Plus+ Women's May-Jun 2015 Issue

E SU IS `S EN M W O

9 SIMPLE REASONS

May-Jun 2015

EASY WORKOUT AT HOME THERE ARE NO EXCUSES THIS TIME!

HOW TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS COME WHATS

MAY

WHY LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT THAT SIMPLE

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH:

HJH HAZLINAH USD $3.99 GBP £3.99 BND $5.00

BRUNEI EDITION

THE LADIES THAT WILL ROCK WCOPA 2015

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+Content +Health 6 The strangest sleep disorders affecting young people From sleeping for days in a row, to not sleeping for weeks 11 Kidney failure and its impact on women’s health If you plan to have kids one day, watching your kidney’s health is crucial

6

The strangest sleep disorders affecting young people

Honey, I Shrunk The Fats!

18

+Fitness 14 9 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight 16 THE Barre Workout — The Hottest Fitness Trend For 2015 What It Is And Why You Should Try It 18 Honey, I Shrunk The Fats!

An Easy At Home Workout Guide for Busy Moms

2 PLUS May-Jun 2015

May-Jun 2015

24

Content+

Royal Brunei’s leading female aircraft engineer,

Hjh Hazlinah binti Hj Said

+Life Inspired 24 Royal Brunei’s leading female aircraft engineer, Hjh Hazlinah binti Hj Said In conjunction with Royal Brunei’s 40th anniversary celebrations, we take the opportunity to meet one of the many stars behind the scenes who keep our national airline running.

30

Sing, Dance, Perform!

+Focus 30 Sing, Dance, Perform!

42 How to Pursue your Dreams, no Matter What People Say

32 Michelle Tan — Delegate for Vocal with Instrument (Duo/Group) (Senior) Category

+Beauty

34 Kala — Delegate for Senior Vocal with Instrument Category 36 Yaya — Delegate for Senior Vocal Category 38 Entertainment — Delegate for Senior Dance Group Category Relentless

46 The proper skincare ritual for a youthful look Enhance your natural beauty by taking care of your skin

PLUS 3

May-Jun 2015

+Publisher Info

Dear readers,

W

elcome to our May edition of Plus+ Magazine and our second issue to showcase the talented members of Team Brunei Darussalam at WCOPA 2015.

This month we have interviews with our female entrants who are participating this year, as well as our normal mix of features on health and fitness.

Brunei has produced a number of winning participants at the World Championships of Performing Arts over the last few years, so we wish them all every success again this July.

Our cover star this month is Brunei’s leading female aircraft engineer, Hja Hazlinah, who tells us all about her inspiration and her role working for Royal Brunei Airlines, in an occupation that is normally associated more with men.

If you are a busy mum thinking that you have no time for exercise, then think again! Our simple example workouts are perfect to

sneak in at even the smallest spare moment in a hectic schedule — and will work wonders for your health and wellbeing.

Our fitness section also takes a look at the latest phenomenon in training, the barre workout, providing a mix of yoga, pilates and ballet training, all-in-one. And if you are struggling to keep to your New Year’s resolution to lose a little weight, we cover some of the top reasons as to why you may not be hitting your goals.

In our health & beauty sections this month, we are taking a look at some of the strangest sleep disorders that can affect young people, and we have a simple skin-care guide to help you look your best, whatever your skin type.

Don’t forget to follow us for the latest updates at Plus Brunei on Facebook and Instagram, where we often preview what’s coming up in our next print edition.

Thanks again and happy reading!

Simon Keller +Publisher Nexploit Services +Editor-At-Large Simon Keller +Feature Hjh Hazlinah Hj Said Kala Karwanamurthi Michelle Tan Nadia Halim Amy Cheong Sui Ying Ainul Marzuki Sarah Jane Ward Shannon Osman +Creative Designer Oleh Melnyk Anna Thien John M. Rey

+Photographer Jerome Wong Lily Bong

+Supported by: Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry of Health Family, Children and Women Sector Health Promotion Center Fitness Zone Royal Brunei Airlines Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd +Publisher information Nexploit Services Lot 4169, Kg Serambangun, Tutong TA 2541 Brunei Darussalam  loo@nexploitservices.com +Have a story to share?  Email it to plusbrunei@gmail.com +For business inquiries and distribution  Email it to plusbrunei@gmail.com +Get interactive with Plus Magazine

+Contributors King Seh Horng Nursadiqin Misir Anna Aziz Shelley Ann Busque Lily Bong Joanna Kwan Del Alfaro Sarah Powdrill

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All rights reserved.

Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form of by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of Nexploit Services. Where option is expressed it is that of the author and does not necessarily reflect the editorial views of the publisher or Plus.

All information in Plus is checked and verified to the best of the publisher’s ability, however the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistake or omission enclosed in the publication.

4 PLUS May-Jun 2015

+Health

THE STR A NGEST SLEEP DISOR DERS AF F ECTING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM SLEEPING FOR DAYS IN A ROW, TO NOT SLEEPING FOR WEEKS

6 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Health+

PLUS 7

May-Jun 2015

+Health

T

he world of strange medical conditions is always fascinating, but sleep disorders are among the strangest ailments out there, as the mechanisms that trigger these disorders are often unknown. While these conditions can affect people of all ages, they usually occur during childhood or young adulthood.

enough already, the time intervals that pass between two bouts of extreme sleepiness can last from 6 months to a year, during this period the subject having perfectly normal sleep patterns. Then, all of a sudden, they can fall asleep and don’t wake up for days.

People with sleep disorders often do weird things whilst asleep, without remembering anything in the morning, or they fall asleep so deeply that nothing can wake them up for days or even weeks. Below you’ll find our list of some of the strangest sleep disorders affecting people in their young adulthood.

SLEEP PARALYSIS

KLEINE-LEVIN SYNDROME (KLS) Sleeping for 12 hours when you’re exhausted is not a big deal, but could you sleep for 24 hours, or for 2 days in a row? Klein-Levin Syndrome makes one sleep for days or even weeks at a time, although there’s no known reason for these extreme episodes of rest.

Nicknamed the Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, this condition is one of the weirdest out there, as it is very difficult if not impossible to wake up the sufferer during the sleep episodes.

KLS is usually diagnosed around the age of 15 and affects mostly males, but women are also affected. Symptoms of this rare condition can prevail for 8–10 years.

If the subject does wake up, he or she is usually very sleepy and confused, apathetic, or can exhibit excessive behaviors like compulsive gestures or binge eating. And if this isn’t strange

8 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Equally strange is Sleep Paralysis, a disorder that makes people wake up during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleeping, when we have increased brain activity and usually dream. However, during REM sleep, the body enters a state of paralysis that prevents it from performing any action while dreaming.

This means that the voluntary activity of muscles is shut down, so if you do wake up during REM sleep, you’re paralyzed.

People suffering from sleep paralysis are aware of the surroundings –and in fact are actually awake — but they are unable to speak or move. Moreover, some patients can experience visual or auditory hallucinations, so the ordeal can be an extremely frightening experience.

NARCOLEPSY Narcolepsy usually starts manifesting between 15 and 25 years, but the symptoms can become apparent at any age. In many people this disorder remains undiagnosed and untreated, although there are treatments that do help in managing the condition, but can’t stop it completely as narcolepsy is still not fully understood.

Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain parts that are responsible for sleep and wakefulness. Patients who suffer from this condition experience excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks that occur during regular daily activities.

The sudden episodes can’t

be anticipated or prevented, therefore it’s very likely for one to simply fall asleep while eating, playing, giving a speech or exercising.

In narcoleptics, the bouts of sleep are intermittent and they are the result of an altered sleep pattern. Healthy people with a normal sleep cycle first enter the early stages of sleep, followed by deeper sleep and then by REM sleep, when dreaming occurs. But in those with narcolepsy, the REM sleep occurs first, so one enters the dreamy stage directly.

