Episode 233: Confidence In Strength with Saman Munir
“It’s being strong that gives me confidence. It’s not the makeup. It’s not how I look. It’s how I feel.”
- Saman Munir
Kate dips her toes back into yoga classes and Doree gets some life admin done. Then, they talk with Saman Munir about how she helped Under Armour design their first hijab, wearing makeup to the gym, being one of six women and the first Muslim trainer for the EvolveYou fitness app, and the importance of not comparing your fitness journey to others.
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Transcript
Kate: Hello. Welcome to Forever 35, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves. I am Kate Spencer
Doree: And I am Doree Shafrir.
Kate: And we are not experts.
Doree: No. But we are two friends who like to talk a lot about serums.
Kate: Hey, before we get into it, a friendly reminder that you can visit our website for forever 35 podcast.com for links to everything we mention our Twitter's at Forever 35 Pod, our Instagram's at Forever 35 podcast. We are sharing photos of your Forever 35 merch there. So please do tag us. And of course there's the Forever 35 Facebook group on Meta's Facebook, where the password is serums.
Doree: You can also shop our fave prods at shop my.us/forever 35. We have our Forever 35 newsletter at February 35 podcast.com/newsletter. And perhaps most crucially, we do have a voicemail and text number at 7 8 1 5 9 1 0 3 9 0, and you can email us at forever 35 podcast gmail.com.
Kate: Doree, all these things are true, but as mentioned, we do have an amazing merch.
Doree: They, they're true
Kate: <laugh>. What if lies? This has been a lie this whole time. Anyway please do check out our merch collab with Balance Bound. It's just fantastic paper products, pencil sets, journals, stories, hotel key chain and more. You can find it all at balance bound.co/shop/forever 35.
Doree: Amen.
Kate: <laugh> just doing a little stretch. Sorry. Yes.
Doree: Well, speaking of stretching
Kate: <affirmative>, right? I just did a natural segue. Can I tell you, So I, I do feel like one thing we circle around a lot here is getting back into things we loved or then stopping the things we love and then getting back to the things we love. There's kind of that a bit of a back and forth. I think we all find this as we get older. Sometimes you played a piano as a younger person and now you're back into it, these sorts of things and you're exploring it in a new way. I'm gonna keep trying horseback riding without it being fancy, all these little things. So as I've talked about here on this podcast, I am a certified yoga instructor and I had a very active yoga practice for many years. And then that all stopped for a decade for various reasons. But I am really, I don't know, revisiting my relationship to the yoga practice.
And one of the things that I have been doing is going to yoga classes I l, which is something I've always loved. And the pandemic and parenthood and many other things have made hard over the years. But I have found a spot that takes covid seriously and I feel comfortable being in their space. And I most mask for classes which is fine. And I have been going back to yoga class and it's been really exciting for me and almost kind of emotional. I don't know why I think that yoga is so wonderful as an individual practice, but there's also something about being in community that I love. We love being in community. I mean, we do, Right? Yeah. You've talked about, I think this is something you've talked about and I'm not going to or be able to articulate exactly what you said, but so much of what Covid has highlighted is how important it is to just be in community with people, whether it's your best friends or strangers.
It's really healing. And I just have loved my Sunday morning yoga class journey. And Saturday, I did go Saturday this week as well. And it's a great, it's a little prickly for me in terms of just what my body used to be able to do and what my body can do now. And that's also a fun thing to dig into. And not having attachment to things that our bodies could do and or attachment to even a physical practice. I don't know, it's, it's causing me to just revisit some things. But I really love it and I really feel it gives me a feeling of groundedness and also a spiritually, spiritually connected practice of movement. Similarly to the way I think dance is for some people. That's so great. I strive to be great. Love this. I strive <laugh>. I strive to be great. Well, you know what, You aren't nailing it.
Thank you're really nailing it. You're what? I, Yeah, I really don't know. I think God, this pandemic has just put so many things in my brain and continue to do so. But yeah, that's one thing that's become kind of an important weekly practice that I'm trying to do. It's not just do yoga, but to go to an actual class and get out of the house. Just have that time for myself. So yes, I just wanted to share that because I've really, really been looking forward. It's something I'm setting in my calendar and looking forward to. That's the other thing I wanna just note. You gotta put these things in your calendar, or at least I do. You
Doree: You really do. You really really do.
Kate: Yes. Otherwise I either forget otherwise Yeah. They lose their value to me in some way. So that has been really nice for me this week. Anyway, <laugh>, speaking of updating calendars, how's that going for you? <laugh>
Doree: <laugh> last night I busted out one of my it's a lot notepads from our balance bound collab.
Kate: I'm gonna hold up my go on sticky notes to encourage you to go on <laugh>
Doree: Because I was suddenly like, Oh, I have all these annoying life things that I need to remember to get done. And literally what has been happening every day is I've been, in the beginning of the day, I've been like, Oh, I need to do X, Y, Z. And then the end of the day rolls around and I'm like, Oh, I forgot <affirmative>. Or I just didn't, or I remembered, but I was like, Oh, I don't have time cuz it's annoying things. I need to get something notarized and I need to fax something. All these just annoying things I need to pay preschool tuition, just all these things that I'm, I just need to check these things off the list.
