The Yasmin Essa Podcast Yasmin Essa

Welcome to episode 006 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Sara Zayed, founder of Posifitivy.
This episode is sponsored by Wellness with Yasmin. Learn more at http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
Sara's Bio:
Sara Zayed is a software engineer, writer, and seven-time half marathon runner. An ACSM-certified personal trainer, she graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics and has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell University. She is the founder of Posifitivy, a lifestyle blog centered on holistic health, nutrition, fitness, self-love and Islam. She emceed Hijabfest in New Brunswick, NJ in 2015 and 2016 and performs poetry. She lives in Parlin, NJ.

Interview Questions:
How did you know that you wanted to start Posifitivy? What are some of your favorite parts of your daily routine? What are your non-negotiables? What stresses you out? How do get inspired? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? What advice would you give to someone who is multi-passionate and has several interests? What inspired you to consider pursuing Medical School? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? What does the mind, body, soul connection mean to you? Connect with Sara:
https://www.instagram.com/posifitivy/
https://posifitivy.com
 
Connect with Yasmin:
http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
http://instagram.com/yasminessa

 

Welcome to episode 005 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Ayurvedic Practitioner, Sabrina Erschen.
This episode is sponsored by Wellness with Yasmin. Learn more at http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
Sabrina's Bio:
Sabrina was born and raised in Madison Wisconsin to an American Father who converted to Islam and a Somali Mother who grew up as a Muslim in Somalia. She was raised with a natural and holistic perspective concerning health. She knew she wanted to help others heal but simply was not sure how to go about doing that.
Sabrina was homeschooled up until high school and did online high school to graduate a bit early. From there she was so lost and did not know what she wanted to do for college. She became a dental assistant but felt very unsatisfied. She wanted to help people heal naturally but still had no idea how to go about doing that. Sabrina and her husband finished that semester of school quit their jobs, and decided to travel around Europe for 2.5 months. That trip opened her eyes even more and made her feel as if there was more out there for her. That same year, they traveled to Thailand (her father-in-law's home country). She was inspired by their forms of natural healing through massage and herbs.
It was not until the end of that year (2016) that Sabrina and her husband found out they were expecting. Sabrina describes this as the start of her story. Finding out she was pregnant triggered a desire within her to study a natural and healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. She came across Ayurveda and I fell in love.
When their son, Ismail, was two months old, she began a program to become an Ayurvedic Practitioner through New World Ayurveda. 
She now teaches classes on different health topics to support women in connecting with their cycles and healing themselves naturally. She also has an Etsy shop where she sells handmade embroidery.

Interview Questions:
Tell us about yourself personally and professionally. How did your passion for Ayurveda come about? Do you have any non-negotiable daily habits? What stresses you out? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? Do you have any examples from your life when you overcame adversity? What advice would you give to your adolescent self? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? Where do you potentially see yourself 15 years down the line, inshaAllah? Where can listeners find you and your work? Connect with Sabrina:
https://www.instagram.com/sabrina.womb/
 
https://www.sabrinaelizabeth.info/
https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchesBySabr
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQfxDKuTeAjSrnCq2fVlQyA
 
Connect with Yasmin:
http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
http://instagram.com/yasminessa

 

Welcome to episode 004 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Zainab Ismail. Zainab is a Fitness Professional, Nutritionist, and Movement Specialist who focuses on corrective exercise. She is a Latina convert who resides in NYC.
This episode is sponsored by Wellness with Yasmin. Learn more at http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
Zainab's Bio:
Zainab Ismail has over 20 years of experience as a movement therapist, nutrition coach, personal trainer, and national speaker. Her years of health and fitness experience before Islam involve working with top level athletes and celebrities. 
Zainab Ismail has been helping clients achieve their goals in health and fitness for over 20 years in New York City. She is a graduate Fellow of Applied Functional Science from The Gray Institute and Nutrition for life coach. Zainab has been a national facilitator for The National Academy of Sports Medicine and International Master Trainer for Free Motion Fitness. Zainab has lectured in several fitness centers here in the US as well as in Hong Kong and Malaysia. As a full-time therapist, she integrates an eclectic approach to soft-tissue therapy, movement conditioning and nutrition coaching in New York City. 
Zainab has presented at the national conferences ICNA and ISNA teaching exercise/nutrition for Muslim women. Zainab has also presented for various organizations, universities and institutions like the University of Toronto’s Muslim Chaplaincy, The Al-Maqasid Annual Summer Retreat, Sakina Collective's Conscious Consumption, Safina Society's Covert Conference, and the Mecca Center in NYC as a regular teacher. 
  
