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I thought about it since we did it before for a short period of time and decided to make it a lifestyle. It’s not a big step, but we started it by making small changes to help the environment.
In general, my diet is not very strict. I indulge myself here and there, but I do my best to eat moderately, keeping in mind what I eat and eat home-cooked meals.
During CB, however, I had to readjust my weekly routine. I am that person who does not practice yoga or exercise at home because I need someone or a group of people to motivate me. That said, I also had to readjust my thinking and now I love home workouts.
Maries used to do sports like dragon boating, rock climbing, running, and triathlon. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
My weekly routine now consists of three to four yoga sessions, two to three handstand training sessions, and I mix at least two sessions of high intensity interval training (HIIT) with or without weights.
A: Yes, Singapore has given me the opportunity to be that “fitness / sports” loving person that I am now. I started yoga because I was overweight for my height and age. I hated the way I looked and a friend invited me to try a yoga class, I got hooked and then combined it with gym sessions.
I also started making dragon boats for a year. I combined it with rock climbing for a good three years. (That’s where I met my husband, by the way.) I went to running, then to triathlon. Can you believe that I never learned to ride a bike and swim properly until I was 26? It is never too late to learn a skill. Little by little I had to give up cycling because I started to miss my yoga classes due to body pain all the time.
Since 2018, I have focused solely on swimming and last year I tried my luck at open water swimming. I loved! I loved the training and the community is very calm. In all the sports I do, I must always combine it with yoga. I think the mindfulness and breathing that I learned from yoga helps me a lot with my long-distance open water swims and long hours in the pool. For me, yoga is not just an exercise routine, it is a lifestyle.
I started around 2013, just to lose weight. I got hooked and serious around 2014. I was so passionate about it that I wanted to be a yoga teacher. So in 2016 I got my certification at The Yoga Mandala and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Yoga taught me to be the best version of myself, to be confident and to accept who I am and what my body can do.
The story continues
I heard a guy say they just stretch and yoga is for gays. I was so furious! I am passionate about educating people that yoga is more than just stretching and has more benefits than any other exercise.
Maries combines yoga with swimming in the open sea. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
To be honest, I’m still scared of the open sea. I wanted to challenge that fear and thus compete in it. Haha! In my experience, the first 500 meters are usually the hardest. All your fears, anxiety, and anything you think can go wrong will screw your head.
When that happens, I breathe again, I feel the water on my face and on my body and I keep swimming. It is a test of mental strength in which I think I need to train more. That’s why I keep doing it. Once you reach the finish line, it is an out-of-body experience.
It was during the time I was swimming 5 miles with a very bad stomach ache, but I still managed to finish second in the category for my age group. It was literally mind over matter.
A clean 10 second handstand. It is without a doubt (oh pun intended!) The most difficult skill to learn. It is a long journey, unique to each individual and another test of mental toughness. I love the strength that I gained from that. Also, if all goes well next year, I hope to swim 12 to 16 km in the open sea.
I feel less secure when I start to compare myself to others. But I have to get out of it immediately and accept that there will be someone stronger, thinner, who can swim faster and faster than you. But guess that? It’s not you It usually restores the confidence I have today.
Marie’s current yoga fitness goal is to do a clean 10-second handstand. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
We all have our days and sometimes we struggle with body image. I think it’s normal, but we don’t have to soak up that kind of bad energy. Every day, I try to aspire to be the best and happiest version of myself and be content with it.
Much! I can make a book on that. I was very overweight since I was a kid and you know what kids are like in elementary and middle school, right? Some were really bad and bullies.
Probably the most memorable comment was when I started doing yoga. Someone said, “Really? It doesn’t seem like it. ”People who don’t do yoga have this visual image of what yoga bodies should look like. I hate to burst your bubble, but there is no ideal yoga body.
I always hear people around me complaining about their bodies, wishing they had a body like Person A, Celebrity B, etc. And you won’t be mentally healthy in the long run if you keep comparing yourself to others.
You will be amazed at your body when you start to believe in it. Just do what your body and mind allow you to make yourself happy. If you’re overly stressed at work, maybe do an after-work activity like yoga or go for a walk. I think any type of movement is better than none. Lastly, stop thinking about what others think of you and just do “you”.
Singapore #Fitspo of the week: Marie Flores. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
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