Kate: Yeah, I mean it took me two months to renew my passport. This summer was just like, oh, the steps involved in this.
Doree: That's another thing that I have not done. I need to renew my passport.
Kate: Can I just flag this for a second? Has your passport expired yet?
Doree: Oh yes.
Kate: Oh, okay. Okay. Cuz I let mine expire too. And Anthony was like, Oh, I always just do it before it expires. And I was like, Oh, well good for you. That never even dawned on me is that option. I thought we all just waited to the last day and then we were time for a new one. I had no idea.
Doree: I mean, I will say my previous passports I had renewed before they expired. I used to be more on top of it. And then mine expired not long after I had had Henry and it just seemed like a hassle. And then the pandemic hit and I was like, well I'm not going anywhere anyway,
Kate: <laugh>.
Doree: And now it's just dragged on and on and on. I think it expired in I it expired in 2019. It's been expired for quite some time.
Kate: Okay.
Doree: So yeah, the only person in our house who has a valid passport is Henry
Kate: <laugh>. Great. So when shit hits the fan, he's gonna head to Canada. And you and Matt are stuck in America. Yeah. Yep.
Doree: He'll be like, Bye
Kate: <laugh>.
Doree: And actually if we drove to Canada, he doesn't even need a passport. If you use a land crossing to Canada or Mexico, children just need a birth certificate.
Kate: But adults need the passports. Oh, so Henry's fine.
Doree: Adults need the passports. Yeah, Henry is fine. He's gonna hook up with my parents and get the hell outta Dodge and we're gonna be like, Oh wait, <laugh>,
Kate: Wait for us. Well I can tell you, I just checked my you can check your app passport application status online, which is very nice. And I am approved and I should be getting mine soon, which is
Doree: Oh good.
Kate: Which is very good. Yep. I did expedited status.
Doree: That's exciting. So how long did that take? Just out of curiosity? Cause I feel like people keep talking about this.
Kate: I sent mine at the beginning of August and they are telling me that it will be back by August 26th. So that's pretty quick.
Doree: Oh that is quick.
Kate: But I paid for the expedited service because my family is traveling in November. But that's fast.
Doree: That is fast. And there was a point in the pandemic where even people who were doing expedited, it was taking months. So
Kate: How is your focus when you do an administrative task, let's say on Monday you write yourself the list of things you need to do, I need to do <affirmative> X, Y, and Z. What's your follow through in terms of getting these things done?
Doree: Well, it's usually pretty good. However, I will say one of the things that has been holding me back from some of the tasks that I need to do is they also are dependent on my husband. The thing we need to get notarized, we need to do together. So that just adds a whole other element. Now this morning I did sit down and say to him, We need to do this. What is your schedule today? When can we do this? And he was like, I was like, I have a thing at 1230. He's like, Okay, let's go after that. And I was like, Okay, great. So now we have a plan.
Kate: Oh, so it's on the schedule for today? The not
Doree: It's on the schedule for today. Yes. Oh,
Kate: That's exciting. Okay.
Doree: Yeah, because otherwise it just wasn't happening <affirmative> otherwise it kept being like, we need to do this <laugh>,
Kate: I know this. Oh
Doree: Yeah, don't forget, we need to do this <laugh>
Kate: And six months go by and then, Yeah,
Doree: Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. And so I'm just I'm just waiting to get that done and it'll feel good and I'll be able to check it off. So satisfying. Yeah.
Kate: And just have it be done.
Doree: Satisfying.
Kate: Have it be done.
Doree: Done. Exactly. And then I'll move on to my other, some other <laugh>.
Kate: Sure. Other thing that has to get done.
Doree: <laugh> much delayed, much delayed task that needs to get done. So that's going on over here.
Kate: Well I'll tell you quickly we celebrated our 14th year wedding anniversary yesterday. And what as a present. Oh
Doree: My gosh. Happy anniversary.