HYPERSOMNIA Some sleep for days, others skip rest for weeks — this is what makes sleep disorders so strange. A condition called hypersomnia, which only affects about 200 people worldwide, can make one go for days or weeks without sleep and without feeling tired. Still, this doesn’t mean the patient doesn’t experience other symptoms or health issues as a result of the periods of extreme wakefulness.

Patients can have around 10 attacks per year and before the outbreaks they usually experience flu-like symptoms and lasting headaches, so in a way it is possible for them to know that sleepless days will come. Hypersomnia can cause one to behave in odd ways, and become aggressive or be confused and eat excessive amounts of food.

DID YOU KNOW? Some sleep disorders can be very difficult to diagnose, but if you experience some of the following symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical advice: feel irritable during the day and have difficulty staying awake, fall asleep or feel exhausted during regular activities, have problems concentrating and react slowly, have trouble controlling your emotions and tend to binge eat or do other compulsive gestures, look tired most of the time and require large amounts of caffeine to keep yourself going.

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Health+

KIDNEY FAILURE AND ITS IMPACT ON WOMEN’S HEALTH IF YOU PLAN TO HAVE KIDS ONE DAY, WATCHING YOUR KIDNEY’S HEALTH IS CRUCIAL

O

ften asymptomatic or showing up through subtle or unspecific symptoms, chronic kidney disease (CKD) can remain undiagnosed for years and can lead to kidney failure if untreated. Although most people with kidney disease can live an almost normal life and don’t reach kidney failure, it’s extremely important to know how your lifestyle can impact your kidney’s health and be able to spot any warning signs of deteriorating function.

notice that your body starts getting puffy — retaining more water in the feet, legs, ankles, hands or face, as the kidneys fail in removing the extra fluid from the body.

In women, kidney disease can have more dramatic consequences that in men, as it can prevent one from getting pregnant and giving birth to a healthy child. Although you can keep this ailment under control, taking all the preventive measures for keeping kidney failure away is always the better option, regardless of your age.

Also, you may feel more tired and experience muscle aches as a result of a reduction in the amount of healthy red blood cells circulating, caused by your kidneys not performing properly. You may notice that you have bad breath and you’re losing weight as a result of changes in appetite — especially in cravings for meat, and you may experience vomiting and nausea. Back pain, shortness of breath and anemia may occur and you may feel cold all the time, even in warm temperatures.

HOW KIDNEY FAILURE AFFECTS WOMEN’S HEALTH Your kidneys are responsible for removing the toxins and waste products from the body, so if they aren’t working effectively, these substances can build up within you and cause a number of symptoms.

They are also involved in maintaining the balance of minerals in your blood, in regulating blood pressure, stimulating the production of red blood cells and keeping your bones strong and healthy.

Very often, changes in urination are among the first symptoms that occur; the urine gets foamy and may even contain blood; you may urinate more often and in greater amounts with pale urine, or less often in smaller amounts, with dark-colored urine. You may

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease, and high blood pressure comes second in this list.

Avoiding these two conditions reduces the risk of kidney failure significantly

If your kidneys are in trouble, your menstrual cycle might become irregular, and your chances to conceive may drop as the accumulation of toxins inside the body may affect the production of viable eggs. As your kidneys also produce hormones, if their production becomes irregular, your emotional and psychological health may be affected as well.

As for pregnancy, if your kidneys are too affected and you need to start dialysis, your chances to get pregnant will drop significantly. Even if you do manage to get pregnant, kidney failure increases the risks of complications, including high blood pressure, lower than normal levels of the red blood cells you need and an increased risk of giving birth prematurely

and your baby having congenital abnormalities.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT KIDNEY DAMAGE The best way to fight against kidney damage is to avoid conditions that can cause it. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, bladder stones, immune system conditions like lupus or hepatitis, inflammation of the kidneys, urinary tract infections, as well as polycystic kidney disease can all lead to reduced kidney function and ultimately failure.

To keep your kidneys healthy, drink enough water and maintain a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables to prevent excess weight gain and retain a healthier blood pressure. Avoid excess salt consumption and exercise regularly to keep your circulation healthy, which will stimulate the removal of toxins from the body.

Plus avoid eating too many sweets and refined sugar products that can lead to some of the conditions that additionally cause kidney damage.

If you have a family history of diabetes, kidney stones or kidney damage, then always seek the advice of a healthcare professional and never use medicines without asking for your doctor’s permission, as certain medicines may have an adverse effect on the functioning of your kidneys.

DID YOU KNOW? Between 8% and 10% of the adult population have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of complications related to chronic kidney diseases (CKD). If the disease is detected early and managed appropriately, the deterioration in kidney function can be slowed or even stopped.

PLUS 11

May-Jun 2015

+Fitness 9 REASONS

WHY YOU ARE NOT LOSING WEIGHT ARTICLE BY: Sarah Powdrill

I

f you began 2015 with the words “I want to lose weight this New Year” and yet haven’t managed to get down to the required size you are after, now is a perfect time to take a little time out to review where you are at. Our list below gives a few of the top reasons why you might not be losing the desired weight and some small changes you can make to give yourself an extra kick-start in the right direction.

1

YOU’RE NOT EATING THE RIGHT FOODS

All foods are not created equal. This may sound obvious but you will not lose weight eating a diet that includes processed food — and that can include processed diet foods, such as those marked “healthy”, “low-fat” or “low-calorie”, as much as fast food. Much of the goodness has been replaced by chemicals, designed to make them cheap to make and last longer on the supermarket shelf, which may be harmless but don’t actually help with weight loss. Your body needs a healthy mix of natural proteins, fats, and carbohydrates even during weight loss — an easy rule to follow is to eat whole fresh foods in the most natural state

14 PLUS May-Jun 2015

possible, organic if possible and free of unhealthy additives.

2

YOU HAVE NO EXERCISE PLAN You don’t have to necessarily join a gym or start training to run a marathon; you just need to incorporate more exercise into your lifestyle. This may sound daunting if you don’t know where to begin, so a good idea is to break down your big goal of “losing weight” into several small SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound). For example, taking the stairs instead of the lift at work each day or going for a light jog for 20 minutes once a week — is far more achievable than just setting the goal of “exercising more”. If you really don’t know where to start when making your exercise plan, ask a friend or someone you know who is living an active lifestyle for guidance and encouragement.

Even if you are eating healthy food, drinking fizzy drinks, milkshakes, bubble tea, ready-made fruit juices and 3–1 coffee drinks can seriously slow down your weight loss, as they often contain high calories with huge amounts of invisible, refined sugar.

For example, just one can of cola may contain 130 kcal and 39g of sugar, or one vanilla flavoured latte from your favourite coffee chain can have 250 kcal with 35g of sugar! To put that into perspective, the latest advice from the American Heart Association states that you should consume no more than 37g for men and 25g for women, per day. And beware of your favourite ketchups and chilli sauces — most are at least 20% sugar and some very much more.

4

YOU’RE NOT EATING ENOUGH VEGETABLES

3

YOUR CONSUMING TOO MUCH INVISIBLE SUGAR

Loading up your plate with nutrient-rich vegetables will help you feel fuller for longer and less likely to turn to those tempting snacks, so make it a goal to include them with every meal of the day. Aim for more leafy greens and be inventive with your food, it’s not just about adding some sliced cucumber to the side of your plate!

There are lots of amazing recipes that can turn the most boring of vegetables into tasty treats — so why not treat yourself to a new healthy cookbook for some inspirational ideas.

Fitness+

5

YOU’RE NOT EATING ENOUGH PROTEIN

Protein takes longer for your body to digest and break down than carbohydrates or fat and will also help to keep you feeling fuller for longer. Lean sources of protein include chicken breast, eggs, tofu, lentils and fish. Ensuring you have enough protein is an essential part of a healthy weight-loss regime, as it helps in preserving your muscle mass whilst you’re dieting.

6

YOU’RE NOT EXERCISING THE RIGHT WAY

7

YOUR PORTION SIZES ARE TOO BIG Maybe you are eating healthy food — but eating too much of it! Although healthy eating is the first step — the simple science of weight loss is that calories in must be less than calories out. A simple reference point for portion sizes is your hand — a serving of vegetables or carbohydrates is about the size of your fist, a portion of protein your palm, fat about the size of your thumb. Make sure you read nutritional labels on food packaging — eating the whole bag is not normally one portion as usually they contain several servings!

