My 33 Candles 🎂 #YOLO

Last year I went for my first solo trip to celebrate my 32nd birthday at a Muay Thai camp. It was a very challenging and exhilarating experience where I trained 3 times a day for 8 days straight... and which I have sadly not blogged about yet #oops BUT you can see videos of my training here, here and here.

I was probably at the peak of my fitness then and as crazy as it was, the Muay Thai camp is definitely something I want to do again. 

#MuayThai #padwork w/ Trainer Rong this morning at @khongsittha. He taught me the "Elbow Set" which is kinda cool 😝😝 Hopefully I can do it better tmr!! 👊🏻💥🌸 #sakuraharuka #aimuaythaibdaytrip #ASHxThai #muaythaigirls #muaythailife #khongsittha #bkk #thailand #fitfam #sgfitness #sgfitfam #fitspo #saturyay #bangkok

A post shared by Ai Sakura  (@aisakuraharuka) on May 21, 2016 at 4:59am PDT

And I would have this year too if I wasn't so injured but oh well, it is what it is. #nexttimethen

I still decided to take a solo birthday trip to Bangkok this year again though to rest and relax. It's been a crazy first half year with our new family & work schedules.

I know some people think it's weird that I'd want to spend my birthday alone but like I mentioned before, being alone doesn't necessarily mean you are lonely. Sometimes it's good to be alone to give you time to be yourself and to find yourself.  

As mums, daughters, sisters, friends, we can sometimes find ourselves so overwhelmed by all our different roles and expectations. If possible, it is worthwhile to have little time-outs to rediscover your sense of self, and to make an effort to care for yourself. It is not about being selfish or self-centered. It is about loving yourself, and letting yourself know that you are worth giving yourself 100% of your precious time and concentration. And I can think of no better time to do this than during my birthday.

In taking care of our own needs and wants first, we are happier and in a better position to fulfill our other roles as mums, daughters, sisters and friends.

This time, I disconnected completely from social media for the whole trip {hence zero updates for the past week!} and barely used my mobile to chat to anyone too. Probably told like less than 10 people I was even away haha.. Spent most of the time sleeping, massaging, eating, exploring and reflecting... a week of just me, myself and I.

It was a very relaxing, soul-searching trip and I came back feeling more alive and energised to take on the rest of the year. Even the boy noticed how refreshed I seem and suggested that I take another solo trip in September perhaps heh..

I really want to thank my family, especially the boy, for supporting me and letting me enjoy this birthday trip without worries. If he wasn't such a good, reliable and hands-on dad to Lil Pumpkin all the time, I wouldn't have the heart to leave too ♥

Thanks Poogeo, and Happy 33rd birthday to me!! o(^∀^*)o

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Thailand 2016 | Shopping Haul from Chatuchak, JJ Mall & Local Bangkok Markets

I'm back from my 32nd Muai Thai Camp birthday trip!! #YOLO It was an amaaaaaazing experience. Much more satisfying than I expected and I can't wait to share more about it with you. And I will, I will.. I promise!!! ੧(❛▿❛✿)੭

Right after I sort out all the photos, videos and notes I jotted down about the trip. My trainers took some photos for me too and I'm waiting for them to send those over as well. 

If you've been following my on-the-go updates on Facebook, Instagram and also recently Snapchat {add me at @AiSakuraHaruka}, you'd see that most of the time, I actually stayed in camp to rest and relax since I had early runs each morning and 2 Muay Thai training sessions each day. Pretty intensive.

The training site was rather out of Bangkok city centre so not near any of the usual touristy attractions or shopping areas at all. I didn't intend to go there to shop, eat or massage as I usually do when I'm in BKK though - just train - so it was ok.

There were some markets for the locals nearby which I bought some stuff from and it was a really nice, authentic Thai experience. There was none of the "touristy" stuff and most of the stall owners did not speak English actually. Thank goodness I'm rather good at communicating with others who don't speak any of my languages {good practice from all my travels & previous work}.. and charades haha

Only during the weekend, I made my way down to Chatuchak Market to shop as a special birthday treat (⌒▽⌒)☆

Overall my shopping haul from this trip is {relatively} small but thought I'd share it anyway since I haven't made a shopping haul video in ages, and it serves as a reminder to myself of what I bought too haha. I had time to make the video on the last day before I flew off...