Kate: Thank you. And as my present to Anthony, I found we had Polaroid cameras at our wedding and these photo book pages and people could write notes and take photos with the intention that we would put that together as a keepsake, but we never did. And all of that shit just has sat stacked in a mess box for 14 years. And I was like, Okay, I'm gonna put this together. So I sat and I stuck all the photos and I organized it and I put this book together. It only took 14 years and it's been so long that Anthony didn't remember that we did this at our wedding. And he has a very good memory. So yeah,
Doree: Kate <laugh>, You know what I have meant to put in a scrap, a photo book scrapbook that I haven't done
Kate: What
Doree: The trip I took to Israel when I was 16. And then there were a couple almost 30 years ago, almost 30 years ago. And then there were a couple other summers. I did a summer program in London and there was another summer that I got a year rail pass. Remember year rail passes. And I traveled around Europe and I was gonna put everything in a scrapbook. That was when I was 20. So 25 years ago, I think I still have all the stuff somewhere. All the, I would say
Kate: <laugh>, my dad, oh, excuse me, my dad scrapbooks. And
Doree: It's
Kate: Really cool. It's fun to go to his house and look through all these scrapbooks. And now my kids look through them and he has things like the mean notes I wrote to my parents that my kids now need back to me and think are amazing. I mean he really, he's a
Doree: Saver, but oh my God, it's
Kate: Really special actually. They're really neat to look at. So I think if you have all that stuff and you have the energy, I mean that's a whole other story that would be a fun thing to put together for yourself just to look back on. And then for Henry and also like me when I come over,
Doree: Yeah, I'll just be like, Here Kate <laugh> a scrapbook of me. Enjoy yourself. I
Kate: Love to look at a scrapbook of Young Doree and I think that would be fun actually. I'm in the mood for that. I would love to look at
Doree: That. I have multiple folders in my file cabinet that are just labeled old stuff. <laugh>.
Kate: That should be the name of this episode. Old stuff stuff. Oh
Doree: Well yeah. And every few years I go through it and I'm always like, Oh, the program for my piano recital when I was 11 <laugh>. And then I
Kate: Keep it,
Doree: Why am I keeping this stuff? Cause
Kate: You're gonna put it in a scrapbook. You're gonna scrapbook.
Doree: Cause I'm gonna put it in a scrapbook. As soon as I retire, I move to a retirement community.
Kate: I mean I will say scrapbook speaking.
Doree: Oh no, no, go on, go. Let's keep talking about scratch. I
Kate: Was gonna say that scrapbooking could be do be a fun activity to do with friends. The same way people do a vision boarding party is like you bring all your old shit over that you want to put somewhere and the host provides the scrapbooking materials. So everybody gets a book and a glue stick. And now I wanna host a scrapbooking party. I
Doree: Was just gonna case, Do you wanna host a scrapbooking party? Who? Who's an avid and goes on scrapbooking retreats is my mother-in-law. Hi Mary, if you're listening.
Kate: Well hi Mary. She
Doree: Yeah, Mary are retreats is a big, Yeah, I mean I think she just gets together with a few of her girlfriends and they'll like go to a hotel for a weekend and scrapbook all weekend together.
Kate: I would a hundred percent do this.
Doree: I mean maybe we should do this. This could be the fire under my ass that I need.
Kate: I mean a scrapbooking party. Everybody we have a, Oh my god, I haven't even told you about my charcuterie board. I'm gonna say that for another episode. But we'll have Chary cocktails. Yes.
Doree: I mean this is also just another thing in my do <laugh> leads a retirement community life.
Kate: <laugh>
Doree: <laugh> 10 of us. I
Kate: Mean I started Pickle Ball yesterday. So between the two
Doree: Of us I was gonna ask you
Kate: How ball saving it. I'm saving it for another episode. I will talk about it in a few days or weeks, but so far I am okay standing outside of the kitchen and loving it. That's a pickle ball reference. Only my fellow PB heads will understand <laugh>
Doree: Well Kate, we should introduce our guests.
Kate: That seems like the right thing to do right now
Doree: And take a little break. We had the absolute pleasure and honor of talking to Summon Munir, who is a Toronto based certified trainer, mom of three proud Muslim woman and the edition to evolve you apps. All female global training team Summit designed her hit focus workout guide focused with summon for busy women and moms herself who are short on time but wanna make fitness part of their everyday routine. She is Evolve uses first Muslim trainer and their first mom and she hopes to inspire women across the globe to build confidence through fitness. And we really had fun talking to her and I learned a lot.
Kate: I mean she inspired me. I like her attitude totally about strength and why and what her focus initially was as she began an exercise journey and what it has become. Yes, yes. I found that really inspiring.
Doree: I agree. Okay, let's take a short break and we will be right back with Summon.
Kate: So we always like to ask our guests about a Selfcare practice to get started on the show and we're very curious what you might be doing for self care these days. And it's always interesting I think to ask a fitness person, because fitness is self-care for so many of us <affirmative>. And so I assume it's also part of your own self-care daily rituals. But I would love to know if there's something else that you do for self care as well in your
Saman Munir: Life. Besides fitness?
Kate: Well, yeah, besides fitness or if there's something about fitness that is self care for you right now. Cuz I think in my own experience, fitness is constantly evolving for me. I don't know if you have the same experience.
Saman Munir: So for me, self self-care has to be fitness cuz that's my way to go. That's where I let all my anxiety, if I'm nervous or scared or whatever it is, or depression, whatever it is, that's where I just go to the gym and let it all out. For me, that is the best self care ever I can explain. But besides that, obviously spiritually praying as a Muslim you pray five times a day and that really calms me down if I'm stressed out or whatever, it's so praying and going to the gym, both of these two things, a huge have to be a huge impact in my life. Yet
Doree: We don't have that many people on the show who talk about prayer and religion as self care. So I like that you are kind of bringing that into the conversation.