8

YOU’RE EATING OUT TOO OFTEN

The best way to get and then keep a lean physique is to include strength training in your exercise routine.

Building muscle requires calories and if the calories you are eating are going towards building your muscles than they won’t be stored as fat. This is important for EVERYONE — ladies don’t be afraid that you will end up looking like a bodybuilder just because you start lifting weights, this is unlikely; instead you will start to burn fat and build muscle which creates a tighter more defined physique.

Restaurants are notorious for using large amounts of butter, cream and oil in their menus as these make dishes taste so good! Not only that, but you’re far more likely to order a tempting burger and fries or just give in and have a large slice of chocolate cake for dessert if the option is presented right in front of you. If this happens regularly you will see the treats adding up on your increasing waistline.

Cooking and eating at home can not only be fun as you experiment in the kitchen but it also gives you

the control to decide what and how you are preparing your food and can help make healthy decisions easier to make. Losing weight while eating out is possible of course — but watch what you order, choose tomato based sauces over creamy ones, chose steamed, baked or fresh ingredients over fried or breaded ones, and just because you’re at a restaurant doesn’t mean you need to overeat or add on that dessert.

9

DON’T STOP EATING OR CRASH DIET

It can be tempting to follow a popular ‘detox’ or crash diet as a quick way to drop the kilos, such as only eating certain foods like cabbage soup or only raw vegetables, or excluding entire food groups like for example the Atkins diet. Although these diets may well cause you to lose weight initially as a result of calorie reduction, they are generally unsustainable in the long-term. A sudden and drastic change in your diet can also cause side-effects such as making you feel unwell, moody and tired, plus the slowing down of your metabolism can cause you to not only regain all the lost weight but also additional weight in the long term.

Losing weight needs to be sustainable to see results and the best way to do that is to make small healthy changes to what you eat and start to or increase your activity levels!

PLUS 15

May-Jun 2015

+Fitness

THE BARRE WORKOUT –

THE HOTTEST FITNESS TREND FOR 2015 WHAT IT IS AND WHY YOU SHOULD TRY IT 16 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Fitness+

T

he barre workout is the hottest fitness trend of the year so far and it’s gaining more followers and media coverage by the hour. The popularity of this workout comes mostly from the fact that people see results quickly and it needs no additional equipment apart from a bar and your own bodyweight.

WHAT IS THE BARRE WORKOUT? Barre workouts take their name from the bar that ballerinas use to maintain their balance while exercising, named using the French spelling “barre”.

It is a mix of pilates, yoga and ballet moves and it’s designed to strengthen your muscles, sculpt your core and improve overall posture.

Lotte Berk was a German ballet dancer who lived in London in the early 1950s. In order to recover from a back injury, she combined ballet moves with her rehabilitative therapy exercises into what is known today as the barre workout.

A typical barre session will go through a series of isometric exercises targeting several major muscle groups.

This means that while you contract a specific set of muscles, you will use the barre to hold the rest of your body still.

Most barre studios resemble aerobics studios — large, open halls, with mirrors and the barres fixed on the walls.

Some studios are also equipped with light hand weights, dumbbells, elastic bands or yoga straps, but these are not necessarily required to perform a full workout.

Sessions usually start with a 5–10 minutes warm up and then slowly move to light exercises targeting the upper body, barre exercises for the core and lower body exercises afterwards. A class normally takes between 45 to 55 minutes and is as a fun group exercise, which many people prefer to the traditional solo work out in the gym.

WHY ARE BARRE WORKOUTS SO POPULAR? It is the ideal exercise program for those who want to stay in shape and burn down calories, plus the lack of

high-intensity or heavy weights training in the program allows you to sculpt your body without worrying about bulking up. These strengthening and lengthening exercises are then followed by stretching, which will boost your core strength, increase endurance and also maintain your feminine looks.

In terms of results, a 2–4 times a week training schedule can produce visible changes within only a month, but of course you can take classes at whatever pace you want — just one class a week can produce results over a longer timeframe. If executed correctly, barre will always engage the core muscles, so you get to work out your abs with every repetition. The moves inspired from ballet are a great way to tone the thighs and lift your glutes.

The small, controlled movements that take place during a barre workout reduce the pressure on the joints and ligaments, thus increasing flexibility.

Barre workouts are also fantastic for your overall focus, as the smaller movements that you perform in a barre class can help you achieve a new level of awareness of your body that you don’t get in a regular strength workouts, where frequently underused muscles get exercised, which helps in strengthening the neuro-muscular (mindbody) connection.

WHERE DO I START? What’s great about barre workouts is that you don’t have to join a class to do the exercises. You don’t even have to wear a tutu in order to execute the moves correctly!

If you’re on a tight schedule, you can practice at home.

Simply replacing the barre with a sturdy, high back chair and a set of light hand weights is enough to get started.

Train for 45–55 minutes, four days a week. You will start seeing improvements in posture, flexibility and strength after just 3 or 4 weeks of practice.

There really is no excuse why you shouldn’t give this fitness trend a shot. Even if you’re out of shape or a little on the heavy side, you can talk to a barre instructor and come up with a routine you can perform without risking injury.

DID YOU KNOW? It is important to keep in mind that barre workouts aren’t designed to lose weight or build up mass. They also aren’t meant to replace your cardio training or to stop your dieting. Barre exercises will help you build up muscles to a point and then proceed to maintaining them toned.

So remember, if you want have the body of a ballerina, you’ll have to train, eat and rest like one.

PLUS 17

May-Jun 2015

+Fitness

Honey,

I Shrunk The Fats!

(AN EASY AT HOME WORKOUT GUIDE FOR BUSY MOMS)

E

ver had that moment when you felt overwhelmed about juggling your priorities and commitments — being a good housewife and mother to your kids, or having a full time job whilst managing the household, with not enough time to catch up with all your relatives and friends? Do you feel that you don’t then have enough time for yourself, with no opportunity to squeeze in

A

1

Equipment Required: None workout strengthens your legs/ glutes/abductors

Repetitions Required:

30 reps going forward and back, × 3 sets

18 PLUS May-Jun 2015

So here’s the thing to keep in mind: “It’s not about having time, it’s about making time!”

Setting aside a little time for exercise will give you the energy boost you need to make it through your day, improve your mood and

B

MONSTER WALKS

Muscle group target:This

that exercise regime you wanted to start, to lose some weight for a new healthier you in 2015?

C

Don’t get scared now!

This simple exercise can be performed in the kitchen whilst cooking, or in the living room, even with the kids.

Instructions: © ©Stand up straight, chest pointing forward and your hands placed on both hips.

actually make you feel less tired and overwhelmed.

You’ll also be setting as a good example to your children in demonstrating a healthy lifestyle!

So why not try the following workouts, which can be performed at home, work or anywhere you get a chance to take a little time out to exercise.

D

E

© ©Take a large step forward (as far as you are comfortable with) with either foot © ©Keep in the lunge position for a second and then move your foot back to the original position. © © Now, using your other foot, take another big step forward and repeat.

+Fitness

2

RUNNERS WITH KICKS

Equipment Required:

Repetitions Required: Target to see how many you can do for initially 1 minute, then build up to 5 minutes

Instructions:

and feel your heel touching your glutes or as close as you can get, then place your leg back down.

Muscle group target:

© ©Keep your torso upright while your knees close together. Avoid leaning forward.

©© Now shift your weight onto your left foot and bend your right knee with your heel touching your glutes or again, as close as it can get.

Strengthens and stretches your hamstrings/quadriceps

© ©Shift your weight onto your right foot and bend your left knee,

© © Repeat this movement as quickly as you feel comfortable

Sturdy Chair

A

B

C

A

B

C

3

ON THE FLOOR OBLIQUE TWISTERS Equipment Required:Towel Muscle group target:

Tightens your core and shapes up obliques

20 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Repetitions Required:

15 repetitions × 3 sets

Instructions: © ©Your starting position is to sit on the floor slightly leaning backwards, arms out straight and extended to shoulder height while holding a towel taut between your hands.

