule at your first visit. Vaccines work best when they are given on time, so make sure to mark your calendar with your baby’s vaccines due date. Some clinics offer a vaccine reminder service.

What if I miss a vaccination appointment?

If you missed the appointment or delayed the immunization, make a new appointment. For most vaccines, you can pick up the immunization schedule where it stopped without having to start again.

Will my baby have side effects from the injection?

A vaccine, like any medicine, can cause side effects for some babies, these include:

• Redness, swelling or tenderness at the injection site which will slowly disappear on its own
• Fussiness
• Fever

If your baby develops a fever, you can treat them with paracetamol, however avoid giving it prophylactically before vaccination as it may interfere with the immune response to the vaccine.

What if my baby is ill on the day of the appointment?

If your baby has a minor illness without a fever, such as a cold, they can still have their vaccinations. If your baby has a fever, put off the vaccination until they recover.

Finally, parents want and deserve the best of health and happiness for their children. The mission of pediatricians is to be their partners with that goal in mind.

By Maggie Balbaa

Young entrepreneur, Nada Taalab, has created a new concept in healthy-living that will elevate the idea of getting fit. Chefox Camp is not your usual gym or aerobics facility. It is a place where you get to practice a healthy life-style, and learn how to maintain it. Cairo West Magazine interviewed the owner to learn more about it.

CWM: What was the inspiration behind Chefox?

NT: I was a former swimming champion who used to train very hard, and had to stop because of a shoulder injury. Since 2004, I have been trying to lose that weight with all the traditional and none traditional ways. But the problem is that in Egypt it is very hard with our local lifestyle to lose weight and to actually maintain what we lost. So two years ago, I travelled to the UK for a week to join a fitness camp. This trip was very beneficial for me, but it cost me a lot of money. So one year later, I decided to start that concept with some modifications here in Egypt.

I met Yasmine Youssef, a graduate with distinction from City & Guilds, UK, who is specialized in culinary arts and nutrition. She believes strongly that the key to a healthy lifestyle is healthy nutrition. People hate diets because they wait so impatiently for the cheat meal. Healthy nutrition can offer the same food but in a healthy way.

Our other pillar is fitness and sports. I was lucky to find a lot of enthusiasm when I approached some of Egypt’s most passionate instructors: Dabo, Amany Taher, Sarah Moenes, Maggie Balbaa and Sarah Yassin. They have given me the perfect mix of weight and strength training varieties, Zumba and Yoga.

What is the concept?

Our concept is very simple: Life Style Revolution! There are some factors however that you learn to control:

– Nutrition

– Sports

– Sleeping habits

– Behavioral change

Tell me about a typical camp in Chefox.

As a first step, people register via a questionnaire. They also state in it if they have any medical conditions, their sports history, if any, and their eating habits. This questionnaire is revised by our nutritionist and our team’s medical doctor. Based on it, we fix an appointment to start the “one-week pre-camp preparation” where they are given a nutrition plan and a fitness program.

Arriving on site, they start by learning about the ground rules of Chefox. They also get introduced to the week schedule and receive their Chefox welcome pack. Fitness test, body analysis and measurements are done first thing in the morning on the second day. On their last day in camp, they repeat that analysis before breakfast to check results. They also receive a personal password for their account on our blog to become part of the “Chefoxers” network. When they leave, their real journey begins.

With all our packages, there is follow up. We do their body analysis in different time intervals, depending on the package. We are also planning to have gatherings every once in a while where people can share their experience and what they reached.

What is included in your programs?

We have 3 major parts:

Nutrition: Our food is freshly cooked on site. The residents take nutrition workshops covering many topics that enable them to understand food labels and manage portions. They also learn how to shop for food and equip their kitchen, modify the recipes and keep a food diary to control food intake. We also include a Cookery Workshop, all with Yasmine. We call it the “ABC of a heart-healthy kitchen”.

Fitness Fusion: Residents on camp try all kinds of sports so that they can tell what they would click with the most. There is also a workshop where we explain muscle groups and at-home workouts.

Behavioral Change: In this part, we listen to people’s issues and what is preventing them in their daily lives to practice a healthy lifestyle so that we can work with them individually. We work on reprogramming their thoughts using a vision board to determine why they are doing this, how they want to look and what they dream to wear. At the end of the camp, they get a weekly nutrition and fitness plan. We apply the magic 21 days rule, but we do 28 to turn it into a habit. We also advice them to log everything daily into their Chefox log book.

Who is Chefox for?

Chefox is for everybody: all age groups, all fitness levels and all sizes.

Do participants need medical clearance to follow your program?

Yes they do. Safety comes first. Our doctor might ask, in some cases, the participant for a medical clearance from their personal doctor.

What do you feel makes Chefox unique in Cairo?

Chefox is more of a holistic approach. We pay very strong attention to details to the point that we plant most of what we eat. Also the idea of a live-in and the one year follow up, make our participants goals more achievable. We are the first and only camp in Egypt with this concept.

What are the benefits of a ‘live-in’ program?

What I noticed from our first camp is that participants have more time to build rapport with their mentors. They also kill the “I-can-never-do-this” attitude. They feel they are in a safe environment, something some of them really miss when they try out classes where people are more fit and healthy than them.

How did you come to select this lovely location?

This farm is owned by my family, with no real usage. All I had to do was to prepare it for action. Et Voila!

Can couples and families join as a group?

Yes, but in day use only for now. We also have a bridal program, where the bride joins with her bride maids, and can include her mother and mother-in-law.