www.womanthismonth.com September 2018 39 PEOPLE | interview taking this path. But I am proud to say that I have inspired, trained and supported many young women of my country to become fitness instructors. Today, it's different. The acceptance level is very high and most people are trying to get active in some way or another. It’s great to see the level of awareness grow.” Besides training students on indoor bikes, Fatima teaches fitness bootcamps, HIIT, boxing, strength workouts using functional training, as well as the various forms of yoga. She is also a CanFitPro personal trainer and group fitness instructor, as well as a certified trainer in ACE, TRX, PeakPilates and kickboxing. In another ‘first’, Fatima is the pioneering Piloxing instructor in the Middle East. She explains: “Piloxing is a creative mix between Pilates and boxing, geared towards women. The mental and physical goal is to attain a ‘sleek and powerful’ self-image. I was at a UK fitness convention where they launched Piloxing for the first time in Europe, and I loved the workout. So, I flew to Los Angeles and got certified by its inventor, Viveca Jenson, who is an inspirational woman.” Not only has the energetic entrepreneur helped people attain their health and fitness goals, she has also made them look fabulous while getting there with TIMA, the first Saudi /Arab brand for sportswear, that she founded in 2012. She says: “TIMA is a brand made for women by a woman who has faced struggles and found ways to overcome them. It empowers them, and makes them feel and look good. The inspiration to launch it came from those around me who were against my mission to advocate fitness for Saudi women. It became my vehicle to reach out to them, because, well, no one can say no to fashion! It is also inspired by the ladies who trained with me and complained about how boring sport apparel is. Many of TIMA’s lines are actually named after these women who inspired the design.” The collection is available in Bahrain at PYC’s retail section. PYC is Fatima’s baby across the bridge, in Bahrain. “It is where one can find a true connection of mind and body, either with yoga or Spinning classes,” she says. “We are a family here; a community that will support and embrace you. We give a personalised experience, and are genuinely driven to better people’s lives.” She goes on to add that PYC will be consistently expanding its expertise in fitness education and training. Apart from regular classes, there are many workshops related to meditation, yoga teacher training and Spinning certifications planned in the coming months. Commenting on her loyal clientele, she says: “It is my commitment, enthusiasm and hard work that has brought me success. I strive to improve myself and empower others to achieve their greatest potential. My strength lies in the fact that my clients can relate to me. I am real, genuine and human. I face the same problems and struggles and strive to find ways to overcome them. Every woman needs a support system, and healthy habits, like exercising, to make it easier. I can make people see and experience that, and they achieve fantastic results.”
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