© © About one foot off from the floor, raise your feet to ensure that your knees are bent ©© Pull the right end of the towel towards the right side of the floor while rotating your torso and shoulders. © © Hold for three seconds, go back to the centre and alternate the other way

+Fitness

4

CHAIRDIPS

Equipment Required: Sturdy chair Muscle group target: Triceps Repetitions Required: 15 repetitions × 3 sets This one is the most popular workouts for your triceps, as you hold up your full body weight at the same time as moving through a full range of motion.

This is a great exercise to do whilst watching TV!

Instructions: © © Start by sitting on a sturdy chair with both hands on the edge. Ensure your knuckles are pointing forward. © © Slide your buttocks off from the seat with arms straight, holding yourself up whilst keeping your body close to the chair.

A

5

BUTTERFLY CHESTPRESS WORKOUT

© © Keeping your balance, slowly lower your body as you bend your elbows (for proper form, make sure that both are pointing behind you directly not out on your sides) and straighten your arms. To avoid discomfort and injuries, ensure that your arms and not your feet are supporting your body weight all throughout the movement. © © Try and lift yourself slightly up and down at least five times before straightening your arms.

Equipment Required: Two 10.5 Litre water Bottles (full with water)

Muscle group target: Strengthens chest, Shoulders

Repetitions Required: 40 Repetitions with 10 seconds resting period, × 3 sets

Instructions: © ©Stand straight, your feet slightly apart from each other, chest pointing forward and out (When you feel a slight stretch on your lower back, that’s when you can tell you’re in the proper position) © ©Hold the two water bottles out in front, 10 inches apart, with your arms straight. © ©Start slowly (especially for beginners) pulling them apart while maintaining a proper posture, until your arms are out to your side. © ©Bring them back to the original position and repeat until you accomplish the number of required reps. © ©Whenever you work out, always ensure safety first!

Make sure any equipment you use is in good condition and stable, plus there are no obstructions in the area you are exercising in.

If you have any existing cardiovascular related health problems, always seek the consultation of a registered physician before proceeding with any new exercise regime.

If you are new to exercising, always begin gradually and build up at your own pace to the required workout times and required repetitions. Stay focused and you’ll be amazed at how quickly a little exercise can make a big difference in your life!

22 PLUS May-Jun 2015

A

B

Featuring: Del Alfaro Article By: Shelley Ann Busque Photographer: Lily Bong

+Life Inspired

ROYAL BRUNEI’S LEADING FEMALE AIRCRAFT ENGINEER,

Hjh Hazlinah binti Hj Said 24 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Life Inspired+

IN CONJUNCTION WITH ROYAL BRUNEI’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, WE TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ONE OF THE MANY STARS BEHIND THE SCENES WHO KEEP OUR NATIONAL AIRLINE RUNNING.

E

ngineering has traditionally been seen as a male profession, so we were delighted when Hjh Hazlinah could take time out from her busy schedule to tell us a little about how her drive and ambition, proving that the sky’s the limit for anyone with dedication!

PLUS 25

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

Why did you decide to become an aircraft Engineer?

Actually, I didn’t decide to be an aircraft engineer at first, but having passed my A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, I was looking for a university course and the only engineering ones on offer also included teaching which I didn’t want to do at that time. Then I decided to apply for the Aircraft Engineer Apprentice Scheme that was being offered by Royal Brunei Airlines, based at the Air UK Engineering School in Norwich in the East of England and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

How does it feel working in a male dominated industry?

It is correct to say that aircraft engineering is typically a male dominated field, but these days there seems to be more and more women partaking in it. To be honest, it didn’t take me long to get used to it. I am not the only female engineer at RB and I wasn’t even the first! To date we have quite a number of female engineers around, though I am the most senior currently.

26 PLUS May-Jun 2015

At first being new to this industry was a bit scary, like for any first job — but also a challenge at the same time. It was a challenge I accepted and was well-qualified and ready for.

Of course when you are the newest member of staff, there are those that may tease you, but you have to have to rise above it all and always keep an open mind.

but we are well trained for it. It does mean everyone needs to work together well, which we do as a great team at RB, so help is always there when needed. Having friendly and helpful colleagues around really makes the difference working in this industry.

Can you share with us a little more on our job scope?

To be the best at what I do! To keep trying harder and improve myself, each and every time.

Always keep learning from experience. That’s the most important aspect of this job.

Currently my post is as the Base Maintenance Controller, where I oversee any aircraft maintenance checks in the hangar. At the same time if I am required to do Line Operations, I will be scheduled to do shift work and oversee aircraft operations.

As an engineer we are always on standby! When aircraft require immediate attention, there always needs to be someone available to be called up to assist with the situation in hand.

What is the most challenge aspect for this type of work?

There is some complex heavy equipment that we need to use sometimes,

What is your goal in life? How do you plan to achieve it?

Describe something about your life outside of work during the week?

After work, I simply enjoy relaxing in front of the TV after having a good meal — and a good book to read before retiring to sleep!

What do you like to do during your free time?

I love travelling and experiencing new places. I also love reading good books and would just sit around and try to finish a book as soon as I started one.

+Life Inspired

FEATURING: Hjh Hazlinah PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong ARTICLE BY: Simon Keller MAKEUP BY: Muaz Al-Rashid (Dragons and Pixie Dust)

28 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Life Inspired+ Having a good laugh over coffee or a good meal with my friends is always a good way to catch up with them.

What (or who) has had the greatest influence on your life choices?

My family — who always are very supportive of what I do.

Especially my parents and of course my husband, who happens to also be in the same industry working as a Certified Licensed Aircraft Engineer at Line Maintenance.

Does that mean there’s times when you have to supervise your husband?

(Laughter), yes there are times when he is scheduled to report to me. Of course there is never an issue with that as we work together closely as a team to get the job done and ensure the best aircraft safety.

We hear your work also means you get to travel, what does that entail?

Part of the job is to occasionally accompany an aircraft, so I do get sent out as the Flying Engineer, especially when maintenance needs to be scheduled at a different location for certification purposes.

When is the last time you went traveling and to where? How was it?

Recently I had the opportunity to take my family over to Dubai.

It was a great experience, especially knowing that the aircraft we went on had been looked after by me and my team. It was fun being a tourist once in a while.

Do you have any particular country that you would like to visit more?

I would love to go to New York again. I’ve been there before and the experience there makes me want to come back for more.

I love the hustle and bustle of the city. Lights, beautiful skyline, famous streets, famous places and especially the good shopping!

PLUS 29

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

30 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Sing,

Dance, Perform!

ARTICLE BY: Joanna Kwan

I

n last month’s issue, we heard from the men of this year’s Team Brunei Darussalam, who will be competing at the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Long Beach, California, this July.

This is the third time that Brunei will be represented at the Championship, the only Olympics-style competition in which performing artists, from all around the world, gather to compete for gold.

So far, Brunei’s track record has been remarkable to say the least, with last year’s team of nine bagging an impressive count of 38 medals. This year’s team of eleven is the biggest and best yet, a testament to the fact that there is no lack of world-class performers here. We are truly excited for these ladies, each supremely talented in their own field and category, as they prepare to make us proud.

This month, I am thrilled to be able to talk to the supremely talented and beautiful ladies of the team, and find out more about their own personal journey getting here. 

PLUS 31

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

FEATURING: Michelle Tan ARTICLE BY: Joanna Kwan PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong

32 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Life Inspired+

Michelle Tan –

DELEGATE FOR VOCAL WITH INSTRUMENT (DUO/GROUP) (SENIOR) CATEGORY

A

petite songbird with a saccharine voice, Michelle Tan is one half of The Ellewan, our very first duo for Team Brunei.