Saman Munir: Oh, thank you. It just, you feel so praying, just asking, being grateful to God for what he has given you for the health is biggest thing that I have to be grateful to that I can see that I can walk every day, I can get out my bed. So for me, that is a huge, huge thing that I need to be grateful to God. And like I said, as we pray five times a day and just to keep reminder five times a day and just makes me feel good. Besides just
Doree: Going, how long is each
Saman Munir: Prayers?
Doree: How long is each prayer? Yeah.
Saman Munir: I would say 10 to 15 minutes. Not that long. Okay. Yeah.
Doree: But a nice sort of break for yourself to kind of reenter it sounds like, at different points throughout the day.
Saman Munir: Correct. There are obviously different timings that you have to pray and within those timeframes you have to offer all those prayers. So one is before the sun sunrises, so you get up early. And for me it's like 4:00 AM in the morning. You have to get up early and that's the hardest one because not a lot of people can do that. So for me it's like if I don't get my first prayer, that's it. I feel like my day is just ruined <affirmative>. So I have to get a 4:00 AM in the morning, pray, go back to sleep, whatever, get up again. And then the second prayer starts at 1:00 PM then the third prayer starts at 5:00 PM and then the fourth is the sunset whenever that is. So the time is always changing as obviously there are some days we have long days, summers and winters are short days. So the prayer times are always changing, but there's always five times a day that we pray.
Kate: So how did you get started in fitness? Because I believe you're only a year. A year. 42. Two, okay. And you got involved in fitness in your thirties, which makes me very excited as a 43 year old. And I think oftentimes our listeners are like, It's too late for me, or we felt this way too, it's too late for us to do dot.dot. So what was your first step into the world of fitness as first pr, practicing it yourself and then making a career change and having it become your life?
Saman Munir: Correct. Honestly, fitness was always in back of my mind, but I started off with makeup. So I don't know if you know that I have a makeup page call Makeup Hija that'll have paused for a long time. I'm not doing anything on it, but that's how I started my journey. I was an aerospace, I was working for an aerospace company before I had my kids. And me and my husband decided that once we have our kids, we, I'm gonna give up my job and I'm gonna take my kids. I just didn't want to pay the babysitter and them taking care of my child. I'm like, you know what? I'm bringing our kids to this world. I'm gonna take care of them. So I put my job and I started, I got pregnant and then right after I had my daughter, I had nothing to do.
So I was like, okay, you know what? I just wanna see if there's something I can search on YouTube, how to style a hijab in different way. And I think one thing led to another and then I saw this girl and I discovered, I'm like, Whoa, she can really wear a hijab in different ways. And then I started my page, I'm like, okay, I like makeup, so maybe I should put something about makeup and hit hop together. And that's how I started makeup hijab in 2010. And I did that for good seven, eight years. And then I was like, Hmm, I want something different. There's not a lot of Muslim girls. Or actually it was my husband's idea. I was like, there's not a lot of Muslim people who are practicing fitness or healthy lifestyle. Why don't you use your platform and try to encourage more Muslim women to work out?
Cause you like to work out. At that time I wasn't into weightlifting, it was just even my mindset was totally wrong. How can I lose weight? I just wanna be skinny. So <laugh> how my fitness journey started, I said, Okay, you know what, just start a page. And my husband said, Okay, we're both gonna start doing workouts. So he did it for a week and then he is like I think you can take care of it yourself. <laugh>, I don't have time for this. I have to go to work. So I started SFM Fitness in 2017, I believe. And at that time my youngest one was three years old, I was 37 and there was a gym that opened at UFC gym and I joined that gym cause I always loved doing what tie in boxing I did for a year before I got married.
And then I stopped. So let me just start going back to U Jim. So I started doing HIT training classes and I started doing boxing mui and I used to record videos there at the gym and I used to tag the gym owner said, How about you don't pay any membership, just tag this. I said, Okay, cool, great. Why not <laugh> save money. So I started doing that and then I think I had about 6,000 followers and then I reached out to all the brands. Cause working with makeup hijab, when I had a make hi jobs, I knew how to contact these brands or they will contact you and they wanted to collaborate. You know what, I wanna collaborate with Big Bryan and believe you, at that time I didn't even know how to do proper pushup pull up or anything. I was like, let just message all the brands at br.
I messaged all the brands and Under Armour came back after three months later. They're like, Okay, well know. We'll work with you as influencer you can work with. I said, Okay, they will send you. They said, We will send you a few kits just tag us, but make sure when you tag us, don't tag any other brands. I said, Sure. And for me that was a huge opportunity. I didn't wanna take that as granted. So I stopped bring everything, I'm like, forget about all the other brands. I'm just gonna stick to Under Armor. And I started posting doing workouts, bring their brand. And then a year later they asked me if I can be their brand ambassador. And that's when I said, How about we design a hijab? I said, Other brands are out there, why can't we do that? And then we worked on that, the Under Armor hijab Sports hijab. And that took almost one or one and a half year to go back and forth to get that proper sports Hi Jobb. Wow. That was done during the covid time when the ad ad came out, the Under Armor hijab. So I was happy and it just blew up from there.