I'm kinda mad over cute rompers now and bought a few this trip. Wore this one on my birthday.. the first time in that week I was actually out of my fitness clothes and probably the first time in many years I wasn't actually wearing a dress on my birthday haha

Check out my shopping haul video above or on my YouTube channel if it isn't showing properly. If you've seen my previous shopping haul / vlog videos you'd know that I usually do it in 1 take with little / no editing so they might be a bit long. Sit back, relax and watch with some popcorn hahaha.

I'd be posting my Muai Thai training videos too so subscribe to my YouTube channel if you don't want to miss them! Stay tuned to the upcoming blog post on my Muay Thai training camp experience at Khongsittha, Bangkok too! xox

Other Shopping Haul videos:

Feiyue, Huili & Shulong shoes from Shanghai, China

Shopping Haul from Seoul, Korea

Shopping Haul from Hong Kong Disneyland 

Shopping Haul from Northern Territory, Australia

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Off for My 32nd Birthday Trip!! #YOLO

I'm in Bangkok again. The third time in the past half year I think haha. But this trip I'm here not for shopping, food or massages {although I might get to enjoy them}... no, I'm actually here for a week-long intensive Muay Thai training camp. Alone.

It's actually a present from the boy for my 32nd birthday, which is coming up this Sunday *grins*

A few weeks back the boy asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I thought about it and I really couldn't think of anything that I wanted / needed to "get", but so many things that I wanted to "experience".

On top of my list, was the chance to experience an authentic Muay Thai training camp in Thailand.

Muay Thai to me is pretty cathartic. There's something about being on the mats and being able to legitimately kick and punch things {or erm, people haha} ferociously that helps to cleanse your soul and mind. It releases your pent-up aggression and stress, and not to mention is a great way to get your body moving and fit. I'm not doing it to be a professional or join fighting competitions, but I do enjoy it as an exercise. 

Some of you know that I took it up for a while a few years back and then stopped due to a very busy lifestyle as a new mum. I wanted to take it up again but time and other factors like my bad knees got in the way... now that I'm stronger thanks to my fitness training with slightly more time at my hand {or maybe just better time management skills hah!}, I reckon that I should try to get back into it.

And there's no faster way to get back into it than to be fully immersed in a Muay Thai training camp where I'll be eating and sleeping on-site, and training 2-3 times a day with local Muay Thai nak muays / experienced boxers.

Does it sound crazy to want to do that?? Maybe, but there are moments in life where you really just gotta #YOLO!!

If there's one thing I don't miss about Muay Thai it's the tedious hand-wrapping though! You can see me practising the wrap in the video above or on my YouTube channel if it isn't showing properly.

Anyway it was a pretty impromptu trip and I'm glad that we sorted everything out. My mum will stay over at our place to help the boy take care of Lil Pumpkin while I'm away for the week. Hubby has always been a very hands-on and involved dad, and I've no doubt that he can manage on his on too, but it's always nice to have an extra pair of hands to help.

And after celebrating the boy and Lil Pumpkin's birthday last week, now is my little time to celebrate.

It's not the first time that I traveled without the boy or Lil Pumpkin, but it's the first time that I'd be completely on my own throughout the entire trip. And also the first time that I'd be celebrating my birthday alone overseas too {I'll be flying back the day after}.

But that's ok. Being alone doesn't necessarily mean you are lonely. Sometimes it's good to be alone to give you time to be yourself and to find yourself. 

As mums, daughters, sisters, friends, we can sometimes find ourselves so overwhelmed by all our different roles and expectations. If possible, it is worthwhile to have little time-outs to rediscover your sense of self, and to make an effort to care for yourself. It is not about being selfish or self-centered. It is about loving yourself, and letting yourself know that you are worth giving yourself 100% of your precious time and concentration. 