Both Michelle and Erwan Mugit are distinct solo vocalists but put them together and you get a perfect harmony. Since picking up the guitar at a young age, Michelle has not looked back.

Despite their hectic schedules (both are Bachelor of Arts students at University Brunei Darussalam), they have been making their way around the local music circuit, bringing their unique sound to local gigs and competitions, and most notably finishing top 3 in the Kristal FM’s Acoustic Session Live! 2014.

They are passionate in sharing their music with the world and hope to bring love, hope and opportunities to those in need through their music.

Joanna: You are pretty amazing with the guitar. How did you learn to play it?

Michelle: When I was 11, I taught myself how to play it because I didn’t want to burden my parents by asking to go for classes. I remember practising every day and it taught me that hard work and perseverance really gets you somewhere.

Joanna: I agree. I suppose that with after knowing how to play the guitar, singing along came quite naturally too?

Michelle: I was a closet singer actually and wasn’t confident with my voice for a while. Then I started to sing in my church and that helped me find my voice and opened my eyes to what music could do for a person — which is to help people cope, deal with issues and it can express feelings of happiness and joy that words just can’t. I come from a musical family and so to me it made sense to make music more than not to.

Music has helped me cope to the many obstacles in my life, like the passing of my mother from her 10-year battle with cancer 3 years ago. She was an amazing woman who was so talented and had a heart so

big. She would dance and sing to me when I was younger and when I sing I can almost feel that she’s still with me.

Joanna: Would you be performing the songs you wrote together with Erwan for the competition?

Joanna: You are the Elle in The Ellewan, a duo with Erwan Mugit.

How did that come about?

Michelle: Yes, we are very nervous and excited about that. We might be doing one original piece each. We believe that it will be an encouraging and liberating experience for both us and other closet songwriters to just take a leap of courage and put their songs out there for others to listen and enjoy.

Michelle: Working with Erwan came very naturally because we have been supporting each other in our passion and ambition to pursue music since the beginning that it just made sense to be together rather than go solo. I feel that two is better than one — we compliment each other and it’s nice to be on the same page and share the same passion with a friend.

Joanna: Was it difficult to work as a duo at first?

Michelle: It was definitely challenging at first because Erwan and I have different singing styles as well as our vocal ranges. When we are working on perfecting a song together, One of the hardest things is getting the harmony right. But once that is out of the way, we always give our best.

Joanna: You and Erwan do really make beautiful covers of popular songs. Do you write your own songs?

Michelle: Oh yes! We have written a countless number of songs actually, scribbled into old notebooks and crumpled notes. Some are real cringe-worthy but I suppose some have to the potential to be something great if we can dig it out from its hiding place.

Joanna: Go find them and dig them up — I can’t wait to hear your original pieces! How does the magic happen? Do you collaborate together on the songwriting or do you usually write on your own?

Michelle: As and when inspiration strikes us, we will write a song together. Usually what happens is that we first work on a melody until we are happy with it. Then, we play it over and over again either on the piano or the guitar and let the words come to us so we sing out whatever comes to mind. It’s quite an interesting process because sometimes the greatest lyrics come when we least expect it to.

Joanna: I cannot wait! Who were your musical influences growing up?

Michelle: During my teenage years, I was inspired to take up the guitar by Michelle Branch who was a very popular singer/ guitarist in the 90s and early 2000.

I was really inspired by her dual talent of singing and the ability to play an instrument. In terms of my musical song influences, it would be Paramore, Coldplay and The Civil Wars. These bands have an almost perfect balance of meaningful lyrics and powerful music to accompany them. Everyone should check them out if they haven’t already!

Joanna: How do you agree on a song to perform? Do both of you like the same genres of songs?

Michelle: We try to explore different songs to challenge ourselves. We quite like taking pop songs and adding an acoustic touch to them, which is what a lot of artists are doing these days. We do adore some common genres of music and when it comes to choosing what songs to sing, we try to narrow down the choices to songs that are not so negative because we believe in the power of music and we don’t want to bring anyone down through our song choices.

Joanna: The Ellewan is a duo with a message then?

Michelle: We just want to make a difference in people’s lives through music and though we may not be the best in the field, we hope our story inspires someone out there like us.

PLUS 33

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

FEATURING: Kala Karwanamurthi ARTICLE BY: Joanna Kwan PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong

34 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Life Inspired+

Kala –

DELEGATE FOR SENIOR VOCAL WITH INSTRUMENT CATEGORY

T

he youngest female vocalist on the team, Kala Karwanamurthi has been serenading audiences since the tender age of 11.

Kala, who is of Indian and Chinese descent, has a soulful voice that has been known to melt hearts every time she performs. This hardworking songbird hails from Kuala Belait and considers the support of her family as one of the driving forces behind her music career.

Now at the age of 21, Kala is no stranger to the stage and has been slowly and steadily making a name for herself in the local music scene, with many concerts and competition experiences under her belt. Just last December, she won the hearts of the judges and was crowned the winner of the Kristal FM’s Acoustic Session Live! 2014. Having performed on many public stages in Brunei, Kala is excited to explore the many possibilities that the industry has to offer.

Joanna: What got you singing in the first place?

Kala: It kind of came about by accident really. I remember sitting in front of the TV and watching MTV almost every day. All the music videos I watched got to my head and one day I just started singing in the shower with the showerhead as

my microphone. And that’s how it all began.

Joanna: You have such a deliciously soulful voice that caught our attention when you first performed at Kaleidoscope Studio.

Did you always sing like this, or did it start out sounding like something else and then evolved into the unique sound that is your signature now?

Kala: Oh no (laughs). My voice was pitchy and my tempo was all over the place when I first started. But with constant practice, I started to learn how to control my voice, understand music better, and then learned how to adapt my voice to the music.

Joanna: You know what they say, practice makes perfect. What is your routine?

Kala: Yes, no one is perfect but with continual practice, there will definitely be improvement. I try to practise as much as I can, given that I’m also a college student with classes and assignments to juggle as well. I usually devote two to three hours to singing a day.

Joanna: Now that’s dedication! Do you write your own songs? We would love to get our hands on your own original album one day.

Kala: Yes, I do write my own songs and for now, my song writing is something that I am still working on improving. I would be extremely happy if I get the opportunity to record my own album. It is the dream, really.

Joanna: How would you describe your sound?

Kala: Raw yet soulful is the description that people have been telling me from day one. I would have to agree with the masses, but I believe that I am still evolving and trying to find my own sound. I feel that I have a long way to go before categorising myself.

Joanna: What is your kind of music?

Who are your musical influences?

Kala: Well, I love R&B the most and one of my most favourite songs of this genre is “Dangerously In Love” by Beyoncé. Beyoncé is my main musical influence along with Whitney Houston, Adele and John Legend.

Joanna: How do you keep your voice so soulful? Can you tell us your secret?

Kala: I take a spoon of honey every morning, although I am not sure if that has anything to do with the way my voice is. Other than that, there’s honestly no secret.

PLUS 35

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

DELEGATE FOR SENIOR VOCAL CATEGORY

Yaya –

N

36 PLUS May-Jun 2015

adia Halim, better known as “Yaya”, began singing at a very young age. After mastering “Que Sera” at 5 years old, the first song she remembers singing was ‘Goodbye’ by Air Supply, with her father. She then joined choirs and sang for large audiences at charity concerts. She was the first “JIS idol” at her high school and went on to join ‘Talentime”, a local talent show organized

by Radio Television Brunei (RTB). After singing solo for a number of years, Yaya then formed a band as lead vocalist in 2012 called JYZ with two other band members.

Having graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Film and TV and currently working in the aviation industry for Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) — Yaya has ensured that music has stayed a consistent part of her life whether it be home recordings at home or performing for private events. As the music industry is a competitive one, especially coming from a little country in Borneo — Yaya is determined to help raise awareness of the talent in Brunei whilst continuing to further progress in her music-making, song-writing, vocal abilities and performance as a whole. She believes that not enough creative talent is embraced and expressed in the region, and hopes to be part of the revolution to help future Bruneian generations further develop their creative skills to be valuable individuals in society.