Kate: That's amazing. And that must have felt, I mean, what was the response from them when you suggested that they create a hijab for Muslim women?
Saman Munir: Canadian team was super excited because most of the products are all made an America. So we have only one, I think a hockey product and then this is the second one. So we were super excited. They were like, Yep, let's do it. We're gonna do this. So it went really, really well. It went really well, especially when I saw Tom Brady commenting on my video. I was like, Whoa, this is so cool. I didn't expect that. So that was totally amazing. Yet
Doree: Have other companies kind of followed suit in developing workout hijab or is Under Armour kind of the big one?
Saman Munir: There are other brands as well. Yeah, Adidas came and Nike was the first one to come of course. Then obviously Under Armour and then all the other brands I've seen Adidas and now other brands are also coming out with their hijab.
Kate: What has been the response from hijabi women who didn't see themselves represented in this way? And I think that's such a current conversation that's still going on, is that the changing kind of representation in fitness. And I don't think we're there yet, but as someone who is kind of leading the way what have you received from people?
Saman Munir: I mean obviously growing up I didn't see anybody who I could say, You know what? Oh, she's wearing a hijab, She's a mom. There was nobody to relate to. And it's so important that we have that kind of representation so people can see and say, Oh, you know what? She's wearing a hijab and she's a mom, She has three kids. If she can do it, why can't I? So representation is so important that we represent everybody.
Doree: Can I ask you for someone who is scared of the gym, let's just say, or someone who hasn't been back to the gym in a while, what steps do you suggest that they take to get back into it? Or maybe just get back into a workout routine?
Saman Munir: The first thing I would say is to plan your workout. Don't just go to the gym and say, Oh, I'm gonna try this or I'm gonna do that. You gotta plan your workout, you gotta have a plan. What you gonna do? Is it an RM day or is it elected? Don't just go to the gym. Oh, maybe I should do this today, or maybe I should do that today. It just doesn't work that way. And if then hire a coach that will help you a lot, hire a coach and then get your proper training, it makes a huge, huge difference. So for me, it's like if you're, first of all, be confident who in what you are. Even I'm an athlete, I still get nervous. There are times because I know I'm a minority, especially when I joined this new gym. I knew there were everybody. There is all high maintenance people and they're wearing all these awesome clothes and awesome hair. And here I am fully covered and sweating my butt out. But it's the confidence. Just don't worry about who's looking at you. Don't worry about who's watching you, do you work on yourself, focus on yourself, put your headphones on, put your music cloud, and that's it. Focus on yourself. That's
Kate: It. You mentioned how being dressed modestly too. I'm wondering how do you feel what has been your experience in the fitness space and what have been some of the challenges? Being a Muslim woman, you're wearing your hijab, you are dressing modestly. People like this often isn't a safe space, I imagine. I would love to hear what has been the hardest part and what advice do you have for someone who might be experiencing the same thing? It's,
Saman Munir: It's been intimidating. It's been hard. It's not been easy, especially being a woman and then second wearing a hijab. It's like you have to be acknowledged. It's hard to, It's like you have to be loud and say, You know what? It's okay. It's just a hijab that I'm wearing it. It's not been easy. It's been tough, but you have to focus on yourself. That's it. At the end of the day, you have to focus on yourself and be like, You know what? I don't care what people have to say. I'm gonna do me. I'm here for myself. I'm here. I'm here to work on myself, and I'm not gonna worry what other people are gonna say.
Kate: Can I ask a very, just a practical question about absolutely Under Armor, hijab and how it differs from when you might wear in your everyday life. What makes it essential to your fitness experience?
Saman Munir: So what I find with the Under Armor hijab is like if I do any explosive moves or if I'm doing boxing, it really helps. My hijab doesn't move, it doesn't move around. But if I were this hijab that you see right now, like a turbine style or any other, it will slip off and it feels super, super hot. So it's kind of hard to train. And then I have to keep on going to the washroom, fixing my hijab. But with the Under Armor, hi Jobb, it doesn't move and it's a very thin type of material. It just dries very, very quickly. So I don't have to worry about that.
Kate: So cool. I also love that it's a, I just wanna say sorry, and then I'll let you ask your question. I love that it's a Canadian Yes, part of the Canadian Under Armor, which I didn't realize. And I do like that it's either they've done something with hockey and then this huge thing. It's a very cool
Saman Munir: Yes,
Kate: <laugh>. Okay, well let's take a quick break and we'll be right back. All right, we are back.
