Did you know that regular exercise can help you
reach your goals? How? Exercise strengthens your endurance and willpower. We hope you are inspired by the testimony below.
I am Tiffany Muhammad. I am a Los Angeles based attorney. My areas of practice include: personal injury, sports and entertainment, and immigration. I am a contract advisor for the National Football Association (NFL). My highest accomplishment is being a registered and an active member in the Nation of Islam for more than 25 years.
As a young Vanguard and a member of the Muslim Girl in Training and General Civilization Class (MGT), I learned the significance of being discipline. The Vanguard in the Nation of Islam are trained to be soldiers in God’s army. Physical, spiritual, and mental conditioning is mandatory to matriculate through the Vanguard curriculum/phases. The synergy of physical, spiritual, and mental training is forever etched into my soul. My Vanguard training compelled me to recognize the connection between physical well-being and mental well-being. Although, I was a collegiate athlete, it was my Vanguard training that inspired me to make a life time commitment to always be in superior shape.
Since I was a little girl, I knew I would be a lawyer. I had no idea that becoming a lawyer required extreme discipline. Furthermore, I did not understand the stress and anxiety that came along with it. The American Bar Association reported that one of the main causes of stress in the legal field is the pressure to constantly perform at a high level. Lawyers are expected to provide expert advice, make critical decisions, and work under tight deadlines, all while dealing with constant demands of clients, colleagues, and the court system. Thus, being a lawyer is among one of the most stressful occupations.
Conditioning in physical training is very critical in my ability to balance life stressors. Running on a regular basis became mandatory for me a long time ago. Running and lifting weights obviously improves muscle endurance and cardiovascular ability. However, most important to me, it helps me reduce my anxiety and it gives me clarity of mind. My confidence is at its highest when I work out regularly. I started running marathons (26.2 miles) while in law school. I remember one year I ran the Houston marathon early one Sunday morning (7 am - 12 pm), and later that same day I reported to check post at Muhammad Mosque for the Sunday meeting (2:00 pm). Needless to say, I felt like a top soldier. Over the years I have run many marathon races. I still participate in races to encourage me to continue to train hard. When I needed a new challenge, I started competing in triathlon races (.9 miles swim, 24-miles bike, & 6 miles run and/or sprint distance). I never came in first place in any of my races but to me I am always the WINNER.
I encourage everyone to get some form of physical exercise at a minimum of 3-5 times a week. If you are 40 years plus, know that exercise is mandatory. Discipline makes everything possible. I am forever grateful to Allah for the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for teaching and instilling in me self-love which fosters supreme discipline.