FEATURING: Nadia Halim ARTICLE BY: Joanna Kwan PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong MAKEUP BY: Muaz Al-Rashid (Dragons and Pixie Dust)

Life Inspired+ Joanna: You were originally part of a band. Tell us about your decision to go solo.

excited — I am very honoured to get this chance to represent the country for something I love to do.

Yaya: Yes, I was part of a band called JYZ and it was a mutual decision among the 3 of us to go our separate ways as we had our own individual curiosity in music to explore. We still see each other quite often, since we are all part of the local music scene and often collaborate alongside other local artists.

Joanna: We are equally excited for the world to hear you! Let’s talk music for a bit. What genres of music do you find yourself gravitating towards?

Joanna: That must have been a pretty big step. How is being in a band different from being a solo artist? Do you miss being in a band?

Yaya: Being in a band and being a solo artist have been two very different experiences. Looking back, I feel that being in a band allowed me to feel young and really embrace my youth, whereas as a solo artist I am more in control and if I don’t roll out any songs or music, it will be no one else’s fault but my own. Being in a band is great, but being a solo artist has really allowed me to take charge of the direction I want to go in, so I am just currently revelling in all these nerves and excitement.

Joanna: I know you’ve had some experience performing outside of Brunei. How the crowd is different from the Bruneian audience, if at all?

Yaya: I’ve performed a few gigs whilst I was studying in both Malaysia and Newcastle (between the ages of 17 to 21), and it was a great experience for me especially being so young at that point — I think part of my stage confidence had a lot to do with the experiences I had then. Surprisingly, Bruneian audiences are much more nerve-wracking to perform in front of because it is impossible to perform anywhere here without someone knowing you, your mother, your father, your sister, or all the above. When I performed in both Malaysia and Newcastle, I only knew one or two persons in the crowd, and that made it much easier to perform however you like. The experience has definitely helped — I take myself back to those different places I have performed every time I’m in front of a tough crowd.

I’m excited to perform in the States — it would be crazy for anyone not to be! Not only am I

Yaya: I gravitate towards emotional songs — I don’t think that’s quite a genre but some examples would be “What’s Up” by Four Non Blondes, “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, “Superstitious” by Stevie Wonder. I went through so many phases and genres; I think it would be a shame to limit yourself to one genre in the new technological era in which we are exposed to different genres all the time.

Joanna: That’s very true. New genres are being created even as we speak, aren’t they? Going back to an earlier time, who were some of your musical influences while growing up?

Yaya: Growing up, like every other child in the world, Michael Jackson was my biggest musical influence, and as time went on, a female figure I looked up to was Beyoncé. However, the biggest influence for my love of music has got to be from my father and sister — my father and I would sing Air Supply’s “Goodbye” every Saturday in front of all our family.

My sister used to write down lyrics and stick them on her desk — that’s where I found my love for lyrics; she helped me realize the importance of good lyrics in understanding a song.

Joanna: There is no lack of talents in Brunei, yet many of them lack the confidence to showcase their talents.

Have you always loved performing in front of an audience or did you have your fair share of stage fright? Any tips for budding singers to overcome their fears?

Yaya: I think it is always important to be a little nervous/scared before performing in front of an audience — there’s so much to think about other than your talent; that’s something you shouldn’t worry about anymore as it is what’s expected of you. Other than emphasizing the importance of practice — it’s important to learn how to translate your nerves into adrenaline that you can use in your performance. When I was about 13 or 14, I sang “Bunga-Bunga

Cinta” by Misha Omar in front of an Indonesian legend, Bob Tutupoli, and my voice cracked twice at different points of the song! After the 2nd crack I put the microphone down and left the stage. That was probably my most embarrassing encounter on stage. However, it taught me that it is important to always pick yourself up — whether you crack once, twice or three times.

It is only human to make mistakes or to be a little nervous. I try to always remind myself that I started singing because it’s something that I love to do and something I want to share. I guess my main tip when you’re feeling a little nervous would be to remind yourself why you started in the first place.

Joanna: Wise words indeed. At the age of 11, I hear you performed for a large audience to raise funds for charities?

Yaya: My mother has always been a part of charity organizations which would have these big charity fundraisers, so for my first encounters with large audiences, I must thank my mother for. She gave me a platform to perform as well as doing something else I am very passionate about, which is charity.

Joanna: I have been told that running helps to improves singing.

What’s your take on exercising? Does it help your singing?

Yaya: I have recently just started yoga and have tried to dip my toes in as many exercise activities as I can — I’ve read running is very good for singing so perhaps now that it’s mentioned (after millions of times) I think I should finally get the hint and make running a routine!

Joanna: Yes, I remember us talking about running together some time!

And that was quite a few years ago now and we still haven’t quite got around to it! Besides physical activities, how do you keep your voice in tip-top condition? Any secrets?

Yaya: No secrets except singing as much as I can, when I can (without annoying too many people) and lots of water. As a friend once said to me, “If you’re thinking of having soda, get water. OJ on your mind? Water.

Thirsty? Water.”

PLUS 37

May-Jun 2015

+Life Inspired

Relentless

Entertainment –

DELEGATE FOR SENIOR DANCE GROUP CATEGORY

T

he very first dance team representing Brunei Darussalam WCOPA 2015 will be the dancers from Relentless Entertainment. The team comprises of a group of four talented young ladies, namely Amy Cheong Sui Ying, Ainul Marzuki, Sarah Jane Ward and Shannon Osman.

Joanna: We know you must be really busy with your preparations for WCOPA. Tell us, how did all of you meet?

Amy: I run a performing arts, entertainment and events management company called Relentless Entertainment Brunei, together with my husband Mardi, since 2008. I first met Ainul in 2009 when Relentless organized the first ever dance competition in Brunei, after which she auditioned to be part of Relentless and has been with us ever since. I met Sarah in 2013 when we auditioned for dancers for our first ever-musical production “Enchanted Forest” and Shannon in 2013 as well when she joined us for performances.

Shannon: Well, I guess I’m the newest dancer among the four of us to join Relentless, so I got to meet Amy, Sarah and Ainul all at once. A mutual friend invited me to join a performance when Relentless was looking for more dancers, and luckily I said yes, now I’ve come this far and have met these wonderful people!

Joanna: As the first ever dance group to represent Brunei at WCOPA, you must all be very excited. How long have you been dancing together?

Amy: Yes! We are extremely excited! I personally began taking dance seriously in 2007 and I haven’t stopped since. Collectively as a team, the four of us have been dancing together since 2013.

Shannon: I really am honoured to be representing the country for such a big competition! I’ve been with Relentless since the end of 2012 with some breaks in between, so about 2–3 years.

Sarah: About 2 years. As a team, as soon as we joined WCOPA. Joanna: We all know you girls can really dance. Do you all enjoy the same genres of dance? Or is there one main genre that is particularly your thing, for each of you?

Amy: I think we all enjoy the more modern genres of dance. Individually we are strong at different things. For example, Ainul is really great at lyrical hip hop, Shannon is awesome at isolating her moves when she dances, Sarah has a knack for retro and is able to add a lot of character into her dancing. For me, I enjoy all styles of dance!

Bollywood, traditional, hip hop, old school and contemporary but I feel that my strength is in the more urban/jazzy sort of dances; think Beyoncé and Janet Jackson.

Sarah: I enjoy all genres of dance, although I’d say my strength would be more towards old-school genres, such as those of the fifties era all the way to the nineties era –swing and disco being part of them. Basically genres that are quite happy, lively and energetic.

38 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Life Inspired+ Shannon: I especially enjoy the more technical ones like contemporary, but personally I prefer doing hip-hop and funk styles the most.

Ainul: Yeah, we are so different and every one of us has different style. So we take advantage of the varieties of styles that we have to teach and help each other in what we are lacking, so we can be even more versatile.

Joanna: Sounds like great team dynamics there as you’ve got a bit of everything to complement each other. What is the secret in putting on a great performance as a group?