Zainab has been traveling to Chiapas, Mexico for three-years now, most recently Cuba and the Dominican Republic to work and assist the Muslim communities in these countries. Teaching essential knowledge, basic fiqh, prophetic nutrition, prophetic character, and introducing lessons from various books in Spanish.
Interview Questions:
Tell us about yourself. How did your passion for prophetic nutrition and fitness come about? Do you have any non-negotiable daily habits? What is something that comes easy to you? Alternatively, what’s something you struggle with? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? What are some ways to incorporate the sunnah into wellness? Do you have any examples from your life when you overcame adversity? What advice would you give to someone who is trying to get healthy and has no idea where to start? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? Where do you potentially see yourself 15 years down the line, inshaAllah? Where can listeners find you and your work?  
Connect with Zainab:
https://www.instagram.com/zainab_fitforallah/
FitForAllah@gmail.com
 
Connect with Yasmin:
http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
http://instagram.com/yasminessa

 

Welcome to episode 003 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Tayabba Syed, author of the award-winning children’s story The Blessed Bananas for a lovely conversation on the publishing world, Islam, family, and more.
This episode is sponsored by Wellness with Yasmin. Learn more at http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
Tayyaba's Bio:
Tayyaba Syed is the author of the award-winning children’s story The Blessed Bananas. As a journalist, her work has been featured in numerous publications including NPR, Islamic Horizons, Azizah Magazine, Chicago Crescent, and Chicago Parent. She has co-authored four chapter books in the popular kids’ series called Jannah Jewels. 

Tayyaba works as the Research Specialist for Daybreak Press and a Writing Curriculum Consultant for Whitestone Foundation’s Author Development Program. She recently joined Noor Kids as a Creative Developer designing unique plots for their educational books. 
Interview Questions:
How did you know you wanted to be an author? What does a typical day look like for you? What are your non-negotiables? What stresses you out? How do get inspired? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? What advice would you give to someone who wants to become an author? What are some things you’ve learned about the publishing industry? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? What does the mind, body, soul connection mean to you?  
Connect with Tayyaba:
http://tayyabasyed.com
 
http://www.instagram.com/tayyabawrites/
Connect with Yasmin:
http://wellnesswithyasmin.com
http://instagram.com/yasminessa

 

Welcome to episode 002 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Sarah UmmYusuf, Green Living Mentor for a lovely conversation on green living, Islam, family, and more.
Sarah's Bio (in her own words):
I’m a former school teacher, turned stay at home mom of three kiddos, age 6 and under. My husband and I were born and raised in the US, but moved to Canada 10 years ago and now live in Toronto. I’ve also been blogging for 6 years about natural and non-toxic living, and consulting with families to help them take small steps to creating a non-toxic home. Besides geeking out while searching for safer alternatives to the products we use in our home, I love dabbling in photography, reading, and drinking lots and lots of coffee. ;-)
Interview Questions:
Tell us about yourself personally and professionally. How did Nature’s Nurture come about? Do you have any non-negotiable daily habits? What stresses you out? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? Do you have any examples from your life when you overcame adversity? What advice would you give to your adolescent self? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? Where do you potentially see yourself 15 years down the line, inshaAllah? Where can listeners find you and your work? This episode is sponsored by Glow Academy's 6 Week Ramadan Mind Body Soul Online Retreat. Learn more about Glow Academy here, inshaAllah.

Welcome to episode 001 of the Yasmin Essa podcast! On today's show, I am joined by Derya Kucukali, Wholistic Health Coach for a lovely conversation on nutrition, Islam, motherhood, business, and more.
 
Some fun facts about Derya:
Married mother of three children Graduate of Science, with a major in Microbiology and Genetics Resigned secondary school science teacher of ten years Left teaching to pursue her passion in Health and Wellness Successfully runs an online health store, Organic Instinct, for the last six years Ambassador for the popular documentary That Sugar Film by Damon Gameau Practicing health coach Facilitates health and wellness programs at schools, businesses and community groups around Melbourne Passionate about sharing her personal story along with all she has studied in hopes of empowering others to transform their relationship with food, their body and their health  
Interview Questions:
Tell us about yourself personally and professionally. How did your passion for Health and Wellness come about? Tell us about your online health store Organic Instinct. Do you have any non-negotiable daily habits? What is something that comes easy to you? Alternatively, what’s something you struggle with? What do you do when you feel stuck or overwhelmed? Do you have any examples from your life when you overcame adversity? What advice would you give to your adolescent self? What makes you happy and joyful? How has Islam inspired you? Where do you potentially see yourself 15 years down the line, inshaAllah? Where can listeners find you and your work?  
This episode is sponsored by Glow Academy's 6 Week Ramadan Mind Body Soul Online Retreat. Learn more about Glow Academy here, inshaAllah.