Master of My Fate, Captain of My Soul | Namaste

I’ve been fortunate enough to have an opportunity to practice yoga on a weekly basis. For those of you who may not be familiar with the yoga practice, its fine I'll give you a little intro.  Yoga is a form of mindful practice, which originated from India. The history of yoga is very prominent because its prevalent in various religions ( Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism) .  There is various types of yoga practice and the most well-known one is : Hatha yoga.

    As an Athlete, I’ve been introduced to yoga in college.  My first impression wasn’t the greatest; in fact because my lack of knowledge about Mindful practice I thought it was a waste of time. Over time my body adapted to the new practice of yoga and I began to understand the benefits of it. I had a new found appreciation for yoga, It has been an integral part of my athletic development. Throughout my off-season I tried to Practice yoga 2 times a week, this way I unwind from the high demands of training.

    As we see yoga is very prevalent in today's sports. Various high-level athletes implement the yoga practice into their training routines. It’s very refreshing for me to see various NBA athletes becoming one with mindfulness practice. With the long season grind, it’s very important for them to unwind their mind, body, and soul (re-write last sentence).  In order for myself to grow I had to let go of some old habits. With Regular yoga practice I've seen improvements within various areas in my life.

Here's some benefits to doing yoga.
1.Increases Blood Flow:  Various relaxation poses can help one’s circulation throughout the body.
2.Improves your Flexibility: Consistent yoga practice can lead to greater range of motion for joints.
3.Builds Muscle Strength: Strong muscles will prevent back pain, arthritis, andfalls for the elderly.
4.Help one become more focused (mentally): Yoga can help with concentration, and boost mental arousal.
5.Lowers Blood Pressure: Studies have shown that people with hypertension tend to benefit greatly from the yoga practice.

A message to anyone that is looking for healthy ways to improve their lifestyle, while addingsomething new to their schedule should try yoga.

Video By: Ryan Apigo (@ryanapigo)

Yoga Instructor: Franklin Shabazz

Facility: The Health Institute

Dear Summer | Victory Lap

Dear summer,

Over the course of this summer I had the opportunity of visiting the hottest cities in America, and participating in the premiere summer leagues. It’s has been a blessing to compete against the top Pros & NBA stars. To utilize the game of basketball as a tool has always been my approach, and now that my goal has come to fruition is magical. Basketball has opened various doors for my life; this game has brought me happiness, compassion, friendships, and brotherhoods. I’ve embraced this journey every step of the way and I’m hopeful to see the next step in my process. 

Aside from my summer experience, one thing that I enjoy greatly is traveling; it has always been a hobby of mine. Growing up as an inner-city kid I wasn't expose to different environments and such forth. Basketball was that outlet for me that got me outside of the box I thought I belonged in. From enjoying the beautiful coast of California to traveling along the 5 boroughs of New York City, it was definitely a sight to remember. The early mornings and late nights paved the way to an eventful summer.  Just a little recap off my summer: LA (Nike Drew League)/off-season W/O's, NYC (Nike Dyckman League) / Fitness Assessment , Toronto (OVO Bounce 2017).

An Intricate part of my summer has been my involvement within the community. I've fully committed myself to make Scarborough a more positive environment through sports, education, and community involvement. One of my highlights of this summer had to be The 3rd Annual Rumble In the Jungle Event; the event brought over 200 out in attendance, that supported the JP II community and it's student-athletes. It was a defining moment in my summer because of great support shown from our community and community leaders. As an athlete I feel obligated to generously give back to my community for the impact it had in my life!

“I’ve fully committed myself to make Scarborough a positive environment through sports, education, and community involvement”

As my summer concludes, it's time get ready for my next step (God's Plan). Summer 2k17 its been a surreal experience and I can't wait to see what this year may bring. I'm definitely going to miss the sun waking me up in the we hours of the morning, but I'll get use to the fall soon enough.   Dear summer, I know your going to miss me!!

Yours Truly,

Hussein Abdullahi