Doree: I was just gonna ask about skin care as it relates to working out. I am someone who I need, I need to shower right away after I work out. I'm not someone who can just use a makeup wipe and go on my way. And I'm wondering if you have specific skin care or anything else that you do specific to working out that you would kinda recommend.
Saman Munir: I'm honestly gonna say I'm blessed with good skin. I don't really have to wash my face right away. I do wear a really good foundation, and that is Estee Lauder. I really, really love that. So I use a very little bit of a Estee Lauder Foundation and the cream that I use, I'm sorry, the names, I don't know the names of them, but I can definitely email you. I just use a normal moisturizer. Yeah, absolutely normal moisturizer and just a regular, a face wash that is that I can get it from states again. I dunno the name of it. No, it's not Sara. It's something else. It's all dermatologists recommended, so yeah, but they're not available unfortunately in Canada. Okay.
Kate: So wait, I have to back up. Are you a makeup gym person can go in your foundation and work out in makeup or do you not do
Saman Munir: That? I just put a life foundation. I have dark circles. I gotta hide them. <laugh>?
Kate: No. So I went to the makeup counter once. I went to Christian Dior and they to buy a BB cream, and they were like, this is what everybody works out in. And in my brain, I had not realized that people are working out in foundations. So this was very good for me to learn. Do you have any other, other makeup When you exercise? Do you have a full eye on? Oh no. Is there any Okay, <laugh>?
Saman Munir: No <laugh>.
Kate: You save that for later?
Saman Munir: Yeah, no. I'm too lazy now. Before, yeah, I could say I used to be. It's funny because when you don't practice you forget everything. Same with the makeup thing. I don't practice anymore, so I even forgot how to blend all these makeup eyeshadows. So when I go to the gym, it's just a light foundation. That's it.
Kate: So you mentioned your makeup and hijab Instagram account and how that kind of blew up. And you said you're not really practicing as much. Is makeup still a part of your day to day or your self care? And if it's not anymore, was it at the time when you created that account?
Saman Munir: It was at the time when I created that account. It's not anymore. I can be bothered now. I'm always, Yeah
Kate: I love that so much. It's so interesting too, how we change. Yeah, I think sometimes, I don't know if you've found this as a person in your forties, but the things we think, they're things that have a huge role in our lives at certain times, it shifts and kind of allowing that to happen and going with it is a real practice. I don't know, was there any letting go for you of that part of your identity?
Saman Munir: I honestly felt morning makeup gave me confidence, but now I'm thinking, nope, it's the strength that gives me confidence. It's being strong. That gives me that confidence. You know what, I'm strong. It's not the makeup, it's not how I look. It's how I feel.
Kate: I love that. Yeah.
Doree: <laugh>.
Kate: Although that being said, a light foundation is always nice.
Saman Munir: Oh, absolutely. <laugh>,
Kate: Right? You can always have a little bit. Yeah,
Saman Munir: A little
Doree: Bit. Yeah. I was just gonna ask about the Evolve You app and what your participation means for that and what you're doing, how people can work with you, et cetera.
Saman Munir: Oh my God. Evolve you's been a blessing. When Christy, Ella first send me a D dm, I was super excited. She's like, Do you wanna work, Emily? Yes, why not? So I am their sixth trainer and I am the first one who created the HIT program which is called Focus and Focus program is for any shape, size body for anybody. You can do it anywhere and everywhere because there's very minimal equipment required. And my focus program contains three levels, which is obviously beginners, intermediate, and advance because a lot of people when to see my workout, they get afraid of, okay, maybe she has some kind of a weird pushups going on, or crazy jumps or whatever. So I'm like, No, no, the beginner is literally for beginners. I thought of my mom, I'm like, she's old. Would she be able to do this? A beginning workout? So I actually made her do it and she was totally cool with it. So yeah, beginners is really easy and then intermediate is a bit challenging and advances obviously. Yeah, hardcore.
Doree: How does it work exactly? People?
Saman Munir: So
Doree: An and people sign up on the app and then
Saman Munir: The link is available on my fitness account, sfm Under Fitness, they can download the app called Evolve View, and then that's where you can find me and my program calls focus,
Kate: And that means I can do it. If you're going do it,
Saman Munir: You can do more than that. <laugh>,
Kate: I feel slightly confident that I could try it. This gives me, this makes me excited. Absolutely. What has it been having children through this process and mean? This question gets asked a lot of women I think is how do you balance it all? Which is a little bit of an annoying question to ask, but I would love to just hear what's your day to day? And maybe not how do you balance at all, but how do you handle it when things feel like they're out of balance?
Saman Munir: So I would say time management is a huge thing. Obviously you have to make sure that you are managing your time properly. That again, support. I have a really good support system from my husband. He's really respectful of what I do, and he's the one who's encouraging me. Always try this, try that. So it's so important that you have somebody who can support you, support your goals, support your dream and all that stuff. So with obviously having kids, it's not easy, but there are times when, okay, he's taking care of the kids and I'm doing my thing and there are times when I'm taking care of the things and he's doing his thing. So you obviously have to support each other to have that smooth life. So balancing, obviously make sure the time management is there, you're making sure that you're doing, When I had kids obviously it was easier. And then when I had kids, I was like, okay, once they start going to school, that's when I'm gonna start doing something. And that's exactly what happened. My kids started and when they're school, that's when trying to my workouts have a know training and stuff.