Amy: Hours and hours of practice, hard work, dedication, passion and trust. It’s certainly not easy putting a performance together especially when it involves a team. We have to trust each other and be confident that our teammates will learn the routines, be on time for rehearsal, give 110% and practice even when we aren’t together. Most importantly, we have fun! Once we stop enjoying whatever it is we chose to do, there’s no point in doing it.

Ainul: Yeah, punctuality is important, especially when it comes to attending dance rehearsals as it can strengthen our discipline. Lots of exercise and cardio as well to keep us fit. And like Amy said, practice! Practice makes perfect.

So I’d say hard work, determination and practice as well.

Shannon: I would say ‘teamwork’ would be the best way to sum it up. We work together to make sure we’re all on the same page, pitch in our ideas and opinions as well as to support each other through rehearsals and training sessions.

Sarah: I agree. Teamwork is definitely the main key to putting on a great performance. There are times where it gets really exhausting and all we want to do is just stop and go home, but each of us do our to motivate each another and bounce off each other’s energy and at the end of the day pull through together.

Joanna: How long does it usually take to choreograph and rehearse a dance number before every performance?

Amy: When we rehearse for performances under Relentless Entertainment, it usually involves a large number of dancers and can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to prepare depending on what the performance requires. Our performances range from the usual modern dance routines and traditional dances to themed, quirky and thought-provoking ones. I really enjoy performing the more ‘out there’ and unique dance pieces.

Shannon: It really depends on the song and the genre, but I would say a minimum of one and a half weeks maybe for choreography, and of course we rehearse as much as possible to get our dance sets as clean as we can before any performance.

Sarah: Yeah, it’s difficult to say specifically how long we spend on choreography as we usually make it up as we go along. As for rehearsals before performances, we take about one to two weeks to perfect the routines.

Joanna: Can you share with us the process you go through when choreographing a number for a performance? What do you look for in a song when choosing one to choreograph?

PLUS 39

May-Jun 2015

+Focus Amy: I don’t really look for anything in particular when selecting a song just something with a good beat, as I love hitting the little beats and snares in the music when I choreograph. When choreographing a piece, I would listen to the selected song a couple of times to feel the music and let the music inspire me. It then takes me a few hours to come up with moves for the section of music I want to choreograph to.

Sarah: Choosing a song depends on the genre we either plan to do or are asked to do. Usually we choose a song that feels right or just fits with the theme we have in mind.

Shannon: I guess in terms of song we tend to choose ones that give a good energy, songs that are either very upbeat and make us want to jump out of our chairs and dance immediately, or songs that are very moving or have a moving rhythm, the type that would make you feel inspired or emotional, even. Choreographing depends on the different strengths that we have, I guess. We do try to use songs that are diverse so we can have different ‘sections’, if you will. We tend to look to Sarah for that funk or groove, a lot of fun, and Ainul is great at doing lyrical hip-hop, while Amy is great for street jazz. I myself tend to be more for stunts or highly energetic routines.

Joanna: A question for each of you: where do you get inspiration for your moves from?

Amy: Hmmm that’s a tough one. I watch my husband when he choreographs. He has thought me so much including how to listen to the music and he has been such a huge influence and inspiration for me. When I choreograph, I pay close attention to the lyrics of the song and the beats and rhythms in the music. I try my best to internalize the meaning of the song and put the lyrics into choreography. If it looks good, YAY! If not I’ll keep going until I’m satisfied with the routine.

Shannon: Personally, I am inspired by everyone I meet.

Everyone has their own strengths, and I like to observe and learn as often as I can. In modern routines, I love when movements really flow and connect. In traditional dances, I appreciate how movements tend to represent the environment. For example, recently I performed the Korean “Buchaechum”, a type of fan dance, for an event at UBD, and some of the movements involve forming flowers, butterflies and mountains.

Ainul: I get my inspiration from an LA dancer, Shaun Evaristo. I found him on YouTube while I was browsing through hundreds of dancers. His dance style eventually caught my attention and from there I was inspired to dance and start doing choreography.

Sarah: For me personally, my inspiration for dance moves come from the music I’m dancing to. That, as well as from my fellow team mates and other famous dancers I watch on YouTube.

Joanna: There are four of you in the team. What is the magic behind this setup?

Shannon: Well, it’s mainly because we were the only four Bruneians who are available to participate this year. Of course there are many of our other active dancers whom we would have loved to join us on this special journey, but I think four is a good number. I find smaller groups tend to be more clean and effective in executing dance

40 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Focus+ routines, but it isn’t too small of a number either — think Goldilocks, just right!

Sarah: We work well together and we each bring something different to the team.

Amy: There is no magic really, just simple understanding.

We listen to each other and work hard together. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and are able to encourage and push each other outside our comfort zones in order to progress and improve.

Joanna: Relentless is a big family. Will we see other groups from Relentless participating in WCOPA in the future?

Amy: I certainly hope so. As the 1st ever dance team to represent Brunei Darussalam in WCOPA, I really hope that we are able to inspire other dancers here to train hard and go for it too. The performing arts scene in Brunei is still in its infancy and we get to be the pioneers to put our country’s talents on the map. We all need to do our best to keep the dream alive and strive for what we love. We have some pretty talented singers and actors in Relentless too!!

They really shone during our recent musical production ‘Poppins’. We will definitely encourage them to audition for WCOPA next year and for years to come.

Shannon: Yes, hopefully!

Joanna: I have danced with you ladies before and I know first hand how amazing you all are, and what is even more astounding is how easy you all make it look, because dance is hard! How often do you train in a week?

Amy: As a team we have a 2-hour cardio, core and flexibility training session every Thursday at Relentless Studios and we work on choreography every chance we are able to get all four of us in the studio together. On top of that I hike and jog at Tasek Lama almost every day to keep my stamina and fitness up. Core strength is especially important for dancers as it gives us the ability to execute difficult and complicated dance moves and combinations. Stamina is also important as we need to be strong and spot on from start to finish. We only get one minute to impress the judges and that’s where stamina plays a huge role.

Shannon: It depends on our schedules! Ideally we want to work together as often as possible for dance, a hobby we all love, however life duties do call, especially since we’re all different ages with different commitments outside of Relentless. But we always meet at least once a week. Dancing is an incredible way to stay fit! It’s not only good for the body, but for the soul too. Dancing for me is the biggest stress reliever, and that’s an important factor in staying healthy and fit. But in terms of physical fitness, yes, we do a lot of stretching for warm-ups and rehearsals themselves are good cardio workouts.

Sarah: We try to practise at least once or twice a week.

We do a lot of cardio and core workouts during training and before we do our routines to ensure we have enough stamina and strength to pull off the routine well.

We put in a lot of energy when we dance, especially in the routines that we do, and hence end up exhausting ourselves by the end of each rehearsal.

FEATURING: Amy Cheong Sui Ying, Ainul Marzuki, Sarah Jane Ward and Shannon Osman ARTICLE BY: Joanna Kwan PHOTOGRAPHER: Jerome Wong

Ainul: Yep. Low stamina will make us feel tired so easily, so dancers need to have good stamina to perform at their best on stage. We do cardio every now and then and we also jog around the studio to build our stamina.

PLUS 41

May-Jun 2015

+Focus

How to Pursue your Dreams, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY

D

o you think Steve jobs and Mahatma Gandhi would have fulfilled their dreams if they cared about what people say? Society can be a hurdle that stops people from pursuing their dreams. They judge your dreams based on their own experience in life and push you towards the safer path according to their own analysis.

42 PLUS May-Jun 2015

Because people will never understand your passion as deeply as you do. There is no point in paying heed to their comments. You are responsible for your failures and success, so you don’t need to listen to other people. If you want to pursue your dreams, no matter what people say, here is a closer look at how.

Focus+

1

DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO

The first thing you need to do is, well, do what you love and love what you do. When you have deep love and respect for your dreams, it will not matter what other people think about it. The Wright brothers dreamed of building a plane and people laughed at them. Some even tried to knock some sense into them.

Fortunately, their senseless and uncommon idea gave them lasting recognition and fame.