In taking care of our own needs and wants first, we are happier and in a better position to fulfill our other roles as mums, daughters, sisters and friends.

That's how I feel anyway and thank you to hubby for understanding this, and for giving this lovely birthday present to me ♥

You can follow my Muay Thai training camp experience on Instagram and Facebook. See you all when I return as a 32 year-old!!! xox

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Fitness Diary :: Making Time to Exercise

I've been exercising a bit more this year, and a lot more recently. For the last few weeks I've actually been running 5 times per week, on top of my abs and arms exercises at home.

You guys know that I've been taking Korean language classes this year, and I'll be completing my basic course in a few weeks. It has been fun and very enriching, but I'm going to take a break to revise and soak it all in.

Also, I want to take up Muay Thai again :) I used to take classes with the boy and liked it a lot. It really pushes my physical strength to the limit and kept me really fit. With my current schedule, I can't fit in 2 personal enrichment classes per week away from family time, so I'm gonna start Muay Thai after I end my Korean classes. In the meantime, I'm building up my endurance again by going for runs and exercising more. You really need a lot of energy for those high kicks and powerful  punches!

I run in the evenings on weekdays, and while Lil Pumpkin naps during the weekends. Sometimes the boy and Lil Pumpkin will join me on my evening runs too so it gets to be a family thing where we all exercise and stay healthy together :)

At first it was really hard to get my butt off the couch and to get my body moving. Especially after a hard day at work, or if we get home late. However, the boy has been really supportive and reminds me of my 30 before 30 goals. I'll write an update on the list soon {!!} but there's one goal there to lose 5kgs haha. The boy helps to look after Lil Pumpkin while I run, and will tell me to "just go and run!" if I complain to him that I'm tired and it's already 9pm. Exactly what I need to hear ;p

Don't worry, I only run in lighted areas and surprisingly, there are actually a lot of people exercising at that late hour so it's rather safe. I guess that's the time when most busy adults can make time for exercise.

And yes, we all should make the effort to make time for exercise. More than about losing weight, it is about our entire well-being. "No time" is not an excuse. If we have time for television, time to socialise online, time to shop... we have time to exercise. If we don't, do we have the time to deal with health problems from living a sedentary lifestyle?

I feel even more alert and alive, rather than tired, after my runs. Each time I run a bit further, I feel pretty accomplished because it's a case of mind over matter. So fantastic and I'm glad I made exercising part of my schedule now, rather than doing it "if I have time". If you need more encouragement to make time for exercising, here are 5 quick tips:

1. Schedule it in
Decide when's the best time for you to exercise and schedule it in like a meeting so it doesn't clash with other appointments. For me, it's weekday evenings and weekend afternoons. Maybe it's mornings or lunchtime for you. Stick to your plan and it will soon become a regular routine.

2. Start small
You don't need to commit 1 hour a day. Start small, e.g. a walk up the stairs or getting down the bus 2 stops earlier to walk back, and slowly build up your exercise time. I started with just 10 mins runs, to 20 mins runs 5 times a week now.

3. Do from home
Don't worry about joining a gym or having expensive equipment to exercise. There are so many fun and free activities to do, even from home! While watching TV, do some crunches, squats or push-ups. Pick up a bottle filled with water and do some arm lifts. Check out some of the home-based workouts here.

4. Get the kids involved
Run and climb with your kids at outdoor play, rather than sitting by the side with a book or chatting with the other parents. They are such energiser bunnies and will sure get your heart racing! Do some arm-lifts when carrying your baby, and go for more stroller walks or family hikes. I'm sure they will enjoy these active family time with you, like how Lil Pumpkin loves to exercise with us!

5. Have a cheerleader 
Sometimes it's easy to start, but to keep going can be a killer. Have someone to support you emotionally and motivate you when the going gets tough, like what the boy is doing for me. It can be a friend, spouse, or maybe an exercise group in your area like at the community centres.

Remember, doing something is better than nothing!!! :) If you're having regular exercises or runs, let me know and we can be {virtual} exercise buddies too!

Follow my Fitness Diary posts here or on Instagram {#AiFitnessDiary}.

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