Kate: How much do you sleep at night? Do you get enough? Do get a lot of sleep? Oh, absolutely.
Saman Munir: No, no. Sleep is
Kate: So important. That's like key, right?
Saman Munir: Sleep is the recovery. I wouldn't be doing anything if I did not have my sleep. And I cannot stress how sleep is for, forget about food, forget about anything. Sleep is so important. You have no idea. Six hours is not enough for me. I need to have seven to eight hours and I'll get my sleep. And if the days that I don't have enough sleep, I'll have an nap daytime. But without that, I cannot function. I cannot work out properly. I like my brain is foggy and everything, so sleep is so important. When I had kids, then I was having less sleep because obviously getting up for breastfeeding and blah, changing diapers. So now they're big, so no problem.
Kate: I love that you say that because I feel like so often, especially when it comes to taking care of ourselves or even the conversation around fitness, sleep always gets pushed to the wayside and it truly is it, maybe it's, I don't know if it's getting older or what, but it impacts how my brain works. I mean, it's unreal and it's often the first thing that we sacrifice.
Saman Munir: That's why I emphasize on sleeping. You gotta get your seven to eight hours of sleep because recovery is so important. The way I work out, or anybody who works out one and a half hour or two hour, whatever, you need your sleep to recover. You need that. And if you're not gonna do that, then you know what? You end up getting injured. <affirmative>, that's when injuries happen.
Kate: What are some other things that you think people can do to nurture themselves in this way? Because there really is kind of a whole body element, I think, to what you're speaking of. And oftentimes we just kind of laser focus on the physical aspect and don't think about these other considerations. You're suggesting sleep, but what are other things that you think people kind of skimp out on that they should really be incorporating if they want to also be maintaining a fitness practice,
Saman Munir: Drinking lots of water, walking out in nature. Oh my God, just walking in nature, just looking at the trees and just breathing makes a huge difference. Makes a huge, huge difference. Just go out, hike.
Kate: I mean, yes. Yeah,
Doree: Getting out in nature is, it's just so important. And also I think it's so important to see different environments with your eyes. It helps your brain to kind of relax. And I've been thinking lately that I need that different landscape. Correct. So that's a good reminder.
Kate: But how do you do that in winter? See, we live in Los Angeles where we can do that year round. You are in Canada. Do you still get out in the depths of January and February and go outside?
Saman Munir: Sometimes, but not all the time. <laugh> sometimes. And that's usually, they say that the percentage of women being depressed is during winter time because it's so dull. It's so cold. I would go out, but not as much. I'm not gonna lie. I hate snow <laugh>. I don't like to.
Kate: I don't either. I would You no need to lie here. The thought of having to try to go outside. We grew up on the east coast in Massachusetts, so we understand cold, but I do feel like you have it a little bit worse up north. Yeah, you really get
Saman Munir: It. Yeah. It hits your bones differently.
Kate: I can't imagine for people who might still be hesitant or might be struggling with confidence in their fitness routine, even if they're doing it at home, is there a suggestion you have to try to get people kind of out of that insecure space, that kind of discomfort space? Is there something, or is there something that you do to kind of psych yourself up when you're maybe not feeling like you're in a space to focus on yourself in that way?
Saman Munir: You know what? You gotta have plan. Set small goals. You've gotta have a goal. Set small goals and go for it. And don't compare your fitness journeys with others. I mean, when you look at the social media, you're like, Oh my gosh, she can do this, she can do that. I even feel it that way sometimes even I get, I'm like, Oh, I wish I could do that, but I can't. But I'm like, You know what, someone, you did so much, you came this far and you worked so hard. So don't compare your journey with other, because everyone is different. So just focus on yourself and be patient. Put the hard work in and be patient. That's it.
Kate: I appreciate you saying that because I do think social media, it makes fitness more accessible in a lot of ways, but then it also can make it feel inaccessible, especially in the kind of world of comparing yourself or someone's contorted themselves into a masterful yoga pose and you're like, I can't even do downward dog. What am I doing here? But I think that's really a very helpful reminder, and especially coming from you, a person who is an influencer in this space.
Saman Munir: But at the same time, it does motivate me too. When I see other people doing it, I'm like, Okay, if she can do a muscle up, why I, You just have to put the work hard work in. I mean, I've been trying doing muscle up since for three years I wasn't consistent and I kept making excuse, Maybe I'm too old, maybe I'm not strong enough, maybe I need to lose weight. These three things were kept coming to my head, giving me these kinda excuses. Were like, Okay, maybe I should just forget about this goal. Then this year I'm like, You know what? No, I'm gonna put the effort. I'm gonna work hard. I'm gonna be consistent. Forget about the age. I'm totally fine. I am capable. And once you start focusing on yourself and have that positive mindset, everything will change within months. I was able to get the muscle mean.