If you are do something because it is popular or have monetary advantage in it, you are bound to fail eventually. However, if you have passion and clarity in your plans and aims, then you love what you do. You will be fearless and people will hesitate passing judgment. Slowly, you will not only do what you love, but absolutely love what you do. Best of all, you will no longer be phased by what people say.

2

DON’T SHARE YOUR DREAMS WITH EVERYONE

If you are excited about launching a new business venture or pursuing your lifelong passion of singing, the next thing you need to do is stay calm and don’t share it with everyone around you in excitement. Just quietly work towards your set goals and let only the concerned people know; people whose lives will be affected by your decisions and goals.

People who speak too much about their passions and goals tend to do less work achieving them. They also face the most criticism and are easily de motivated by people. They want validation from people by sharing their dreams with them. If their dreams are unaligned with society’s

principles, they face rejection and easily get discouraged. So, don’t worry about what other people say because your dreams won’t affect them. If they don’t, pursue your dream with full fervor.

3

FOCUS ON THE RESULTS

Once you are aiming for your dreams, you need to keep imagining the results. Imagine that you can have everything you ever wanted to have if your hard work pays off, and hard work always pays off. If you are unable to achieve your dreams, you will gain experience, which can help you materialize another vision. When you focus on the results, you will be able to easily pursue your dreams.

When you pursue your dreams while focusing on the results, you will not have to worry about what people think. This is because you will easily ignore what other people think when you have the results affixed in your mind. Happiness is a choice and if deep down inside you know what makes you happy, nothing can stop you from attaining success.

4

TEACH WHEN YOU CAN

If you really want to pursue your dreams, you will need both ideas and support. When it comes to support, start shifting your services and products in areas that allow you to enhance the capabilities of other people; essentially teaching.

If you are great at doing something, teach other people too so that you release positive energy around you. By enhancing the capability of other people, they will also have a better chance at sharing your

passion and have people understand your vision. Essentially, you gain support from other people. When you have support, the words of other people will mean absolutely nothing to you.

As for ideas, when you teach other people and expand their mind, they will come up with intuitive new ways to overcome hurdles and help you achieve your dreams. This will help you pursue your dreams in new, often more efficient, ways.

5

LIVE WITH YOUR CHOICES

Last but not least, to really pursue your dreams and remain unphased, live with your choices. You get this life once, so live with your choices.

You do not want to regret your life in your old age, thinking you were unable to make your heartfelt choices because of something your aunt or sister said. As they say “one life, once chance” and success is all about nailing it in that one chance.

Bill gates wanted a computer in every house, Gandhi dreamed of a free India and Colonel Sanders desired to feed the world with the best chicken. If you have the right intentions and live with your choices, each step you make will make sense.

No matter how badly society bruises you, living with your choices ensures you do not care because you have to live with the choice, not them.

There is no short cut in life and no secret mantra for success. Dream incessantly and work passionately to pursue and fulfill your dreams.

Honesty, hard work, and respect for others help you become a successful person. Stick to what you love, don’t tell the world, focus on results, teach when you can and live with your choices. By following the 5 steps above, you will be able to pursue your dreams without caring about what other people say. Dream on, dream big, and shut your ears out to all the malarkey.

PLUS 43

May-Jun 2015

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+Beauty

The proper skin-care ritual for a youthful look

ENHANCE YOUR NATURAL BEAUTY BY TAKING CARE OF YOUR SKIN

I

n the online world, a nice portfolio or a smartly crafted letter of intent can help you make a great impression and get a well-paid job, or be accepted at a renowned university. But when it comes to offline interactions, the first thing people notice about you isn’t your business card or impressive work skills — it’s your physical appearance.

You may not be the best-dressed out there, but you can still make a great impression if your skin looks youthful and glowing and your hair is clean and nicely styled. So, in this article, we’ll discuss the basic skin-care routine you should practice on a daily basis for maintaining both the health of your skin and a fresh appearance.

Still, in order to be able to choose the best products for your skin type, you first have to get familiar with the different types of skin and with their particularities because each of these types requires a different approach and special skin-care products.

WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOUR SKIN TYPE? There are four main types of skin, so it’s important to know which you have, as each of them have their own characteristics.

Your skin type can change over time, and young women tend to have a normal skin type, while older women are more likely to have dry skin.

During puberty, oily or mixed skin type is more common due to changes in hormone levels.

The normal skin type is defined by its soft and clean looking aspect,

46 PLUS May-Jun 2015

with few imperfections or visible pores. It isn’t too oily, nor too dry. If you are lucky enough to have this most tolerant skin type, then you have a wider choice when it comes to choosing care products. However, normal skin can get irritated or dry if the products used are too aggressive.

If your skin tends to get oilier around your nose or chin, then you have an oily skin type. This type of skin feels greasy during the day and it is prone to acne and pimples, which can be caused by a series of factors, such as make up, diet, hormone levels, or stress. The best products for this type of skin are soft soap-free cleansers and moisture controlling creams or gels.

Women with a dry skin type need to use products that are able to moisturise their skin efficiently and prevent the tissue from getting too dry throughout the day. For this type of skin, the most effective products are those that contain slow release or “all-day” moisturisers.

Finally, the mixed skin type is defined by oil production around the “T-zone” of the nose and forehead, and by dryness of the cheeks and eye areas. The skin-care routine in this case should be based on using different products that treat each skin region differently.

THE BASIC STEPS FOR PROPER SKIN-CARE Living in today’s society is just as stressful for our skin as it is for us. We are constantly exposed to pollution, stress, and bacteria. This is why it is so important to develop a daily skin care routine in order to keep it healthy.

MAKE-UP REMOVAL The first step of your skin care routine should be to thoroughly remove any make-up. This is normally done in the evening, when you’re ready to call it a day.

Modern make-up products can be harder to remove because they contain silicones designed to keep them lasting all day.

The best way to remove make-up is with a specialised product, such as make-up removal cloths or cleansing balms. Look for more gentle products if you have sensitive skin and non-oil based ones for oily skin.

Massage your skin for 30 seconds using these products and then wipe away with clean soft cotton pads.

Beauty+

3 TONING — OPTIONAL CLEANSING After all make-up has been removed, we move on to the cleansing step. The best cleansers have a neutral 500.5 pH level and are suitable for each skin type.

Cleansers can come as ready-touse wipes or foams and milks.

Apply the cleanser according to the instructions to make sure that your skin is clean after all the make-up has been removed.

3

The third step in your skin-care routine should be toning.

A toner’s job is to prepare your skin for the treatments and products you wish to apply further.

Toners help remove any dead skin cells and other residues left after the cleansing is done, allowing the skin properly to absorb the moisturizing treatments and products you wish to apply next. Toners are most helpful if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Make sure you use more gentle products to prevent dryness and irritation.

MOISTURIZING Moisturizing is the most important step of a skin-care routine. All skin types need hydration to stay healthy. Moisturizers increase skin flexibility and give it a smooth, glowing effect.

Avoid products based on mineral oil because they tend to clog the pores, giving rise to pimples and blisters. Also be aware of perfumed moisturisers, which can dry the skin.

SUNSCREEN APPLICATION — OPTIONAL Sunscreen is not a product designed only for hot summer days and exotic vacations.

It prevents skin aging, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. Most important, it reduces the risk of skin cancer.

Some sunscreens use UV filters to absorb UV radiation and not pass it through to your skin, whilst others contain chemicals such as Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide, which reflect away the harmful UV rays, but these can be more greasy. Find the one that works best for your skin and always choose a higher SPF value for better protection.

FUN FACT Did you know that your body sheds off 30,000 dead cells very single minute? Your skin is actually the largest organ in the human body and it renews itself every 28 days — so taking proper care of it is of top importance for a healthy look.

Once you’re done with these, you can apply make-up products if you’re attending an event, or you can simply put on some lip gloss and mascara and go out bare-faced. In the end, your natural beauty deserves to be appreciated even more than a well-done makeup!

PLUS 47

May-Jun 2015

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