That was so hard. It was my dream goal. I was at the point where I was so stressed out, I used to watch so many videos. I'm like, why can't I not get it wrong with me? But I also realized that I had to hire a coach, which I did. Sometimes you need help and you just have to take it. So you have to remind yourself and humble yourself down. You don't know everything. You're always learning. So I hired a coach and I'm like it. I'm take here. And within months, like I said, my first muscle, I said, Coach, I'm turning in to get, he's don't work. We did
Doree: Before. We're gonna wrap in a second. But I was just having this conversation. I take tennis lessons and I was just having this conversation with my tennis instructor. He was telling me about a student of his who was in her fifties, and she was just kind of like, Well, I'm too old to learn a new way of hitting the ball or new way of serving or whatever. And we were just talking about how you're not too old, we're all in our forties. You're doing these new fitness things. And I think that is just something really important to keep in mind. We should get out of this mindset that when it comes to fitness, that we're too old. Of course. Well, keeping in mind to stay safe from injury. We are more prone to injury as we get older. But I think it is just so important not to think of ourselves as too old for these things. So thank you for bringing that into the conversation. Absolutely.
Saman Munir: In
Doree: The ritual. Well, someone, Yeah. Yes. It's been really great to talk to you. Thank you for being a real trailblazer in this space and inspiring, I think so many people. So yeah, it was great to have you. Where can people find you if they want to follow along with you, take your classes et cetera.
Saman Munir: So I have a fitness page called SFM Underscore Fitness. They can find you on Instagram as I'm underscore fitness or on TikTok and my workout app. They can find it. The link is available on my Instagram as well. Or they can download the app called Evolve You.
Doree: Great. Well thank you so much.
Saman Munir: Thank you so much for having me.
Kate: Well, she was the coolest. She The
Doree: Coolest was very cool. Yeah. Well, Kate,
Kate: She would kick my butt, right? Yeah.
Doree: She would kick my butt as we played that voicemail the other day of someone singing Highway to the intent she zone
Kate: <laugh>. Here we are.
Doree: So here we are in the intent. She's own. How is it going for you over here in the intent? She zone?
Kate: Well, I downloaded a bunch of ADHD books, but I haven't started reading them yet. That was my intention. This is gonna be a lifelong journey. So I'm not really hung up on the fact that I haven't gotten to it yet, but I'm on it that've still been compiling. I have a lot of recommendations from listeners and I'm just kind of compiling them all. And I've been reserving books in my Libby app. So I'm on it. I'm on it. And you know what I wanna do? This
Doree: Week,
Kate: For some reason, my brain popped back to our first interview with Danielle Henderson, writer extraordinaire, Danielle Henderson. And she talked about how one of her self care practices is writing letters. And I just thought, why don't I do that? I'm gonna write a letter to somebody that I love and just reach out that way. I love receiving letters. One of my daughters is a prolific letter writer. She's always corresponding with family members via letters. So I thought it would be nice to just write somebody a letter. So I'm, I'm going to intent on that this week. How about you? How
Doree: You I love that this, a friend of mine was saying on, she's getting off of Twitter and she was saying she's, she's writing more letters. So I've been thinking about that. I love that you're doing that. Well, last week my intention was to read and to find a book that I could get into. And I have to say, I have not succeeded. I requested a galley of something that I think I will really like. And listen, if you're listening to this and you work at Harper Collins, approve my request. Okay,
Kate: <laugh>, come on Harper Collins, come on. Doree needs this book
Doree: For
The love of God. I need this. So yeah, so I'm hoping I can kind of get a little bit, get some more reading material. <laugh> this week. And it's funny that you brought up yoga, because yesterday Henry was, he was playing around and going upside down. He was kind of doing a handstand, but on his bed with a bunch of pillow. He wasn't really doing handstand, but I was like, Oh, it feels good to be upside down, doesn't it? And he was like, Yeah. And then I showed him legs up the wall and we did it together. <laugh>. But I was also like, Henry, come
Kate: On now. That's
Doree: So sweet. I know it's real sweet. But I was like, Ooh, those hammies are <laugh>.
Kate: Oh.
Doree: So my intention is legs up the wall this week.
Kate: Ugh, the best. Okay, I support this
Doree: The best. And maybe do it with Henry. I don't know. Tbd.
Kate: Put those cute little toddler legs up the wall.
Doree: I know. I showed him how to do it. He's like, he's like into it for a minute. Sweet.
Kate: That's good
Doree: Enough. He is. All right. Well Kate, let's also remind everyone that Trevor 35 is hosted and produced by me, Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer, and produced and edited by Sam Junio. Sami Reed is our project manager, our network partners, acast, and we'll talk to you all very soon. Bye.